Here is my media dump from a very enjoyable fall spent day sailing around Annapolis. Blue Moon was a delight and proved much faster than any other sailboat she came across apart from pure race boats.
We got in a couple of nice spinnaker runs in light breezes. Vis a vis boat storage, we were sort of “couch surfing” this fall. We borrowed a slip at AYC from a good friend while his boat was being worked on, then bummed a mooring in our beloved Lake Ogelton from another friend for the rest of the season, where I enjoyed a number of lovely sunsets. The 38 MKII’s helm is a delight in any wind condition. The boat show is the high water mark of the fall sailing season here in Annapolis, especially as it is a magical event where for some reason drinking for the entire day is perfectly normal and healthy. Kind of like all of South Florida. Or the entire Caribbean. The AIS map shows a stampede of sailboats heading south the day after the boat show. This year, we won’t be in the queue. Maybe next year?We enjoyed a lovely overnight cruise to the Rhode River with good friends commissioning their brand new Passport 545 and using the overnighter as a shakedown. While we were anchored on the Rhode River, a friend stopped by on his way out for a day sail. Recognize his boat? She’s Sabre 42 #57, Morning Dew, formerly our old baby Le Saberage! On more than one weekend, the winds were too strong to have an enjoyable sail, so I would enjoy a wee dram of rum on the mooring. Lake Ogelton evenings!I took a single handed cruise back to the Rhode River, and got in a bit of wing on wing spinnaker running before the wind died and I had to motor. Cruising single handed without at least one buddy boat was a new experience for me. Too lonely, I decided. Next year we’ll probably cruise mostly with the Sailing Club of the Chesapeake, or with AYC’s cruising club. Sunset on the Rhode River.
Returning from the Rhode River I had a wonderful 15 knot northerly, and thoroughly embarrassed a 45 foot long modern European cruising boat that was sailing the same route by passing it from behind and leaving it in the dust.Living ashore during the fall has its advantages – primarily the wonderful fall colors we enjoy here. Until next season, Lake Ogelton!
Rover's Blog 
Yes, and I continue to insist that this average performance advantage is totally due to the deep keel fin! Oh, It’s True!