Sail with Katherine and Vanessa; Low 80's F, forecast 10 to 15 knot west wind, actual from NWS at PHL 10 to 15 with sustained gusts to 26 knot. Set out with first reef and small jib sail wing on wing past Mifflin Bar Dike to the first green can at PHL moving fairly fast, come about try to beat into the wind but make little headway. Motor sail with reefed main and eventually drop the jib. The 3 hour sail ends with a perfect dock in sustained gusts after coming through a pirate flotilla with water cannon and water bomb from the party at Foxs Marina.
July 5th
High 70's F, forecast 5 knot breeze from the north (PA side), slow beam reach to PHL with the flood tide and slightly faster return to the marina in slack tide. Returned to the dock about 20 mins after high tide during forecast slack, but the current was running as a fast ebb. My marina neighbors assisted docking claim there was no slack; flood current-swirl-ebb current.
July 18th
Saturday morning sail, low 80's F, 10 to 15 knots from the west gusting to 25 at PHL. A speedy run wing on wing to PHL followed by a swift tacks into the building and gusting wind back to the marina, against 1ft to 2ft chop with white caps. Usually come into to dock with the motor in forward at idle, but need more power to overcome windage against the hull with sails furled. Motor in reverse as the hull snugs against the floating dock and throw stern line on a dock cleat before overshooting the dock. Step off and secure spring line and reset the stern line and secure bow line.
July 25th
Saturday morning sail, low 90's F, faint stirring of the air, slow sail against beginning of the flood tide to Eddystone. Coast Guard issues a Pan Pan for a disabled Bass boat off Boeing. By the time I get to Boeing they are under tow by a Bayliner.
I had a meeting in Fishtown on Friday. I was early so visited Penn Treaty Park on the river where William Penn signed a treaty with the Lenape. View from the waterfront towards Ben Franklin Bridge, the spit of land and jetty to the right was the approximate location of a British fort during the French and Indian War. The water was clear with visibility at 3 to 4 ft
July 26
Thunderstorms forecast for next few days. Sunday morning remove the diesel tank and associated plumbing, the last item in removing diesel odour from the boat. Next will be to partition the lazarette from the boat interior and make self draining by using the former exhaust through hull and provide ventilation, for relocation off the outboard fuel tank. Work for non-sailing days.
Water in the bilge from rain and cleaning the engine compartment has now evaporated leaving a dusty residue, no more drip from a leaky engine cooling jacket or drip from the stuffing box, and less chance of dumping contaminated bilge water into the river.
