Sail #3 

For sail number three of this season we decided to sail off the mooring as our downwind neighbors were out sailing so we had room to maneuver.  We decided to sail off the mooring with the mainsail only for easy maneuvering. Because there was a little bit of wind and we had room, we did not “walk the mooring” pendant amidships to orient Rosalind favorably to the wind. Instead we dropped the mooring pendants and let Rosalind fall off and catch the wind.  Rosalind took somewhere between 30ft (9 m) and 50 ft (15 m) to turn 60 degrees and then the main sail started generating power and she started making headway.

It was a hot day so we decided the plan was to only use the main and jib, saving a little bit of work in the sun uncovering and covering up the mizzen. Our plan was to sail out to Red 4 (about 1.2 nautical miles) only with the mainsail, get a better sense of the wind, then roll out the jib once the river opened up. Sailing down the river we soon realized that the actual winds were stronger than forecast. Instead of gusts to 16 knots, we were seen gusts to 22, upper end of Force 5, lower end of Force 6. It was still very smooth sailing in foot-high (0.3 m) waves and nothing like experiencing these winds in the ocean because the river was very flat with the exception of some powerboat wakes. With the stronger winds we were doing 4.6 knots broad reaching (wind almost from behind, on the aft quarter), so we decided to just enjoy a sail with the main only. On the way back, close hauled, we were doing 3.7 knots. In the flat river pushing into wind over 20 knots, it felt a little windy but with the flat water Rosalind moved upwind very gracefully and did not feel like overcanvased (like we had too much sail up). In this outing we found the upper limit of sailing with the just the mainsail. Rosalind’s helm was very light. While we could have put out a little jib to increase our speed downwind but I do not think she would have been happier with more sail upwind. There is something to the well proven adage of “do not put up more sail downwind than you can carry upwind”. While we could get to the same total sail area by a reefed main and partly rolled out jib it is important to know how Rosalind behaved with only the mainsail for situations were tight maneuvering and short handed are required so this was a great test.

Rosalind on a abroad reach in the West River

We enjoyed the sail out to the Rhode River. It is great fun sailing with different sail configurations in different wind conditions. It is allowing us to learn how Rosalind performs with her new mainmast and new mainsail. Another fun sail in the logbook.  

Sailing towards the Rhode River

 2026 Sail #2 - A quick sail with just the main

We were already in the third heat wave of the season and it was only mid-June. The forecast called for high eighties (over 30C), high humidity and sustained winds of 10 knots. The winds were forecast from the north so we decided to sail with the mainsail and jib and see how Rosalind behaved with that sail combination in those conditions. It did not take us long to get Rosalind ready to sail. We left the dinghy at the morning and started motoring out the river.

The wind forecast from the north was funneling down the river from the Chesapeake Bay actually blowing from the NE in the river. Motoring down the river, we had the wind off the starboard bow for the first one and a half nautical miles and with the wind from the NE It became clear that would have to motor all the way out if we wanted to sail back. Not wanting to motor into the wind for almost another hour, we decided instead to unfurl the main, turn around and leisurely sail back to our mooring. 

Slowly sailing up river took less than an hour, confirming that “great things can come in small packages” and Rosalind, with her cleaned bottom easily glided through the water on a broad reach. With only the main up we were not breaking any speed records but the easy sail felt rejuvenating. The previous week we had been working on installing the v-berth side paneling and cabinets and it felt great to be on the water and taking it easy.  

With ten knots of wind, Rosalind was easy to maneuver so we leveraged the opportunity and decided to sail back and pick up our mooring under sail, without using our motor. As we got close, watching Rosalind’s speed, we planned our course through the mooring field. We wanted enough speed for maneuverability and to reach the mooring, but at the same time, we did not want too much speed so as to overshoot the mooring. Approaching KittiWake on her mooring, we decided to leave her to port (go behind her), giving us a little extra time and distance to slow Rosalind down. After passing KittiWake, I turned Rosalind into the wind and Cheryl went forward and grabbed our mooring. As Cheryl secured the mooring pendant on the bollard, I watched and waited for Rosalind to swing to port and then furled the mainsail. 

Rosalind’s track to her mooring

After buttoning up Rosalind, on our way to shore,  we stopped by to say high to our neighbor on Sureya. Simon, commented: “You went for a sail but I did not hear you come back,” I replied with a small smile “We sailed back to the mooring.” It felt good to sail back to the mooring, continuing to enhance our boat handing skills. Another great sail.