Another day on the RIVHA

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WOOOO HOOOO what a day yesterday was on the Potomac. The wind built nicely to a
full on blow by the end of the day !! 2 boats (SC15 and SC19) and 3 folks !!! We had a bit of
rain but not even close to what was at the RRR this year. An early lap around
Shark Tooth Island on the SC19 resulting in going over board to walk the boat
through the skinny water at both ends of the island while GaHamby finished rigging.
Then chasing him down after running the full length of Currioman in less than 15
minutes including navigating the channel at the top of the bay. By the time we
got on the open Rivha it was a full on blow with light rain and small wave action.
GaHamby was caught and the run continued toward the middle of the river on a
starboard close reach toward Stratford Hall Cliffs.

With one tack the lay line for a port close reach to St Clements was on. Crew
on the wire waves building and sheeted in. Running just on the fringe of the
rain it was coolish. Fast and the waves building but the SC19 ironed them out.
After a struggle to land at St Clements Beach, thanks to the complete suck hole
made by the wind shadow and folks fishing of the pier, we ate some lunch as the
black fly's dined on us. We discussed the trip back and decided on a 2 island
rounding for the outing making a figure 8 out of tracks. Around the back side
of St Clements then a sling shot down wind run the full width of the Potomac
into Nomini Bay on a port broad reach.

After clearing the wind shadow suck hole it was game on and a brick on the gas
peddle. After a short 1 mile port close reach it was a jib to a 1.3 mile run on
a starboard close reach to the green marker 7. Current was heavy going up river
and the SC19 was slipping right along. After rounding we took a break for GaHamby
to catch up and wanted to see what we could find for speed in the calmer water
on the back side of St Clements. A short one mile in and back out to the island
on a beam reach and Gahamby was back in the fray. My mistake to let him as all we
saw the rest of the way across the river was his main sheet blocks. Waves
building we entered Nomini Bay now surfing the backs of waves and agreeing it
was better than going the other way but knew that was to come as we rounded the
bottom of Shark Tooth Island.

It was a 5.5 mile run and as GaHamby made the turn at the bottom I could recognize
the SC15 hobby horse ride I had not enjoyed earlier this year crossing both the
lower Potomac and the Chesapeake. As we neared the bottom on Nomini I readied
the crew on the wire for a fast short starboard beam reach and to stay sharp for
the skinny waters. The SC19 never found either the skinny water or the chop.
After clearing the skinny water we rounded up the bay for the best sailing of
the day.

GaHamby was chased down again by the top of Currioman Bay and the decision to stay out
was made. Every reach up and down Currioman Bay was a gift of great wind and
low wave action that allowed for double trapping and hull flying on the SC19.
After several reaches the crew was cold and in need of a cold beer to warm up
with. It was a close hauled sail up to the pier that ended well. The pier will
be there for our next outing. At the end of the day no boats over, no donations to
Davey Jones and the GPS read 36.36 miles sailed and a max speed of only
16.9mph=14.68knts. The max wind at Piney Point during the time we were out was
only 14knts. BOOO YAAA !!! Faster than the wind on old boat and sails !!!

Thank you Bill, Dave, Tom and Matt !!

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Ok here is the video link to the raw footage of one of the runs up Currioman Bay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnm-Gyy-8hI

[DanBerger]

What, are you guys afraid of coming to Virginia Beach to race?? We had a GREAT distance race this weekend that I KNOW you knew about.

You missed the poker run, too!

[havliii]

Dan, I would have come down for the distance race but I started a charter trip on that day, took a lead sled out on the bay for seven days. I know that is 'blasphemy' on this board but it was a superb trip. The Jenneau 39i was not an outright pig, we had her doing 7.7 upwind in about 18 kts of breeze. Did the leg from Cape Charles to Gwynn's Island in about an hour and 50 minutes. (I'll post a video link)

I am doing the Annapolis to Oxford race on the bay next weekend on the SC20, still time to sign up if you wanna join the fun, 68 boats registered so far, 8 of them are beach cats!

Andy