May 2010

Billingsport jetty and Mantua Creek entrance blue and white tanks.

Saturday May 29, 2010
Harbor Pointe to Billingsport Saturday afternoon.


Depart Harbor Pointe 1:15 PM with less than 5 knot breeze 2 hrs before high slack, just enough breeze for a gentle broad reach (2 knot SOG) to the up river end of Little Tinicum. Pass through the gap between Mifflin Bar and the sand bar, wind in the main river picks-up between 5 and 10 for a good dash (4 to 4.5 knot) across the shipping channel to Billingsport.

Slack tide at Billingsport and the breeze has again dropped below 5, tugs are marshalling barges up river in the Tinicum Range anchorage. My bearing to the next mark is into the breeze but tide would start to be in my favour soon, this would be a series of tacks can to nun to can but not at a speed to clear the channel for the barges.

Broad reach back to Mifflin Bar then breeze drops to almost still air, slow lazy tacks to the marina, close to marina drop and bag the genoa, motor on and drop and tie the main.

Begin my approach, motor throttle down, the outboard dies, check fuel, try to restart, nothing. Scull rudder so that my drift will be clear of the adjacent marina, untie and raise the main.

Begin my approach under sail, the tidal current has not yet picked up much, the breeze is still gentle and I will be dead to wind in the slip.

The marina had changed my slip to an inside slip from the end tee, I was using the more expensive end tee until the new occupant arrived.

Approach was at less than 1 knot, a gust picked up, my speed was above 2 knots, peeled off and circle at the fairway entrance.

Restarted my approach with main sheeted out and luffing, but speed in the fairway was just under 2 knots, passed my slip and rudder over to swing into the adjacent vacant slip dead to the wind.

Boat secured, 4:45 PM try the motor, starts first time?

Sunday morning motor started, adjusted idle, clean and greased throttle linkage and cable terminals. Motor out for a while, start, stop, forward, reverse then return to correct slip.

I will be practicing sailing in and out of my slip at slack tide, even when not perfect or intentional it looks cool.