Voices of experience: more from the SpinSheet Century Club centurions.
You'll find the final tally of those boaters who reached their goal of logging 100 on-water days in the 2024 calendar year in our list of centurions in our February issue. In the meantime, enjoy these snippets from the following members’ journeys. Learn more about what it takes to be a Century Club member at spinsheet.com/century-club. Confirmed Century Club members have recieved an invitation to our celebration (beer and cake!) along with SpinSheet Racing Team members on February 8.
Suzanne Carter — 102 Days
Tell me about your top three days on the water in 2024. This is the first year I went bluewater sailing. My first day at sea, bringing a boat back to the Annapolis area from Bermuda was beautifully extraordinary. I was at sea! My goodness! Words can’t describe that amazing feeling for finally being out to sea. My second most memorable day was two days later as we came through a nor’easter. Not the same exuberance, but nonetheless memorable. I had those bruises for about six weeks. The third was a different trip, on a solo night watch on the Atlantic off Block Island. As the fog and morning mist rolled in, I now understood why ancient mariners thought they saw mermaids.
Did anything memorable or scary happen out there this season? At the NPSA Women at the Helm race, the winds were up, the boat was light, and it was a long, long day of boat handling to make sure my crew was safe and everyone stayed in the boat. However, in a moment of poor judgment, and experiential learning, I hit the first mark, the PW12 buoy. Now I can say, I have indeed hit a buoy. And the red paint along the side of the boat proves it, at least until the buffing and painting this winter.
Did you take anyone new sailing? How did it go? I was contacted by an old friend I lost touch with about 15 years ago. She wanted to come sailing. I invited her to a Women on the Water event at the Downtown Sailing Center (DSC). She came, and we reconnected over three glorious hours of women sailing together. She joined the DSC! It was a win-win. I reconnected with a fun friend, and the DSC got a new member.
What were your favorite wildlife sightings? I saw some dolphins and a whale spout this year, but the best of the best was the welcome committee pod of dolphins that welcomed Diet Sprite’s Sassy Squad into Herring Bay for the HHSA Women’s Regatta! After 40 nautical miles down the Bay from Baltimore, we turned lil’ Diet Sprite into Herring Bay, and right behind us, the pod erupted! They escorted us long enough for plenty of photos and plenty of Sassy squeals. It truly was an auspicious beginning to a fabulous weekend of women’s racing!
Did you have to give up anything to make your 100 days, such as yardwork or other hobbies? (OMG... Massive eye roll.) I live in a 120-year-old house that is disintegrating around us. I should really be planning a series of renovation projects, but... running off to sail, saying something like, “But it’s my 57th day this year!” seems so much more fun. I keep trying to ‘sell’ that the decay is “charming.” It’s not working.
What did you get out of the Century Club challenge? Making so many new friends and meeting members of the sailing community. I would have never met the number of fabulous people I now call friends if I hadn’t looked for additional sailing opportunities to make the 100 days. With all those new people in my sphere, I have learned so many new things about sailing, and about life, to include all the things I learned about myself along the way.
What would your advice be to someone considering logging 100 days in 2025? Just do it! The experience will be profound!
Tim Dull — 116 Days
Top three days this season: May 31, the first day of Southern Bay Race Week, we finished third in PHRF-NS with a single crewmember in near-gale winds. Both of us were exhausted by the end of that day. (Placed second of eight in fleet over the whole three days of racing in seven races.) September 28, I joined WaterWings in Rock Hall, MD, a 44-foot catamaran owned by one of my previous Willoughby Racing crewmembers and her husband. Her first sail was a double-handed race on (my boat) Skymark four years before. They had since retired from the Navy, brought their boat from Spain to the Caribbean, and were returning from spending the summer in Maine. I was there for my annual triathlon at Rock Hall Landing that weekend, and we had a serendipitous meetup. I placed first in my age group and joined them in Swan Creek for a post-race recovery meal of grilled pork tenderloin with all the fixings. October 10, I returned to the Norfolk Naval Sailing Center after completing my 20th annual month-long Cruise of the Chesapeake Bay.
Memorable moments? A new racing crewmember joined me for an early April race and raced with Skymark for the whole season of 30 plus races. She and a friend then joined me on a Navy rental Catalina 310 for a cruise up to Yorktown over Veterans weekend in November for some Bareboat Cruising lessons.
Wildlife sightings? My favorite wildlife sightings were the ever-present dolphin pods that greet me as I cross the Back Creek area off Poquoson coming down the Bay. Sorry, those critters are tough to photograph.
Advice to an aspiring SpinSheet Century Club member? It is fun as you make the log entries to see what others are doing on the Bay in their boats. And it’s amazing how quickly the days in the water add up. A month-long cruise and weekly racing also help.
Americo Cottely — 117 Days
What were your top three days on the water in 2024? First time chartering a boat and sailing from Culebra to Vieques, Puerto Rico, in four- to five-foot seas maintaining 10 knots with a main only; winning my class while at the helm during the Helly Hansen Sailing World Series (normally on foredeck); the parade of 321 boats down the Black River prior to the Bayview Mack Race.
Did anything odd, memorable, or scary happen out there this season? Immigration via Video Chat using CBP Roam; meeting David Sites on Aunt Jean during Annapolis YC Wednesday Night Racing; engine failing during the parade of 321 boats in the current of the Black River heading towards a bridge!
What were your favorite wildlife sightings? Crabs on the Sherman tanks at Flamenco Beach; turtles at Turtle Beach in Culebrita; and roosters roaming the streets while picking up ice in Vieques.
What would your advice be to someone considering logging 100 days in 2025? Start early. It really helps to get days in January and February. Plan to finish by October to have a couple of months of contingency time. Log frequently using a mobile device— I use a spreadsheet on Google Drive and SailTies (GPS logging app).
Mario Santana — 114 Days
Tell me about your top days on the water in 2024. A solo outing on a sunny day in early spring—it was warm on shore, but as soon as I got out there it was cool, and the Bay was alive with plans for summer. On a sunset sail with my wife, she brought a picnic, and we hove to and watched some races. A solo outing on a sunny day in late fall—it was cool on shore, but as soon as I got out there it was warm, and the Bay was bedding down for the winter.
Did anything odd, memorable, or scary happen out there this season? Sailing my friend’s little schooner, the Tom Swift. One of the many rich facets of sailing is how it connects you to history. Watching my youngest learn to sail and my oldest compete; few sports let old and young, male and female, grizzled expert and eager newbie perform together like sailing does. Two more moments: One was during the Two Bridge Fiasco, not much wind, and some friends and I took out the Newport 30 Honu for some practice. A leisurely sail in the morning, on the hook for lunch as we watched the racers go by, and then a bunch of docking practice, just an absolutely relaxing day. I felt as if I’d been on a meditation retreat. The other was exactly the opposite: a few hours with my son on a Hobie Cat, learning to fly a hull in a pretty stiff breeze—just non-stop adrenaline. I must have seen my life flash before my eyes a dozen times. My legs were wobbly, and I was sore for days from the exertion. Now, I have a question for you: how am I supposed to pick between these two? Either one would make a great sport, but ours has both and more!
Did you take anyone new sailing? How did it go? Taking out newbies is one of my favorite things. I particularly remember taking a few first timers out on one of Annapolis Sailing School’s Tartans. What a blast it was—heeled over upwind and blasting down under the spinnaker; everyone understood why I love sailing so much.
Did you have to give up anything to make your 100 days? Depending on the day, I had to give up my laziness, or my habit of procrastination, or my lack of energy, or my warm cozy couch. I’m extremely fortunate to live a couple of miles from Annapolis Sailing School, so it’s relatively easy for me. I have mad respect for all the folks that make a substantial drive every time they go sailing.
What did you get out of the Century Club challenge? Having a record of my sailing season is very cool. It was also great to have a concrete goal. Next year I want to do it again, except I’ll track my miles as well. Thanks to the SpinSheet team for making this!
What would your advice be to someone considering logging 100 days in 2025? It’s an unreasonable goal, befitting an unreasonable sport. You’re only competing with yourself from last season!
