Well, we've had a full week of nasty spring weather: wind, rain, drizzle, fog, and temperatures in the 40s. It's been miserable, especially since the preceeding week had seemed downright summery. But there's not much to be done about the weather except grab the good stuff by the horns whenever it comes.

A Light-Air start

I had to work in the morning, but was able to get to the boat at about 1230. After emptying probably 30 gallons of water out of the dinghy, I motored out to the boat and ran up the ensign. The wind seemed light, but I started getting the boat ready for a sail. I wanted to get out relatively early, as Heather and Gavin were hoping to come down to the boat later in the afternoon, and perhaps even have dinner. As I was taking the sail cover off the boat, I looked up to see Glissando sailing by outside the anchorage.

I was ready by 1315, dropped the mooring lines, and sailed away under main alone. Based on the wind direction, I decided to sail out of the anchorage inshore of the ubiquitous Sturdivant Island Ledges. I've only sailed this route once or twice before. There's not really anything special about it, but its funny how this small change in routine seemed like such a refreshing change. I unfurled the jib and had a nice close reach out between the ledges and Sturdivent Island proper. The wind seemed to be in the 5 to 7 knot range and was damn pleasant.

Around Basket...Again...

I sailed up toward Upper Basket Ledge near Basket Island as the wind slowly built to perhaps 10 or 12 knots. The boat was moving nicely and I noted with satisfaction that the weather helm seemed substantially less than it has in previous years. When I rigged the boat this season, I shortened the forestay somewhat to help reduce the mast rake. This seems to have had a postive impact on the helm.

Looking ahead, I could see Glissando perhaps 3/4 to 1 mile ahead. It was clear that he was planning to sail around Basket and back toward Portland. As I had no real route or destination in mind, I decided that I too would, once again, circumnavigate Basket Island. Glissando was apparently intending to sail on the outside of Lower Basket Ledge, and since I was so far behind, I decided to tack early and sail up between Upper and Lower Basket Ledges. This put us on parallel courses and despite the distance between us, I fancied that I could judge my progress against the other boat, and allowed Tim to snap a picture of Dasein, even if it was from a bit of a distance. (see photo above)

Winds become silly

Ahead was a rather large tanker anchored in the "flats" near the mouth of the Hussey. I don't think I've ever seen a tanker anchored here, even though the area is marked "Oil Transfer Area" on the chart. I sailed close by her stern and continued on along a course parallel to Clapboard Island, passing just inside of Cow Island Ledge. During this period the wind really started freshen up, and I estimated the wind to be at least 15 to 18 knots true. I was on a close-hauled course and the full main was completely overpowering the boat. I eased the sheets on both the main and the jib, luffing both slightly in an attempt to spill a bit of wind. Despite the fact that I was seriously undersheeted, I was still making 6.4 steady to windward.

I reached off around the southern tip of Clapboard to head back to my mooring. The boat was just screaming on the beam reach, and continued to barrel along like a freight train as I made off for a broad reach. Exhilerating! Eventually I had to gybe, and decided that with all the wind and too much sail that I should roll the jib first. Then I sheeted the main in quite a bit so that I could manually handle the sail through the gybe and prevent it from flopping over in the near 20 knots. The gybe was uneventful and I quickly ran out the sheet. I found that I was making 5.5 knots or better with just the main up.

And to round it out...

At this point I looked behind to find that Glissando was doing the same thing. I noticed that there was quite a fog bank just outside the islands. It even looked like it had fingers starting to reach closer inshore. I was surprised by this, but figured that the bank was just haning right out there as it often does when we have brief clearings during extended periods of fog and drizzle. I continued along for a few minutes and looked back again. The fog was definitely closing in on the anchorage. I guess I picked the right time to head in!

As I approached my end of the anchorage I decided that I'd drop the main outside and motor in to the mooring. Between the encroaching fog and fresh winds it seemed that there was no pressing reason to sail in to the mooring. By the time I got the main squared away and had motored back to the mooring, the fog was filling in all around me. I got the cover on the sail and the boat packed up and at that moment I realized that I couldn't see Sturdivent Island, Clapboard Island, or the Portland Yacht Club! Wow. An hour ago it was warm and sunny. I guessed there wouldn't be any dinner on the boat, and I packed up and headed for home.