Log of Alberg 30 #262 on 04 June 2025

Date: 04 June 2025 1820 till 04 June 2025 2017
Endpoints: Yacht Haven Annapolis Eastport MD to Yacht Haven Annapolis Eastport MD
Purpose: Race
Complement: Fred Alvarado, Rick and Anabel Chambers, Heather and Maddy, Kurt Greening, and Yoni Bresler.
Weather: S Force 4, gusting Force 5
Engine Hours: 473.6 to 474.1
Fuel: 1/2 tank
Chart: 12282 Chesapeake Bay Severn and Magothy Rivers

Course:B3
Sails: Elliott/Pattison Sailmakers 169LP genoa and Pandora main. Backstay at 3.

While driving out to Annapolis had the usual debate with myself concering which headsail to use this evening...the #1 will be at the top of its range while the 135P genoa will be too small for racing should the wind moderate. Decided to use the 169LP genoa with a single reef in the main.

Good start on starboard at the committee boat, ahead of Rinn Duin by a length or more, even with Skybird but significantly closer to the boat and hence more upwind.

Good first two boards heading for Mark "A". Walked away from Rinn Duin. Skybird tacked first, but had fallen off the wind further; crossed her easily. Crossed Skybird again while on port tack after Skybird had tacked back to starboard, must have been 15 boat lengths ahead. Tacked back to starboard....

and the Ronstan block mounted near the aft end of the boom for the first reef line broke. Pulled the pin, to which the fixed end of the first reef line was attached by an eyesplice, from the curved base of the cheek block. Tried to jury rig by tying a bowline, passing through the clew ring of the sail, and around the boom then through the reef cringle...no good, we neglected the forward lead of the reef line adn pulled the aftmost strap eye from the boom. Decided to sail under genoa alone. Having been on starboard tack, with the priority being a stable platform while Rick and Fred worked on the boat, we had sailed past Mark "A". Tacked to return to Mark "A" as Skybird and Rinn Duin rounded the mark.

Chased Skybird and Rinn Duin to Mark "B", gaining slowly at times on Rinn Duin while Skybird was able to extend her lead. Sailed near or even at hull speed under genoa alone. By Mark "E", Skybird was well ahead, ten to fifteen boatlengths, while we were a similar distance ahead of Rinn Duin. Situation remained stable. Considered full main, no reef available, on the broad reach past Y"A" and R"4", but decided that given the earlier excitement and the improbability of a change in the situation, we Sailed to the finish under genoa alone.

Located a replacement for the broken Ronstan cheek block, a Schaefer 5 Series Cheek Block .

GPX formatted track . Distance: 10.21nm, estimated average speed: 5.2kts, estimated duration: 1:57