Ian McColgin
01-01-2007, 01:11 PM
Yesterday afternoon was irresistible and, after replacing the broken generator belt, Marmalade and I set out to close the year. I started with the two reefs left over from last week's sailing but the northerly fresh breeze (Force 5) was dropping into moderate (Force 4) and I could really go to full sail. In the event, I took out one reef but left the first in, a little underpowered but that kept me from cracking a sweat under my Mustang exposure/work suit.
Not much to tell really as it was so peaceful. I worked up into both coves under sail and, given the ebb, had the temerity to tack out from Behind Pine Island. The breeze was straight on and the narrow part of that channel at low carries its water maybe 50' - two Marmalade lengths.
I found that normal tacking was not working as I ended up never gathering speed. Even though the ebb helped, the wind was keeping us in. I raised the board a bit to get some more useful channel and sailed a beam reach to the west side, which shoals more gently. When I had plenty of speed, I'd tack and trim to a real beat on the port tack getting as far along the channel as I could. The sharp edge of the west side gave a good bounce point when the board hit it, and I could overtack for a speed reach across and all over again.
It took about a dozen tacks to make it out that very short channel, especially as some went a bit wrong and the board slicing the sand slowed us to the point that in getting underweigh again we lost ground.
The northerly left the Sound about flat and I had a gas sailing in close under Hyannis Port towards Squaw Island admiring some seals sunning themselves.
Coming back in to the harbor just before sunset I indulged my cell phone with a long call to my Dad and my ex and her now 22 year old who's my goddaughter. And a couple of folk who haunt these pages.
I'm too much a wimp to sail in today's rain but perhaps tomorrow will do for 2007's first sail.
Not much to tell really as it was so peaceful. I worked up into both coves under sail and, given the ebb, had the temerity to tack out from Behind Pine Island. The breeze was straight on and the narrow part of that channel at low carries its water maybe 50' - two Marmalade lengths.
I found that normal tacking was not working as I ended up never gathering speed. Even though the ebb helped, the wind was keeping us in. I raised the board a bit to get some more useful channel and sailed a beam reach to the west side, which shoals more gently. When I had plenty of speed, I'd tack and trim to a real beat on the port tack getting as far along the channel as I could. The sharp edge of the west side gave a good bounce point when the board hit it, and I could overtack for a speed reach across and all over again.
It took about a dozen tacks to make it out that very short channel, especially as some went a bit wrong and the board slicing the sand slowed us to the point that in getting underweigh again we lost ground.
The northerly left the Sound about flat and I had a gas sailing in close under Hyannis Port towards Squaw Island admiring some seals sunning themselves.
Coming back in to the harbor just before sunset I indulged my cell phone with a long call to my Dad and my ex and her now 22 year old who's my goddaughter. And a couple of folk who haunt these pages.
I'm too much a wimp to sail in today's rain but perhaps tomorrow will do for 2007's first sail.