Back on the Block

The forecast was not the greatest so I was single-handed for the weekend, as organizer for (and participant in) the Mitchell Race. I ran jacklines and stayed tethered with my harness. It was cloudy and overcast on the sail out, with occasional light showers. I opted to race in class 4, for cruising boats, just to give some competition to the one other boat that was new to the race and chose that class. The breeze started out 10-15 knots from the east, but died down below 10 in the afternoon. I had a great sail out and even saw a six-foot thresher shark jump clear out of the water maybe 100 feet away from me as I approached Block Island!

Overnight, the breeze came in from the west about 20-30 knots making for rough conditions at the dock. I was disappointed to learn the floating dock wasn't in when I arrived, and I didn't have any fender boards with me, but managed to make-do turning my fenders sideways. Still, not a great night sleep as I got up a couple times to adjust the fenders.

Sunday was beautifully sunny, but still pretty breezy until diminishing a bit in the afternoon. I had my folding bike so I rode to southeast light and Mohegan bluffs, in addition to starting off my Coffeeneuring season.

The return sail on Monday was mostly sunny with 15-20 knots from the WSW making for a pretty easy broad reach back to Newport. I even managed to break 11 knots very briefly a few times, surfing with the following seas!









 

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