2003 Annapolis to Newport Regatta
aboard the yacht Sinn Fein, a Cal 40
By Bill Nichols
Photo by Gary
The Crew
Peter Rebovich, Sr.- Skipper
Bill Nichols - Navigator
Peter Rebovich, Jr.
Mark Rebovich
Gary Goshal
Henry Henning
Lou Melillo
Joe Pasco
Start - noon Saturday June 14, 2003
The wind was approx. 8 knots, we started on port tack, no problems on the line.
As we proceeded down the bay, thunder storm cells could be seen ahead and to the west with plenty of wind and lightning. The wind came up from behind. We nervously prepared to set the 1.5 oz. chute. We delayed the set until other boats with chutes started to pass us. The wind was 22 to 25 knots from astern. It was a fun ride for a while, we got a little rain, but didn't have to sail through the middle of any storm cells.
By Sunday morning we were stalled within sight of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The wind had lessened and we had to drop the anchor. As I was bringing the anchor out on deck I heard Gary saying from his rack "that is not a good sound". We were stuck for a few hours until the wind filled in during the early afternoon and we proceeded to the sea buoy with 10-12 knots of wind. The wind was somewhat on the nose coming from Newport so we tacked at the sea buoy and headed into shore. The forecast called for the wind clocking from northeast eventually to southeast so we were hoping for lifts to continue up the coast.
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Monday-June 16, 2003
The lifts continued and we maintained our starboard tack up the coast. Around 11:00 am I was on deck downloading weather data with the satellite phone and laptop. As the forecast came in- winds 20-25 k seas 8- 10 ft. the wind started to build and I had to get the equipment down below to avoid getting wet.
Then we "DID THE SAIL PLAN" - drop the #1 jib and put up the #2. I don't know why we carry this sail, it has a narrow wind range and is overlapped with the #1 and #3 on most points of sail. 90% of the time when we put up this sail, shortly after we drop it and go to the #3, it is usually the wrong call and this time was not an exception. It is no small task to change headsails in the ocean, on the wind, overpowered with a building breeze, and large waves. So after slogging to weather with the #2 up for about 20 minutes, we went to the #3. Then we took the first reef in the main, but the wind was still building.
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