unconcerned

A little lightning from a summer storm

doesn't bother King Neptune.

after the storms

Thunderstorms and rain in the morning as a storm system worked its way up the Outer Banks, the low sliding off the Carolina coast mid-morning.  Left behind were light winds, puffy clouds.  Anchored for a while with no wind at all, then raised sail to shifting breezes from the east, west and south.  Good light wind practice and, as always, nice to be on the water.

guider

All week long I have found myself stopping to look at the cover of the current issue of Small Craft Advisor.  That's a new design by John C. Harris of Chesapeake Light Craft.  Just beautiful.  

I had the pleasure of meeting John as I sailed into Langford Creek last fall.  From across the creek he recognized the SPARTINA as a Welsford design, motored over to say hello.  He wanted to know the boat's name so he could tell John Welsford we had crossed paths.

Visiting the CLC site I see that the Guider was designed for John Guider to use in the Race to Alaska, a 750 mile race from Port Townsend, Washington to Alaska, no motors, no support.  Wow.  (Seems like it would an excellent boat for the Everglades Challenge!)

Guider has a lot of features I like.  Flat sleeping areas for two people, 6' 6" long, lots of positive floatation with 12 watertight compartments, a simple rig and a seat for rowing.  That bow-mounted anchor is a plus.  

Looks light a great boat for camper cruising.  CLC site says the boat will be available at some point as either plans or a kit.  And there will be a yawl version too, gotta love that.  Nice boat, John.

un-tented

Dinner with friends took a little longer than expected, arrived at the docks after the afternoon storms came through.  Put the tent up anyway, she should be mostly dry by tomorrow.

morning

The air, thick with humidity, a steady breeze, 

grey skies giving way to blue.

And then off to work.

tented

for storms coming tonight 

bridges, open and closed

Breezy enough last evening to tuck in a reef for a pleasant sail from about 4:00 until sunset.  I think I'm finally getting the right set on the mainsail.  Moving the block for the throat halyard has certainly improved the set - and the power - of the full main.

Monday evenings are busy evenings on the Elizabeth.  The SailNauticus crowd was out for a series of races.  SPARTINA played her usual role as the spectator fleet.  The photo above is from after the races as they were coming in at sunset.

And the American Rover was out for a sunset sail too, enjoying the strong southwest breeze.

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I had planned to sail this morning before work, a perfect morning with a steady breeze and a light overcast.  Unfortunately the pedestrian bridge that connects the cruise center to the park was closed.  It is typically only closed (closed to boats, open to pedestrians) when cruise ships are in port.  The cruise season is approaching, they must have been doing some maintenance.

So I hopped in my car to head home and take care of some chores.  And the Berkley Bridge, which I need to cross on the way home, was open (open to boats, in this case an ocean going tug, closed to traffic).  It's been that kind of morning.

still morning

Still morning at the ramp on Scuffletown Creek

Wind filling in as we head down the Elizabeth

Only 80 degrees this morning

It felt like fall

unintentional

Wearing my sunglasses in the bright sunshine, when it is difficult to see the screen on my iPhone, I must have hit some filter in the camera app.  Above is what I found when I got home and looked at my photographs.  The scene did not look like that.  The clouds were white and puffy, yes, the sky bright blue.  But I still like the image, even if it was unintentional.

It was a pretty drive south this morning between the farm friends and the old Dismal Swamp Canal.  Surprising amount of ground fog where the road makes the final curve south leading into North Carolina.  Clear at the ramp, light wind as expected for the sail.  No one on board complained.

My favorite ramp ranger, one who expressed definite feelings about my intelligence, was on station when I came back in early afternoon.  We ignored each other, though I could not ignore the stink from his cigar which was worse than the smell of a poorly tuned, smoke belching diesel. 

I did find a new place to mount my SPOT Gen 3 where it is easily accessible and yet out of the sun and rain.  (That is the end of my oar at lower left, the coaming at top and my day storage box bottom right.)  The SPOT is always on board now, a change I have made since reading about Dory Man's capsize and eventual rescue.  Having all safety gear, whether day sailing or cruising, was recommended to me in an email from my welshman friend and Navigator sailor Steve.  It is an excellent idea.  So the SPOT is always there.  And like my new night signaling strobe, I hope to never use it.

Sunday morning