Cruise to Middle Ground Light, 9/19/2009

Good breeze on this Saturday, and we decided to take the boat out for a day cruise. Wind was out of the N at 15kn +. With the ebb tide, we decided to go downwind to Middle Ground light against the tide and beat back with the tide under us.

On the way out there was a sailing dingy capsized by the Willoughby bank, and a lot of chatter on channel 16. Turns out the boat was from the naval station, and had to be towed back. We put up the #2 with one reef, and ate lunch under way.

It was completely overcast, but we had a cracking sail in the generous breeze. Down by the mark we changed to the #3 and put in the second reef. It was our first time sailing with the new to us mainsail from Canada, but it looked much better than what we had before. The only thing is that it is hard to reef at the luff, because the grommet is too close to the mast to fit over the reefing hook. But easily overcome with a sail-tie.

Nice tide assisted beat back to Willoughby.