Century Club: Hank Messick

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. 

Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Number of days:
1 day

Went out this afternoon while the wind was calm but expected to fill in with 5 to 7 knots from ESE. The Alexandria fire boat was off Old Town exercising her pumps and spewing fountains of water from four on deck positions. The wind arrived and I was able to sail all the way back to the slip. Anne Marie was just heading out as I returned and they took pictures of Arcas flying a jib.

Friday, February 16, 2024
Number of days:
1 day

Carey and I enjoyed a NW breeze and

Sailed up the Anacostia to the new Frederic Douglas Bridge then swung around to the Potomac and up to the 14th street bridge, then returned to WSM. About 13 NM over four hours! No other pleasure boat on the river.

Saturday, February 10, 2024
Number of days:
1 day

Carey, Josh, Paul, Wolf  and me went out this morning. Light to no breeze. 

Friday, February 9, 2024
Number of days:
1 day

Carey and I went out: sun shinning and about five to seven knots of southwesterly breeze. Little debris in the water compared to last week. Sailed up the marker 9, where the Anacostia splits off from the Potomac. We passed one of the SCOW boats going up and going back. Saw a hawk perched on a log that barely protruded above the surface of the water!

Pages