Log of Alberg 30 #262 on 11 September 2016

Date: 11 September 2016 07:30 till 11 September 2016 17:23
Endpoints: Case & Cutts, Inc. to Muller Marine
Purpose: Racing
Complement: TC, Liz, Austin Williams, and Yoni Bresler
Weather: NW wind Force 4, rising to Force 5, developing waves about 3 feet
Chart: 12266 Chesapeake Bay Choptank River and Herring Bay; Cambridge
Chart: 12270 Chesapeake Bay Eastern Bay and South River, Selby Bay

Upwind start, close reach on starboard. Argo was the first to start, followed by Wicked. We were passed by Wicked on the way to the first mark, R "14". Hardened up onto a close hauled starboard tack, chasing Wicked. Sailed somewhat slower and lower than the rest of the fleet. Tacked to port and back to starboard so that we might leave the second mark G "13" to starboard.

Reefed the main on the way to the third mark. Reefing system, of a block tied to the mast below the gooseneck with the tack reef line lead back to the starboard cabin top winch, and the clew reef line lead back to the port cabin top winch, worked well. The way it is setup now, the main halyard can be eased while the tack reef line is taken up using the cabin top winch. Both run through rope clutches. Once the tack has been brought down to the gooseneck, the halyard is tightened to maintain mainsail shape.

By the time we reached the third mark, R "10", we were ahead of the rest of the fleet by a good measure.

Occassionally the port jibsheet winch would lock up, refuse to turn either direction. Seemed to happen when under pressure after having been used to winch in the jib. Trying to re-start the process might find the winch unable to turn in the high power direction/mode. Turning in the low power direction might free it.

Lead the fleet round the fourth mark, G "7". Worked upwind through meaningful waves and wind, taking green water over the bow from various waves. Wicked reefed late. Laughing Gull reefed later still. Don't know if Lingin ever reefed as we lost track of her and did not see her again. During the upwind leg on the long port tack, slowly converged with Wicked as we sailed higher and Wicked sailed somewhat faster. When we came together, TC was able to keep Argo sailing faster than Wicked, particularly when Liz left the jibsheet cleated and sat on the windward side with Austin and I. After a number of minutes of failing to roll us to windward, Wicked tacked away. Wicked later returned, again to windward of Argo. We were forced to make a short board to starboard to avoid on the fish havens in the area. The first have is mislocated on the chart. Our two tacks indicate the area of the southwest corner of the haven. Wicked was able to squeak by without tacking.

Continued on port tack, chasing Wicked into the area below Poplar Island. Significantly less wave action south of Poplar. Wicked was able to cross our bow by some dozen boat lengths. Three more boards with Wicked gaining.

Finished at R "84".

Sailed across the Bay while I drove. About when we came abreast of Franklin Point, the wind had decreased to the point that we started the engine.

Returned to Muller Marine under power.

Finishing order: Wicked, Argo, Lingin, and Laughing Gull.

GPX formatted Track distance: 39.56, average speed: 4.5kts, duration: 8:49