Birthday Sail-Part Two (Reenie K)

I woke up early, a little stiff and sore, but several cups of coffee helped. After breakfast and making ready, I weighed anchor. I had to motor pretty far out into Sandy hook Bay to catch a breeze - not like the day before. The bay was like glass for quite a part of the morning.

I sailed North along Sandy Hook until about 1:00 pm and decided to anchor for lunch. I looked up to scan the sky for clouds and grabbed my camera! I've never seen or heard of this phenomenon before - rainbow clouds! The camera washed out some of the color, but it's apparently a rare sight caused by just the right size and shape ice crystals oriented just the right way when the sun is high in the sky. Quite a sight!

After lunch, I pulled the hook and sailed back to Keyport. Easy sail with a few gusts. The gusts get exciting - all of a sudden the boat heels and turns into the wind. Then it heels more! Then it turns into the wind more... then it.... Well you get the idea.
One such adventure had water within an inch of the gunwale! I can see why one of my books says not to EVER cleat a sheet! I clip them but I keep one hand free all the time. Easing the sheet brings the Reenie K upright and back on course.

Aside from that, the sail home was pretty uneventful and very relaxing. I'm really happy with the Lazy Jacks. Dropping the main sail was much easier. Now if I had a furling system for the jib.....