Wed night race 07132011

What a race! Had our friend Roberto onboard helping with the lines and taking some great shots. The evening started out easy and we were practicing poling out the jib with our heavy spinnaker pole. As soon as the RC was ready to start, a big black cloud showed up over the Connecticut shore. And sure enough the wind picked up, first a little, then quite a bit until we were somewhat overpowered with the overlapping jib. No time to change with 1min to go! So we went screaming down the line, of course over early and barely avoiding other boats. Sure enough the start was cancelled but in the howling wind some boats took off and were never to be seen again. Meanwhile we had a solid 30kn in the starting area with white caps all over the place.  So we rolled up the jib and went into the next start half way furled. Even then we got heeled over in the gusts like never before. After the first mark the wind subsided and we went full sails again. The rest of the race was very uneventful, and yes, we finished, and not even last!

Tacking before the start

Start postponed

Division3 start

Looking at the fleet from behind

Wed night fleet returning to port

Block Island Cruise

Constance went on a 4 day cruise to Block Island over the 4th of July holiday weekend! On board 6 crew which meant I had to take some stuff off the boat and also finally gave me a reason to adjust the size of the inset for the starboard settee to convert into a double bunk. Quite cozy with so many people onboard but we managed nicely, I think.

Passing through Plum Gut

We started off a little late at 7:30p but made it with remainder of the ebb tide through Plum Gut at 5a. Fabulous morning but then of course the wind died and it took us another 8 hours to make it in the Block Island Lagoon. Overall 20hrs to cover the 85 miles from Cedar Point to Block Island, incl about 5hrs of motoring. In the middle of the Block Island Sound Pat caught a big striped bass, which we invited to stay over for dinner :-)

Nice catch, Pat!

Block Island harbor was pretty crowded and there were no more moorings left, big surprise on a holiday weekend... So we anchored at the north eastern corner of the anchoring area, which works nicely with the shallow draft of the Tartan34C. I'm really happy with the holding quality of our 35lbs CQR anchor. Block Island is notorious for bad holding and I slipped here with Berni's boat before. Even though it was very crowded and quite windy the next day with the wind clocking around the whole compass, we never moved an inch.

Crowded dinghy dock in Block Island

Sunset with Dark & Stormies at the bar of "The Oar"

We stayed all Saturday, walking over the island to the Southern Cliffs. Quite a walk, but rewarded with a magnificent view and a cool splash into the crystal clear water! On the way back we indulged lobster rolls at the old harbor followed by the famous ice cream on main street. Great dinner on the boat with the backdrop of fireworks in our semi-secluded corner of the anchoring area.

Mohegan Cliffs

Next day we had start early to ride the flood tide through the Race back into the Long Island Sound. On the way back we got another (!) striped bass, this time he went for Berni's lure. Going through the Race was kind of eerie, the wind stopped as we entered the sound, but the water was churning like crazy. So engine on and towards the Connecticut shore. Tried to go inside long sand shoal to avoid the brunt of the outflowing tide, but in this case the tidal almanac is not correct, inside the shoal we had a ripping current of about 3-4kn against us vs 2kn supposedly outside. On top of that rain and dense fog set in. Time to get the boat washed down! Meanwhile Pat and I were entertaining other boats by using the Vuvuzelas as fog horns.

Rainy passage back to Connecticut

Finally made it into Clinton harbor, which has nice amenities including a pool and a harbor side restaurant. A little on the pricey side but we couldn't really eat any more striper! Getting into Clinton is a little bit tricky, it's basically up a little river that has tidal flats left and right. The channel is supposed to be changing every year and sure enough the GPS was showing us being  off the channel even though we were clearly within the markers! Good that we have a shallow draft with the center board up since the depth meter was showing 3ft something in the channel :-o
Next day was pleasant and uneventful sailing/motoring back to Westport where we settled for anchor beers at the Black Duck on swaying tables..

Wednesday night race

Photoboat came out and took some great pictures of the CPYC Wednesday night series! We also had a great breeze at 15-20kn with puffs up at 25kn, so just the right weather for Constance! We were actually almost overpowered with the 157% genoa but still had a lot of fun. In the end we got only 2nd last place in our division since the wind died on the last leg, just as usual, but nonetheless a great evening on the water.

C-mark rounding CPYC Wed night series 06292011

Constance ahead (!) of other boats

to the finish

Zincs

This is the heat exchanger zinc after about 6 months of usage,
worn down to a nubbin

New heat exchanger zinc replaced 05/22
West marine part number 28309 10337

Cruise to Penfield light house

Beautiful day so we took Constance out on a little cruise. Penfield reef light house is just about 1 hour away reaching towards Bridgeport and just the right distance for a leisurely afternoon sail. The wind was puffy from the north with some gusts heeling us all the way over, so we decided to shorten sail before something breaks.
The reef that extends from the Connecticut shore to the light house is one of the most dangerous places in the Long Island sound. Many boats have run aground here. There is a wicked current pulling over the reef when the tide runs and if your engine fails and the wind dies and you don't have the anchor ready you are on the rocks in no time. Also the light house seems to stand in the middle of the water and there is no evidence of shoaling around. Being one of the last mason brick lighthouses built, it does have the appearance of a private house on an island if you don't know the area. So I bet some people went in between the light house and the shore wondering what that funny little house would be. Also the light house is supposedly HAUNTED. One of the keepers died while trying to make it to the mainland during a storm and is said to be roaming inside the house at night. The thing does look a bit creepy, doesn't it?

Reaching to Penfield

The Lighthouse

..and reaching back to Cedar Point

some more work

on the boat: Varnishing toerails, replacing the zincs, putting on registration stickers and decals, changing headsail to the big #1 so we have a slight chance on Wed nights. This is how Constance looks inside:

Looking forward through the main cabin

The galley and companionway

We also have a new slip! This one is a little bit more difficult to get out of since it requires backing out into a turn where the old one had plenty of space towards the back. The Tartan 34C is a beautiful boat but unfortunately a demon when it comes to reverse driving. With the long overhangs any side wind will push her away from whatever you're intending to do. Also, since the engine is at an angle towards the midship line the boat initially wants to go to starboard in reverse and then pulls to port when the prop walk effect sets in.  So any undocking requires careful planning and nerves of steel. I guess I still have to learn something here..

Our new slip

First sail

Little bit late on the posting but things have been busy! We took Constance out the first time this year on March 18th. Blustery but sunny day with lots of wind, white caps all over the sound. We put in the first reef, ventured beyond Georges rock and turned around soon after, ahem. Even with the day feeling quite warm on land the waters of the sound are still very cold so it gets chilly after a while even with all the sailing gear on. At least we were probably the first boat out this year, how about that. Oh and I put the sail numbers on so we can race now legally! In hindsight I should have put them a little lower, oh well.