Governor's Cup Race on “Family Knot”, August 3-4, 2012

Capt Trip welcomed Stan and Murph aboard “Family Knot,” the Gemini 105MC cruising catamaran he and his family have been cruising around the Chesapeake for 7 years. in irons if the crew is not careful. Each tack was successful and a bit faster than the tack before it. This good omen encouraged the captain and crew. Since none of us had raced together on “Family Knot” it was nice to know we were already performing as a good team.

Stan and CaptMurph crew aboard "Family Knot"

We motored out to the bay beyond the starting line to practice a few tacks. This was important as tacking a catamaran can be tricky as the widely separated hulls can easily get caught

"Family Knot" track for the 2012 Governor's Cup Race

The start was very smooth with no close encounters of the bumping kind and we were ahead of a couple boats and only a few yards behind most of our class, Multihull B. You can see some really cool tracking of the race, including “Family Knot” due to the GPS unit every boat had on board for this race. You can follow the details at this website: http://www.smcm.edu/govcup/.

With the breeze out of the south, it was a tacking adventure. Although the wind was light at about 8-10 knots at the start, it very slowly yet consistently built until we were seeing 16-18 knots of breeze by midnight. With the lighter air at the start we broke out the screecher, a very large, light wind sail flown off the roller furler forward of the genoa jib. With the screecher sheeted tight and the mainsail and boom also close hauled our boat speed through the water gradually and steadily rose from 6 knots until we were barrelling along at over 10 knots of speed through the water.

Stan and Captain Trip

Our practice tacking before the start led Stan and Murph to a deadly sense of overconfidence as each crew suffered the heart wrenching status of stranding “Family Knot” in irons. Skipper Trip was kind while disappointed in the two tacks, but his guidance led the crew so that the dreaded event never occurred again.

"Family Knot" underway

With the stronger breeze the screecher had to come down, but when we discovered a knot in the furling line, the routine effort became a serious struggle for Captain Trip as he knelt at the bow getting doused by the green water as he worked through the problem. The solution was to just drop the screecher's halyard and stow the entire sail and furler in a locker until a better time came to work out the kinks.

Even with the screecher doused, the water was shooting out of the stern from under both hulls, the sound loud and exciting, especially after dark, as it reminded me of a fire hose shooting a steady stream aft. The leeward hull was pressed deeply into the bay and was shooting a boisterous wake high above the transom as we flew along our tack.

Chesapeake Bay sunset from "Family Knot"

I was the first of the crew to buckle under and asked the skipper for a rest. Kindly, Captain Trip sent me to my bunk below. As I fell into a deep slumber, I could hear Stan and Trip tack the boat several more times, but the loud rushing seas gradually grew quieter.

About 3am I woke to Stan suggesting it was time he got a little shut-eye. Given that I had expected much less of a nap, I climbed out of the berth as quickly as I could and wished Stan a good night's rest. Trip was still gamely staying awake and guiding us through the moonlit night as we ducked freighters, barges, tugs and fellow racers. Aside from the excitement of a racer with no nav lights save a single all around white light (usually just an anchor light) and a tug pushing a barge with a very large, bright spotlight that obliterated the possibility of seeing his navigation lights, the crossing went smoothly. And thankfully, all were without incident.

Just before the sun began to light up the eastern horizon with its initial glow, Trip raised Stan and grabbed a little rest on the settee in the main salon. By this time the breeze had settled back down to a lighter 6-10 knots so our boat speed also dropped to 4-8 knots. Very good for a sailboat in the light air, but not nearly as exciting as the 10+ knots of the late evening before.

Stan and Murph worked “Family Knot” through a few tacks towards Point Lookout at the mouth of the Potomac River as Trip gained some well-earned rest. By the time the sun had cleared the horizon and began heating up the new day, Captain Trip was also up and ready to tackle the challenge of a light air, downwind finish.

The final tack to make the turn at Point Lookout proved successful and our skipper dragged the monstrous spinnaker from the depths of the sail locker. After a significant effort as the sheets, guys, halyard and sock were properly led and deployed, the spinnaker was set free of the enclosing sock and pulled powerfully on “Family Knot” providing a 3 knot boost to the declining speed the downwind point of sail was threatening.

Captain Trip with his spinnaker flying

The wind turned flukey as it dropped to almost nothing with the spinnaker just hanging from the pole, halyard and sheet, then would pipe up to 15 knots as we blasted underneath a full and nearly bursting spinnaker. That was the experience as “Family Knot” caught up to a struggling monohull trying to make their spinnaker fly properly. The pièce de résistance came as we caught a satisfying puff that seemed to leave the monohull grounded as “Family Knot” raced by under full spinnaker. Although the beams of the two vessels were only 75 feet abreast of each other the wind was clearly favoring Trip, Stan and Murph.

The gun sounded as “Family Knot” cleared the finish at the tall ship serving as the committee boat and the race was over. As Stan said, “We hit nothing larger than us and we finished.” In other words, it was a highly successful race. And we enjoyed the grand finish of blasting by another boat just before crossing the finish line.

Family Sailing is Great Fun! August 2, 2012

When a great American family goes sailing, the day is going to be a great one. 

Family Sailing the Chesapeake Bay

Stan and Adrian and their children Leah and AJ are the friendliest folks and truly enjoy their time on the water. They met Kelly IV and Captain Murph, clambered aboard, picked out their life jackets and we were off to find the breeze.

Although there was not much wind in Back Creek, Stan soon found it at the mouth of the Severn River. Stan's steering proved his sailing classes were time well spent as he nosed Kelly just off the wind enough to enjoy a bit of heel and kick up a light spray in the blazing sunshine and light air.

Leah, Stan and AJ

AJ took over the wheel and did as well as his Dad keeping the speed up and the apparent wind at its best. There may have been some coaching by Dad but AJ's guidance led Kelly across the bay until we had cleared the breadth of the main shipping channel and were nearing the western shore of Kent Island, several miles east of Annapolis.

Leah, Adrian, AJ at the helm and Stan

Leah's turn at the helm indicated a trend was in the making. This was a family made for sailing! She had a light touch on the wheel and a grin on her face as she drove Kelly IV towards Tolly Point and Bay Ridge back on the Annapolis side of the Bay.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge off Kelly IV's port bow

Adrian really excited her clan when she applied the magic touch to take Kelly IV to her maximum speed of the day spraying the sparkling bay water over the bow and getting the entire boat to display toothy grins.

Adrian enjoys the breeze on the foredeck

Stan enjoyed getting back at the controls, but had the less exciting duty of leading the crew off the wind. In the light air, this meant the apparent wind was minimal and the cooling nature of the breeze disappeared. We fired up the iron genny and motored into Back Creek.

It turns out that when docking the boat this wonderful team followed Captain Murph's guidance perfectly, but still experienced multiple unsuccessful efforts to get Kelly into her slip. Finally a friend on the dock asked, “Is your mainsail raised for a reason?” The extremely red-faced (nothing to do with the sun) Captain Murph merely replied that Kelly would be back to the slip after a short jaunt for some sea room to drop the sail that he should have lowered before nearing the marina.

Once the mainsail was lowered, the great family crew docked as expected and all was well.

Liquid Sunshine and the New Cat - July 20-22, 2012

New crew and renewing crew visited “Kelly IV” and CaptMurph last weekend. Unlike the many hot, humid days experienced much of the previous summer days, this weekend was just plain wet. Experienced crew Guy Stewart, Bill & Sarah Paviol introduced new crew Ed and Meredith Stewart to “Kelly IV” and Capt Murph. Due to the long drive from Pittsburgh and St. Mary's, PA, the weekend crew didn't arrive until after 11pm, but that was just in time to fire up the galley stove for some late night burgers and munchies. Once hunger was sated, the crew, new and old, toured the new catamaran that is a major yacht in the Moorings fleet in Annapolis. Once the appropriate oohs and aahs were expressed, it was finally late enough for everyone to return to “Kelly” and crash in their bunks for the night.

Sarah, Ed and Meredith

The next day continued with unceasing liquid sunshine, so the sea trial of the new powercat was cancelled. Breakfast was still a grand success which is always the case when this crew is running the show on board “Kelly.” Bill was the primary chef, but had significant assists from Guy and Ed. Murph, Sarah and Meredith merely enjoyed the fruits of their labors.

Murph had to attend to his broker's duties, so the crew hit the town of Annapolis for a day of touring enjoyment, visiting the shops, walking the thoroughfares, and ducking between the raindrops.

Sarah at CaptMurph's office

That evening, the crew put together another grand meal, proving that we never starve and usually eat much too well on board “Kelly IV.” The evening downpours maintained the damp atmosphere, so “Kelly's” crew shrugged it off and played 500 through the evening until sack time.

Sarah and Meredith aboard "Sylvester"

The next day was still cloudy, but the indomitable crew sallied forth on board the new catamaran, “Sylvester.” The slick new yacht was soon operated by Meredith and Sarah (under CaptMurph's watchful eye) and they did a great job steering “Sylvester” towards the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, northeast of Annapolis.

Dads, Ed & Bill, enjoy the sail as their daughters steer

A mild breeze filled in for a time so the boat drifted under sail for about an hour and a half, covering about about a mile and a half. Not fast, but it was a lazy, comfortable day to be out on the water.

"Sylvester", Leopard 39 sailing catamaran

Crossing under the bridge was both the turning point to head south for Thomas Point Lighthouse as well as breaking out the fixins for a terrific lunch. The little breeze we had was now nearly nonexistent, so the engines were fired up for a motorsail south. As we passed one yacht after another, at least one crew member was heard to be asking those on a nearby yacht, “might you have any Grey Poupon?”

Thomas Point Lighthouse is the only screw-pilelighthouse in the bay which stands at its original site. Others exist at museums and are great to visit, but sailing past the light at Thomas Point always seems special. “Sylvester” took the “Kelly” crew nearby for photos, then returned everyone safely to the docks at Annapolis Landing Marina in time for the long trip home.

The Bridge Looms Nearby, July 7-9, 2012

Saturday afternoon on the Chesapeake is often a hot, hazy, humid stereotypical day, but Saturday, July 7 was special when John and his grandson, Nathanael, showed up early for their weekend on “Kelly IV.”

Track of sailing with John and Nathanael

John and Nathanael packed their gear on board and “Kelly” nosed out of her slip, through the dogleg that makes up the channel out of Back Creek, and into the Severn River. The wind was light but there was enough air that sailing on a close reach made the heat dissipate, thanks to the moderate apparent breeze of “Kelly's” forward motion through the small, choppy wavelets left over from the many other boats enjoying the summer weekend.

First John, then Nathanael, took the helm and steered “Kelly IV” through the maze of crabs pots that cluttered the waterway at the southeast corner of the Severn's mouth. The proof of their excellent boat handling is that no pots were snagged and the sailing was a blast. We never heeled more than a few degrees, but the mild breeze created by the 12,000 pounds of fiberglass pressing forward made it clear we had two great crew. In fact, John's instruction led Nathanael to a near perfect execution of helm control, keeping “Kelly” on a very straight, unwavering track as we tacked northwest towards the three now-defunct, radio towers.

Nathanael at the helm

With the sun slipping lower behind the domes and towers of Annapolis, we docked “Kelly” and enjoyed various crab dinners at “Buddy's” in downtown Annapolis.

The next day after a few hours in the office, I joined John & Nathanael on board for another sail, this time our goal was to reach the 4 mile long ChesapeakeBay Bridge. Once again John instructed his grandson in the nuances of handling and steering a small keelboat under sail. Nathanael proved that his superb steering skills were no fluke as he consistently steered “Kelly IV” on a close hauled tack keeping her as close to the light breeze as she'd go. Since the wind was coming directly from the bridge we had to tack several times taking over 2 hours to finally approach within about a mile of the bridge.

Nathanael had learned quickly from his grandfather and all three of us enjoyed a terrific day of sailing until, during and after the bridge loomed nearby.

"Kelly IV" Cruises the Chesapeake, July 4-6, 2012

Thanks to a terrific effort by Keith Otto and his friend Stephanie, "Kelly IV" began her first real (albeit brief) cruise on the Chesapeake Bay.

Brief cruise to Whitehall Creek

Keith and Stephanie arrived on Wednesday afternoon, loaded their gear on board and we immediately motored away from Back Creek.  Unfortunately, we couldn't raise the sails as they weren't yet bent onto  the boom and forestay and we were eager to enjoy a neighborhood celebration on Whitehall Creek with Don and Donna Hekler.  Whitehall Creek is only 5 miles from Annapolis Landing Marina by boat so Kelly motored there easily within an hour.  Thanks to Don's waypoints, we found the “crab free zone” in Whitehall Bay and avoided picking up any crab pots with Kelly's propeller.  We set the anchor, settled into the dinghy and were soon sitting down to enjoy a terrific meal with Don, Donna, Gail and Alex, among many others.

The Hekler's were kind enough to invite us for their Independence Day celebration complete with Maryland crabs steamed with Old Bay seasonings.  It was a classic Chesapeake Fourth of July.  The kids were running races around the block on their scooters while the adults cracked open the crabs and laughed at each others' jokes and stories.  After cleaning up and enjoying the refreshing air conditioning in the Hekler's home, the “Evelyn Marie” hosted the seven of us for a bayside view of the famed Annapolis fireworks.  Don and Donna have spent the past several years bringing the classic wooden 1960, 35 foot bay-built deadrise, to pristine condition.  As a stable, open platform, she was ideal for  hosting our group interested in the glorious flashes of red, white & blue fireworks,  Don's rousing collection of patriotic band marches, and relaxing conversation among friends.

Kelly IV with her windscoop rigged on an earlier cruise

With a comfortable breeze wafting through Kelly from the wind scoop at the forward hatch, we slept well and awakened to a bright, warm morning.  Keith went to work immediately as we bent the mainsail on.  This involves many different lines, all threading their way back to the cockpit through a number of blocks and stoppers.  After an hour of reeving, hoisting and knotting, we had the mainsail settled smoothly on her boom and a first rate hunger raging in our stomachs.

Kelly took us into Spa Creek for a traditional breakfast and pledge of allegiance at Chick and Ruth's on Main Street.  Then we rushed her back into Back Creek as I had to work while Keith and Stephanie played tourist in downtown Annapolis.  That evening I put Keith back to work as we rigged the 155 Genoa jib onto its furler on the headstay.  Now Kelly was truly ready to take her crew sailing.

The next morning Stephanie got her first true taste of sailing as Keith and I put "Kelly IV" through her paces with full main and genny drawing the breeze on a beam reach across the mouth of the Severn River.  Keith introduced Stephanie to the simple pleasure of lying on your back on the foredeck gazing upward at the sails.  The full sails present a wonderful kalidescope with the blue sky splintered by the bulging white sails, sparkled with the burnished sphere of the radar detector and flapping flags.  With the light breeze, the sailing was comfortable and easy, a great way to introduce Stephanie to the joys of travel under sail.

Part-time Cruising Again, June 23, 2012

To view the cruises of the 2012 season, just click the button at the bottom of each page for "Newer Post".

Next week Kelly IV will once again be in the water, if all goes according to plan, and you are welcome aboard.

The famous Thomas Point screwpile lighthouse south of Annapolis, MD

This summer Kelly IV will be doing part-time cruises in the Chesapeake Bay out of Annapolis, Maryland. You are welcome to sail and/or crew, just call or email CaptMurph.

Since the last Trip Log in September 2011 a lot has happened. The winter was spent at home in Pittsburgh with the highlight of “sail-a-brating” with many of our sailing friends and crew at the annual “Sailing and Suds” in February 2012. Kelly IV enjoyed a milder-than-most New England winter in Warwick, Rhode Island. And CaptMurph ended up with a new job! Almost on a whim, a resume was sent in response to an internet posting which led to several phone calls and Skype interviews and now CaptMurph is a yacht broker for The Moorings and Leopard Catamarans, based in Annapolis, Maryland.

The new position started April 2 with four weeks of training at the brokerage's main office in Fort Lauderdale. CaptMurph lived aboard a spacious Leopard 46 in the marina while learning the ropes of his new trade. Since Kelly IV was to be home in Annapolis, she had to be trucked there. Good friend Don Hekler

Captain Don Hekler

of Annapolis oversaw the delivery when Kelly IV arrived in Annapolis as Murph couldn't be there in person. Thanks to Don, Kelly had a great sailor and friend to watch over the folks driving the truck and unloading the precious cargo.

Bob Zimmerman did a yeoman's effort by spending a week in Annapolis sanding Kelly's bottom to help prepare her for spring commissioning. It was very difficult and dirty work, yet Bob slaved away while CaptMurph set up shop at his new line of work. Bob was able to enjoy the evenings as they cruised the restaurants around Annapolis enjoying Davis' and Cantler's to name a couple. With the sanding done, it was merely a wash, wax and paint activity for Kelly to be ready for splashing. Except for that phrase, “while we're at it,” that is. While the mast was down for the first time in a few years, it made sense to finally redo the wiring in the mast and compression post. That work will be done on Monday so Kelly will have her mast stepped and she'll be launched by Wednesday.

Kelly IV's new home is AnnapolisLanding Marina on Back Creek in Annapolis. It is a beautiful marina complete with swimming pool, gourmet restaurant (breakfast and lunches only), fuel dock, dinghy dock, water taxi and much more.

Kelly IV in her slip at ALM

With Kelly conveniently located at the mouth of the Severn River, she can make it to many mid-Chesapeake destinations within a daysail, including Kent Island, Thomas Point, Lake Ogleton, Round Bay, South River, St. Michael's, Oxford, Magothy Bay, Chester River, Rock Hall, and many more. Literally hundreds of other destinations are within a week's sailing vacation, which explains why The Moorings has opened their newest charter base here. In fact, I share my office with the base manager and get to show his boats to interested buyers.

CaptMurph's new position is a full-time proposition, so his sailing time will be trimmed accordingly. For the foreseeable future, his and Kelly's cruising will be one and two-day trips, much like he used to do on Lake Erie. The biggest difference being the huge number of anchorages and destinations now available on the Chesapeake Bay. Also, the drifter and the air conditioning will see a lot more use. :-)

California Desert, Route 66 and Sunshine

Rob leads me through a local park where parts of the M*A*S*H TV show were filmed.

I took a visit with my college roommate, Rob M. in southern California.

We saw several venues around LA, then camped in the desert for a few days, including some gold mining!

Although a bit desert-like, it was a beautiful park.

The one rock struck me as having facial features.

This tree seemed dead, but it may have been the dry conditions.

Our tourist travels included Hollywood.

We rented a motorhome to go camping
in the southern California desert.

As a member of a national gold-mining club, Rob has access
to this and many other camps around the country.

This is a mechanism for dry mining, separating the gold from
the other materials when there is no water available.

The main building in camp provided a social center. 
If anyone was in camp, they could gather together for cards and yarnin'.

We enjoyed our sunrises and sunsets.

A Joshua Tree.  One of many we saw on the return drive.

We spent a day at the termination of US Route 66, the Santa Monica Pier.

Panoramic view looking north from the Santa Monica Pier

Kooser 2012

Murph, Bill, Guy, Sean

Our only photo from this weekend, but it was a terrific weekend.  We were just too busy enjoying ourselves to get photographs!