Second Single-handed Sailing
What a prefect day for sailing, but I am missing my crew. My oldest boy was at maintenance day for the NC State sailing club. My youngest was in the process of trading in his sea legs for skating legs and preparing for hockey season. My 1st mate and lovely wife was busying providing taxi services for the household.
Autumn was offically here, even though it doesn't feel like it. It felt more like summer. On the first day of Autumn (22 September) the temperature was 96 degrees in Raleigh. It was the warmest September on record for the Raleigh, NC and surrounding areas.
So when the weather forecast is calling for upper 80s with Southwest winds around 10 knots, then it's a good day to go sailing even if your are short-handed. They were calling for winds 10 to 15 knots on the Pamlico Sound and acturally they were around 15 with gusts in mid-teens. At 09:00, I decided to get underway. With the temperatures forecasting to be in the upper 80s and southwest winds around 10 knots, I wasn't sure if it would be a good day for sailing or working on the segalboat. The winds were gusting around 8 knots at the slip, so I decided to get underway.
When you are single-handed sailing, you need to prepare all the lines and sheets before getting underway. You also need to prepare for snacks and lunch, because you might not have time to leave the helm. I was not disappointed with the weather. After I cleared Whittaker Creek Channels, the winds were blowing around 12 knots from the southwest.
I headed up river toward Adams Creek. I decided to head up river, because the winds were coming out of the southwest and were forecast to change to the northeast in the afternoon as a cold front moved eastward. If the forecast stayed true, then I should be able to tack up river and back in the afternoon. It took a little time to get the timing down in tacking, but after a few tacks I had the process down really good.
The first time I tried single-handed sailing the winds were blowing over 15 knots from the northeast. I had a difficult time bringing up the main and decided to sail without the jib.
Today, I did not have any problems, because the winds were coming out of the southwest and not the northeast and I did not have to deal with severe chops (waves). It was easier to bring up the main. I did not have any issues with the jib either. I let the wind decide which side to roll out the jib. The wind decided to place me on a starboard tack. I enjoyed a nice day of sailing on the Neuse River. The first weekend on Autumn, but it felt more like Summer.
What a prefect day for sailing, but I am missing my crew. My oldest boy was at maintenance day for the NC State sailing club. My youngest was in the process of trading in his sea legs for skating legs and preparing for hockey season. My 1st mate and lovely wife was busying providing taxi services for the household.
Autumn was offically here, even though it doesn't feel like it. It felt more like summer. On the first day of Autumn (22 September) the temperature was 96 degrees in Raleigh. It was the warmest September on record for the Raleigh, NC and surrounding areas.
So when the weather forecast is calling for upper 80s with Southwest winds around 10 knots, then it's a good day to go sailing even if your are short-handed. They were calling for winds 10 to 15 knots on the Pamlico Sound and acturally they were around 15 with gusts in mid-teens. At 09:00, I decided to get underway. With the temperatures forecasting to be in the upper 80s and southwest winds around 10 knots, I wasn't sure if it would be a good day for sailing or working on the segalboat. The winds were gusting around 8 knots at the slip, so I decided to get underway.
When you are single-handed sailing, you need to prepare all the lines and sheets before getting underway. You also need to prepare for snacks and lunch, because you might not have time to leave the helm. I was not disappointed with the weather. After I cleared Whittaker Creek Channels, the winds were blowing around 12 knots from the southwest.
I headed up river toward Adams Creek. I decided to head up river, because the winds were coming out of the southwest and were forecast to change to the northeast in the afternoon as a cold front moved eastward. If the forecast stayed true, then I should be able to tack up river and back in the afternoon. It took a little time to get the timing down in tacking, but after a few tacks I had the process down really good.
The first time I tried single-handed sailing the winds were blowing over 15 knots from the northeast. I had a difficult time bringing up the main and decided to sail without the jib.
Today, I did not have any problems, because the winds were coming out of the southwest and not the northeast and I did not have to deal with severe chops (waves). It was easier to bring up the main. I did not have any issues with the jib either. I let the wind decide which side to roll out the jib. The wind decided to place me on a starboard tack. I enjoyed a nice day of sailing on the Neuse River. The first weekend on Autumn, but it felt more like Summer.
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