Interrupt mainsail double reefed.
Wanted to get out in this wind for two reasons: first to try out the working jib purchased this summer, and second to give Leah a bit of experience in higher winds.
Well developed, short steep, wind driven waves blowing up the Severn. Lot of energy in the waves working against any upwind forward progress of the boat. At times R"8" would be completely obscured from view by a wave or drop into a hole between waves. The only other boats out were from the SSA Laser fleet.
Started off with double reefed main. Certainly, little enough sail. Boat was heeling 10* generally. Hard to make much progress to windward without a jib. Boat was slow to tack without a jib, as well. Simply needed the headsail to create enough windward drive. All suggestions of adding a jib to the sail plan were nixed by the crew.
Reaching (first leg), the boat would hit 6 kts. Changing the apparent wind angle to about 60* reduced boat speed to about 4.5kts. The area west of Horn Point, in a bit of lee from the buildings on Horn Point, saw considerably less wind, down to as low as 7kts.
GPX formatted Track . Estimate distance: 2.753nm, estimated average speed: 4.2kts, estimated duration: 0.39