The first day in the low 90's F for a week time for a sail. The air temperature has been over 100 deg F and clear enough to fry my brain, but this morning started in the mid 80's when I left the dock and was mid 90's when I returned.
Left the dock at high slack on a broad reach to the Eddystone red/green "TS" bouy then on to green can "E1" making 3.5 to 4.5 knots SOG.
Come about at "E1" and get good speed on the opposite tack until the ebb tide builds and the breeze fails. Tack shipping channel to shore, but no forward progress.
Roll up the headsail, sheet-in the main and motor sail against the ebb tide. Docking is at more speed than I would like due to the building ebb tide but the boat kisses the dock and dock lines secured.
Afternoon sail on an ebb tide.
Aldo furler and new 135% headsail installed.
5 to 10 knot breeze out of the southwest provides enough power to close reach at a speed over ground (SOG) of 4.5 knot down river against the tide. The new headsail allows the boat to point close to 25 deg off the breeze, but comfortably sustain 45 deg off the wind.
The tidal current flow increases as the breeze dies, come about and have a controled drift with the tide and less than a 5 knot breeze.
The wind shift to out of the north as I pass behind Little Tinicum and get a tidal current assisted broad reach at 5 knot SOG to the airport runway lights. Come about and a slow return with the ebb to the marina and a gentle dock.
