Started Rigging Business

I decided to start a running rigging business. If you are looking for great deals on line or halyards, tapered sheets, etc... just write in the comment section. Just as an example: 5/16ths halyard with a headboard shackle, whipping, and reaving splice retails for about $100 plus shipping, get it from me for $40 plus shipping. High Tech stuff (vectran, spectra) also available for performance boats.
So if you are looking for a set of light air tapered spin sheets, or a new halyard to replace that spin halyard that is all moldy and stiff, or want a new set of jib sheets, let me know.
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J-29 North Americans

We went to the J-29 North American Championships as spectators on Sequoia. We had a great sail up to Oxford and made it in time for the last race on Friday. It blew pretty hard on Saturday so we stayed on shore and watched from the beach. Spinnaker in photo white with blue stripes is a local boat named Rhumb Punch that won the regatta. Congrats to them!
Windy trip back on Sunday with reduced sail. Fun weekend overall.
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Fun Race

The club's annual Wed night fun race was entertaining. They had a theme this year: Fowl (foul). So we hung a big stuffed duck from the rig, cursed a blue streak at the race committee for check in, did the chicken dance, threw birdseed, passed out Old Crow and Wild Turkey and chicken nuggets, then flew 3 spinnakers. Drunk, kind of stupid, but still a good time.
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Ernesto Update

We tied up for bigger winds than were predicted as Ernesto approached. It was a good thing- Ernesto was predicted to have 30-40mph winds, our dock neighbor saw 55kts blow by. Sequoia came out without a scratch.
Trick with tying up for this stuff is to make the lines as long as possible and use the smallest diameter that is appropriate so it will stretch more. As long as the boat can't rub on the pilings (but it should be close in all directions) you're set up for a surge. We always use extra springs and sometimes some very specific directional lines to keep her in a good spot in the slip.
Hopefully the hurricane season continues to be uneventful.
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TS Ernesto...

We've been pretty lucky as far as the hurricane stuff goes for the past couple of years. We had survived Isabel with no damage several years ago after getting some really good advice about how to tie up a boat for a hurricane (thanks D!).

Ernesto is approaching as we speak (we're currently getting the first couple of serious bands through). We tied up the boat for up to about 50mph winds last night. I don't think we'll see anything more than that, and the surge shouldn't be too bad (although we did re-tie with it in mind). Should be an entertaining day/evening. We're supposed to race in Annapolis Race Week starting tomorrow... but the Benneteau is putting off until Sunday due to the conditions for the delivery up there. Assuming we survive without damage, I'll have a discussion about tie-ing up for a hurricane next week.