Sailing, sailing

Hi all!  I've been occupied, crippled or sailing lately...but I'm still here. Allen and I just returned from Solomons via Knapps Narrows.  Great 4 days.  Good wind, blew a mixing elbow just as a violent Thunder-storm hit.   Experience saves lives. My friend Allen is 73 and has been on the Chesapeake all his life.  Now I'm good, but he has me by 30 years on the water at least.   Progression; Engine smokes so we shut her down (we had started it as we approached the entrance to Knapps Narrows.  We shut her down.   We we sailing on, and could have sailed into the pier had the storm held off...be we were hit 30 minutes out.   Allen said "here's what we are going to do....drop the main, pull in the Genny, then drop the anchor.  One, two three.  Batten down the hatches.   Ride it out.  The thing to remember about violent storms...they end soon.  Be cool.  Be prepared.   Be quick and sure of your actions.  So with all steps taken, anchor set, we had no problem.  

And I want to again urge you to check out "Boat Beacon".  GREAT app!  My service was only interrupted a couple times and they were short duration gaps.  The app sends your position to AIS receivers (of which all commercial vessels have), gives your speed, position (in lat/long) track and course heading.  And you can share your position, so essentially someone can chart your exact position anywhere on the net.  That is amazing, like watching my radar screen anywhere!  So pick it up...you'll be glad you did.   Redundancy is a good thing.