From time to time people ask me why I don’t day sail. The answer is that it is too much work. Once you have your boat set up properly, it is as easy to sail across an ocean as to go for a day sail, and I like to go out, not out and back.
Nevertheless I did daysail Saturday and Sunday in order for photographs to be taken. The above from a drone. This by me.
I mostly enjoyed myself.
The wind was light, but GANNET sailed well at times.
From the marina to open deep water in Port Royal Sound is about two miles.
On Saturday I was able to sail part way out and part way back into Skull Creek. Back at the dock, the Torqeedo battery, which had started at 100%, was at 79%. But yesterday, after charging the battery overnight to 100%, there was no wind all the way out and I had to power more than two miles. On the way back the wind died and I had to power almost three miles. With the tide against us, I had to use more throttle than usual. A half mile from the slip, the alarm sounded indicating only 20% of battery charge remaining. I reduced throttle and the tiller arm showed that at 2.5 knots we could still power three miles. This was the new, larger 915 watt battery. I would have completely drained the older standard battery.
With the lack of any breeze the sun was brutal on the way back.
I put GANNET in order, then staggered up to the condo where I collapsed until the air conditioning revived me enough to make a life saving martini.
————
A couple of Carol’s friends recently saw Brandi Carlile perform live in Chicago. To no one’s surprise I had never heard of Brandi Carlile until Carol sent me a link to a video of her song ‘The Joke’. Not my usual kind of music, but I do like that video.
