Solo & Double Handed Sailing, February 11 and 16, 2019

Solo sail February 11, 2019

Titusville weather produced 15 knot breezes on Monday and Saturday.  The wind came from the south on the 11th and from the west on the 16th.  Steadier and more consistent made the sailing a bit easier on Monday, but since Irish Rover had two crew on Saturday, handling the flukier, gustier breezes was still easily accomplished.

Southwest view as we sail north

Broad reach back to the marina

I didn't have any crew on Monday but with the steady southerly, frequent sunshine and warm temperatures, it seemed a waste to not go sailing.  Let's face it, Irish Rover is always ready to escape her slip!

On the 16th when John and I raised the mainsail on Irish Rover we discovered a hitchhiker!  There was a small bat trying to hide between the sail luff and the slot in the mast.  With a bit of coaxing, the little guy flew away.

The breeze required a reef in both jib and main as we sailed south of the Brewer Bridge on a starboard beam reach.  Before long the stiffening breeze had us take in a second reef in the main and trim the sails to a close haul.

Upon achieving our halfway point, we jibed our sails and ran before the wind  until reaching the bridge, where we dropped our sails and motored back to the marina. 

That's a BAT trying to hide in the mast slot for the mainsail

Irish Rover's track on February 16, 2019

John at the wheel fighting weather helm