Spring!

[crazycarl]

Along the shore the orange colored water indicates pine pollen season is here. Mullets are jumping, and crabs crawl about the rocky shoreline. The seagrass is turning green again and the neighbor's daffodils, tulips, and fruit trees are in bloom. Two forest turtles make their way across the yard while squirrels dig for the pecans they buried last fall.

Although we can sail here year round, spring is always a special time in a boating community. Friends and neighbors are out cleaning up their boats and discussing what is on their bucket list voyages for this years sailing season. The Wednesday evening "races" began last week, and I'm receiving emails about upcoming club cruises. Today I had it mind to go for a sail immediately after church, however our priest was a 1/2 hour late, and Joanie wanted to stick around to talk as it was her 1st day out of the house since her surgery 4 weeks ago. At church I ask a friend if he's going out this afternoon. "No, I'm a fair weather sailor and spring winds are too fickle and violent". Another man agrees. After a quick stop at the market we returned home and I strolled down to the dock. The Compac was moving forward and back at the dock as if to say "let's go"! According to the towns wind gauge and the windy app, the winds are a pleasant 8 mph. Looking out at the protected creek, rolling whitecaps tell me otherwise. Looking up, the tall pines are swaying in long arc and I hear the chairs at the fire pit blow over as the wind howls through the yard. The gentleman across the cove waves and shouts something, but it's lost to the wind. Still, I contemplate taking her out, until I remember removing the reefing lines to replace them with new ones. Looking out at the water I tell myself, "10 years ago you wouldn't hesitate". So, I think, am I hesitating because I'm wiser, or because I'm getting old...er?

[deisher6]

Hey Crazy:
When sailing the Neuse, above Minnesot Pt it is like sailing on a lake, below Minnesot it is like sailing on the Sound.  That is unless the wind is out of the NW.  Even then there is less chop on the upper Neuse than if the wind is fetching all the way from the Outer Banks to Oriental on the lower Neuse.

The first of the month and this past Friday and Saturday, I have had some brisk sails New Bern to MCAS Cherry Point-Oriental, with average speed above 5 knots and max speed 7 knots. I always start with a double reefed main off the dock, and several times like Saturday I wish that I would have kept it there.  Some brisk sailing.

Break out your bigger boats and reef em down!

Smooth sailing
regards charlie
PSC 34 Windrunner