Bob, Carey, Tom, myself shoved off at 1100. Light southerly breeze so we sailed to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, turned around for a long run upriver. Weather alerts kept occurring on the UHF, a fast moving storm heading east with hail and high winds. We made it back to slip before a small segment of the system covered the marina. Yep, it hailed for about three minutes and rained for about ten, then the sun reappeared. John, next slip over, was on the water when the hail it. He was thankful for his broad brimmed hat!
Century Club: Hank Messick
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Flotsam at the leeward mark
Checking in with RC
First race of the season. Flooding tide, 4-9 knot southeasterly. Large concentrations of flotsam. Just before the leeward was a 200 foot long floating barrier about 30 feet wide containing logs you wouldn't want to hit. Despite new sails, we need to do a lot better.
Monday, April 8, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Enjoying the view
Eclipse sailors
Cell phone photo
Bob, Carey, Linda and me shoved off at noon sailed south to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, the launched the chute for a long run up the river to Haines Point. Sunny and warm weather with a 5-8 knot breeze from the south. Donned eclipse glasses intermittently starting at 1430. Maximum coverage for our area was at 1520 so we put on glasses and blasted the boat horn to celebrate.
Saturday, March 30, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Carey slapping the Genoa to free the telltales
Paul, Dave, Carey, and me installed new Ocean 3Di main and 150% Genoa for a test run in a southerly 5-6 knot breeze. The sails were "text book" in shape and it was so easy to reshape them depending on point of sail. One downside, North added an extra digit to the Genoa's sail number!
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Just Carey, Josh and me this weekend. Wind blowing from the north at 14 knots making for a strong current and low water levels on the ebb. Upon returning we had to power thru the mud for about 50 yards. Crew was hanging on the shrouds to heel the boat while I did s-turns to break the suction on the keel. Good thing we didn't stay out any longer!
Sunday, March 17, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Dave, Paul, Carey, Josh, Brendan and I shoved off at noon to do spin hoists/douses. Warm sunny day, but the expected breeze was slow to arrive and weaker than expected but we made the best of it. We were successful attempting a "Mexican takedown" (jibe douse) as we rounded a mark. With six people aboard, it get a little crowded!
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Tall ship Providence and a Lightning
SW breeze blowing 4 to 8 knots on an ebbing tide. Warm and sunny. Water taxis were busy, Georgetown's fleet of Albacores were also out practicing.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Carey, Bob, Rob and I shoved off at noon. Warm (70s) and breezy with gust up to 16 knots more or less on the beam. Reefed the main and headed south to Mt V. Opposing wind and current made for some choppy conditions but Arcas was in her element though with a top speed of 8.8 knots upwind. We covered the 11 miles to Mt V in under two hours! Great day on the water for everyone aboard.
Sunday, March 3, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Dave, Josh, Carey and I spent fours mostly waiting for the breeze to fill. We sailed around in only 0-3 knots of wind albeit very slowly. Returning to the slip the southerly breeze increased to 4 knots so we turned Arcas around and hoisted the spin, did a few jibes, and doused.
March is historically the windiest month of the year on our section of the Potomac but not today.
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Carey flys the kite
The afterguard
Carey, Paul, Pete and I took sailed under spinacker from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge up to the Potomac/Anacostia channel marker. Sunny day (mid 40s F) wind from the south which intensified to about 10 knots. PRSA Lasers we're out racing and a couple of boats capsized as we passed by.