Late breaking news....American 2.0 wins
We checked on the race outcome this morning and, no surprise, America 2.0 won its class. Woodwind also won its class. The complete results can be found at the race Web site:
The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race results
Off to a bad start....
Some days, I think, there's a little pixie who's decided to make sport of you. He sits around watching for every opportunity to foil your agenda.
I spent the morning trying to catch up on the blog instead of following my regular morning routines - stretching, eating, tidying up the boat. I couldn't keep the Internet connection going, so I posted the same update multiple times, getting more frustrated as the time ticked away. We had agreed we would leave at 9 a.m. At 10 a.m., after feeding and walking the dog and doing everything necessary to cast off the mooring line and head out of Back Creek, Robert, long-suffering and patient only to a point, began getting ready to leave. I hastily got dressed and ready to take the helm to pull away from the mooring when he threw off the line. When we got into the Severn, the winds were 8 to 10 knots out of the southwest, so we hoisted the sails.
Soon after, slave to my stomach that I am, I went below to fix something to eat. I poured a glass of juice - one of those mixed berry juices that's a lovely red color - and put it on the little lift-up table beside the stove. I cut up a bowl of fruit for me and one for Robert and pulled the yogurt out of the cooler and piled on a couple of tablespoons. It was just about then that a gust of wind heeled the boat and the juice came sliding, sliding, sliding caught the lip of the table, flipped onto the settee cushion and sprayed Madison and her bed (she was startled awake and looked very put out) with what didn't end up on the cushion, my clothes or the cabin's woodwork. I may not be much of a sailor, but I can tell you, my language at that moment would qualify me for the hall of fame.
Robert, trying to keep a straight face, yelled that it wasn't his fault - it was the wind. I knew that. Smart aleck.
Then he had the temerity to tell me he needed my help because we were being blown onto a couple of anchored fishing boats.
Couldn't he see I had a mess to clean up!
Fifteen minutes later, we were past the fishing boats and Madison's bed, a towel, a dish cloth and a couple of rags were soaked with berry juice and out of sight in the laundry bag. I was sitting in the cockpit defiantly eating my fruit and yogurt. Evil pixie.
It was a gorgeous day for sailing with 10-to-15-knot winds in the bay, but I was too out-of-sorts to appreciate it, though I did enjoy seeing the beautiful red and blue spinnakers of the boats involved in some regatta near the bay bridge.
We passed Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse and headed into the South River, then into Harness Creek where we anchored for the night. We had a very nice walk on an "unofficial" trail in the woods of Quiet Waters Park, then had dinner and played a game of Quiddler. It's a good thing I won.