The forecast was for 15-25 knots all day today. Fantastic, but I don't want to wear myself out right before the regatta. I was aiming to get to the club by 11am. I got a little busy in the morning and it became clear that noon was a better goal. On the way to catch the bus I realized that I hadn't been to Munroe's yet and this would be my last chance. So I stopped in for a quick look. I was waylaid by a Japanese guy from the hostel. He was really struggling with English so having a conversation was a time consuming thing. It's too bad really that I didn't have more time. Anyway, I probably talked to him for half an hour. I think I made it to the club just after one with a relaxed, heel dragging sort of attitude. I chatted with a few sailors, then took a while to change. I finally made it on the water after 2. The wind was still decent - full hiking. I'm told I missed white caps this morning. It would have been good to do a few screaming reaches. I wasn't really sure what I wanted to work on in higher wind. Tacking and gybing smoothly and keeping the boat flat.
As it turned out, the wind was steadily dying. I did a few reaches in the best of it and then headed upwind out of the bay. Really just wanting to relax, sail, and see the mountains on the horizon. I played with the controls on the way out to work on boat speed a bit. Hard without another boat as a reference. I was working on being one with the boat. Responding to it more quickly, feeling the speed. Outside the bay, the wind seemed even lighter. I just kept going towards Discovery Islands for a while. I wish I had taken a look at a chart. It might have been nice to land on a beach and explore a bit. I recall from cruising last September that you really do need a chart to land this island without hitting something. I didn't want to take any chances with no coach boat and only one other sailboat out.
As the wind died, I played with boat trim a bit - sitting way back in the cockpit and watching the wake smooth out as I moved forward. I need to remember to sit a bit further forward than I have been in light wind. I worked on gybes a bit as I headed back to the bay hoping for more wind. Then a few more starts - I wish I had some video showing and explaining this. As the wind really dropped off, I headed for the dock. I was still a few hundred meters out when the wind died completely. I drifted on my momentum for a while, then pumped the sail for a while, and finally used the rudder to paddle in past the big rock.
All in all, a great day sailing. I wasted the best wind, but I didn't wear myself out. I really enjoyed relaxing in the sunshine, bonding with my boat.
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