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a winter sailing day

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/19/2005 : 00:07:17

For the benefit of those of you on the hard or with your lake covered in ice.

This morning started out cool and grey. The forecast was 5 knots of wind and seas 3 to 6, increasing to 4 to 7 in the afternoon with winds going to 10. I guess the air temp was about 60F. After working a little on my Coronado 15 and chopping some firewood, I headed down to Mission Bay.

It was flat calm, but the sun was coming out. About 11 the breeze started stirring so I backed out of the slip and was soon sailing. I motor sailed out of Mission Bay. The swell was arriving and waves were piling up over the bar, but once outside the sea was flat and glassy. There was just enough wind to make 3.5 knots due west as I ate my lunch under autopilot. I was enthralled in listening to the Chargers beat the Colts on my radio.

I guess it was round 1. I was about 5 miles out and looking for whales. I don't really expect them until Jan. but everyone is looking and waiting for them. The wind came up nicely, so I tacked for La Jolla. Soon I was hauling along over 6 knots and heeled to 40 degrees. I put the traveller down and pulled the outhaul, got the boat back down to around 30 degrees. Hand steering, I was being driven inshore and no way was I going to make La Jolla. So I took the offshore tack.

The wind continued to shift east, and I followed it. Before long I was up around La Jolla - 5 miles upwind, and in about 200 feet wof water. The wind went to nothing. I had been thinking of getting the spinnaker out, but with 0 wind it was time to think about motoring back. I fired up the Honda and cruised back about 4 knots. I was in no hurry.

I got back to the Mission Bay harbor and the winds came back. I guess the 10 knots forecast for the evening finally arrived. It was 4 PM and we suddenly had 10 to 12 knots. There were some bigger swells running in the bay, too. I took the boat over to where they were steepest and surfed them in. A Catalina 250 was running in and I blew by him - at least at double his speed (but I could see his sails were not trimmed right).

After sailing around the anchorage (I love the challenge of tacking through all the moored boats while avoiding the shallow spots), I decided it was just too nice. We've been waiting for wind for ever, it seems. So I tacked out of the channel again and sailed direct for the sunset until the sun dropped below the horizon. Then I switched on the lights, gybed around, and sailed back to the harbor.

Once back to Quivira Basin, I rolled the sails up and fired up the Honda to put her back into the slip. It was well past dark. I made a cup of coffee while cleaning up and was home in an hour.

Indiscipline 1978 FK SR #398

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3462 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2005 : 06:49:40

Was not quite that warm in the Washington Dc area. But..went out both Saturday and Sunday. Came back from sin's graduation at Virginia tech on Saturday (my son was staying down there a few more days) and my daughter was already back at home from East Carolina University. Both kids have not even seen the our boat yet ! So..my wife, daughter and I took off the winter cover and just motored out of the marina for about 45 minutes - there was zippo wind. We then left the cover off and my daughter and I went for a short sail on Sunday morning. temps were between 35-42F and partly cloudy. One thing in our area is that kind of unique is that when you tack back to the marina, the landmarks are to keep the Washington Monument on your left and the Capitol on your right. Not quite the landmarks we use to use when we sailed more than 20 years earlier out of Huntington harbor on Long Island. Anyway, no whales on the Potomac but had to watch out for some branches and logs that were floating around probably from the rain we had a day ago. Wind died and we motored back.

So far this 12 year old motor must be getting wise that I am strongly considering it being replaced within the next 2-3 months. Motor has not missed a beat - restarted fine and the new 4 spring motor bracket is working fine as well.

Happy sailing for those still in the water and getting out.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 12/27/2005 : 12:54:22

Part 2 - Gary and I were out yesterday (12/26) getting ready for the San Diego Bay New Year's Day race. Although the sea conditions were forecast to be 7 to 10 feet with sets to 14, we only saw about 5 footers, and very long period at that. Winds were a good 10 to 12 knots, it was sunny with air temp about 75 F and sea temp 57. We tacked about 5 miles upwind and then set my standard rig spinnaker on his tall rig. After numerous tangles and various hoist problems we got it sorted out and sailed back downwind under the chute. Wind conditions were tough with lots of gusts, lulls and shifts. But it was good practice. I did drop it pretty neatly and get back under jib without too much trouble.

Saturday we'll make some rigging changes and get in some more practice. Sunday is the race, there are 48 boats entered so far and maybe one of our friends on the dock will enter his C25 TR so we'll have some one design competition.

I'll take my digital camera, so look forward to photos and race reports.

Edited by - on

gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 12/29/2005 : 02:02:58

Update to "Part Two" above: As of Wednesday evening there are officially 71 boats entered, the largest being a 56 footer.
Oh by the way...Dennis Conner will be sailing in this race also.

Check out the racing link for San Diego Yacht Club at sdyc.org to find a list of the entries so far in the New Year's Day Race. Very interesting to say the least. We're going to have a ton of fun.

Edited by - gnorgan on 12/29/2005 02:04:03

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