Given the strength of the winds, white caps on the Severn River, sailing under jib alone. Worked with the lead to the genoa cars to try and twist the genoa off at the head to spill wind from the sail in the upper section. With each pair of tacks up the river, moved the genoa cars back two holes on the track. Ended up with the cars located only one hole forward of the end of the track. In doing so the shape of the sail seemed to improve with each move back. Tacking angles appear to have improved as well. Sailing had me standing the entire time. Gusts hitting 25 knots, rail and a portion of the leeward sidedecks under water when the gust hit. Heading up to relieve the pressure and recover some balance. The frequency and suddenness of the gusts made it hard to anticipate correctly. Needed to turn the boat 20 to 30 degrees to handle the changed in wind speed and direction for the gusts. Had to abort the first attempt to pass under the Rt 50 bridge. The abutments are noticeably closer together than those of the Naval Academy Bridge. Had to abort another tack just north of G "5" at the entrance to Round Bay.
Thinking that I have been sailing with the foot too loose and the leech too taut since buying the boat. Hard to understand as the foot of the genoa is 16.75 feet, while the foot of a #1 is 19 feet and the foot of the sail from Interrupt is 18.33 feet.
Tough tacking up the Severn River. Winds flow down the creeks to the southwest into the river, causing sudden, signficant wind shifts. Particularly hard entering Round Bay under sail with the wind from the WNW. Sailable water is particularly narrow at the entrance. As I was about to tack, actually standing and releasing the leeward genoa sheet, managed to run hard aground into mud about 840 feet southeast of Arnold Pt R "6". Tried to get off using several methods: backing the genoa, throwing a Danforth anchor aft, as a kedge, and winching in the rode, engine in reverse. None worked. Winching in on the kedge seemed to press the stern down without moving the boat aft. Most likely due to the kedge being too close to the boat making the angle of the rode to the anchor too steep. Stayed there, heeled at 25 degrees to starboard, till a motorboat with twin 350's(?), was able to pull me off. Water in that area was 3'-8" based upon soundings with a boot hook. Needless to say, the depth sounder reported no problems till after I was hard aground. Once off, winched the boat back to the kedge which was very firmly bedded. Allowed the boat to break out the kedge via wave action.
GPX formatted Track distance: 7.98nm, average speed: kts, duration: 3:52