Arrived at the boat, water quite high with the bow pulpit at waist level. Headed out quickly before removing the sail cover. Good winds having cleared SSA. Boat rolling some due to waves hitting from the starboard beam and heeling some from the wind without any sail up. At night winds appear to be stronger than they actually are, perhaps due to the changed visual environment. Removed the mainsail cover and the foremost two sail ties. Re-evaluated the wind. Re-secured the first two sail ties and decided to sail under jib alone.
Rolled out the jib, or at least began to do so. The wind grabbed the sail and it deployed quite suddenly, pulling the furling line through my hand. Fortunately, the line wound up cleanly on the drum of the furlex. Sailing along upwind, tacking, and maintaining 4+ knots with 5 knots displayed often. Passed another sailing boat, motorsailing. Past ahead of a tug pushing a barge. Captain illuminated our sails as we past ahead at a distance of sixty yards or so. Would be good to review the various navigation lights that can be displayed. Saw one sailing boat displaying both a mast head tri-color and deck level navigation lights.
Tacked around, placing the wind on our port quarter and sailing back to the Naval Academy. On the way in, had to jog to port to avoid the shallows of Greenbury Point.
GPX formatted Track distance: 7.58nm average speed: 3.7kts, duration: 2:01