Summary

We had a great trip back from Cedar Point YC starting at 9am Saturday. There was a little rain around 10am but it dispersed quickly. Larry, Mike and Cheryl helped with the delivery on the way back. We held training with lessons on reefing and shaking out the reef in the main, sail changes with the #1 and #3 jib, route planning, piloting through restricted waters, navigating with the GPS, navigating without the GPS, sail trim for different conditions, navigating at night, recognizing various navigation marks and lights, lighting on ships at night, and rules of the road.

Winds started out of the West at 11 kts, then quickly shifted to the Northwest and built to about 20 kts, gusting to 25kts. Boat speed reached 9.6 kts with the #3 jib and a reefed main with the apparent wind off the port beam. Seas were about 2 feet and were following off the port quarter, so it made for a mostly dry ride.

We ate well and had a hot meal of ravioli cooked after the sun went down. Bill was even able to take a nap for an hour with the competent crew on board.

As we rounded the corner at Point Judith to head towards Newport, the Wind had shifted directly out of the North at about 12 kts. By this time, we had changed to the #1 jib and shook the reef out of the main. We had the motor running to charge the battery and were sailing from 5.5 to 6.5 knots.

Once we passed the bell by the dumplings, we dropped the jib and proceeded to the center span of the Newport Bridge. We had the main dropped, flaked and covered and tied up at half past midnight Sunday morning. Overall 100.5nm with an average speed of 6.5 kts. Not too shabby!