Dave, Josh, Paul, and I went out on a hot Saturday afternoon to practice spin hoists/douses. Breeze was extremely light, a little over 3 knots. Had to keep the diesel running in order to get to patches of breeze. Overall it was a frustrating series of hoists and drops.
Hope we have better luck Tuesday when we return to spin fleet racing. Today was a step backwards.
Century Club: Hank Messick
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Dave keeps the chute pulling.
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Going downwind, wing and wing. Miss my chute!
A happy helmsman!
The winning team!
Dave, Paul, Brian, Sara and, myself onboard. About a 7 knot SE breeze at the start that faded fast---six nonspin boats were TLE. We finished 12 minutes (corrected) in front of our nearest competitor, won the race and the series by a healthy margin.
we will race spin starting next week. Hope to carry over upwind skills and confidence learned during the last series against the much more competitive spin boats.
Friday, August 8, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Returning to the slip
Arcas, Ginny and, Moovin raced last night in a 3 to 5 knot easterly breeze. Using a pursuit format, Moovin started last and finished first about five minutes ahead of last place Arcas.
It was a beautiful summer night, the kind where you could stay out till daybreak or, anchor somewhere and just look and listen in a meditative mood.
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 to Sunday, August 3, 2025
Number of days:
5 days
We took 3rd in Potomac Nonspin class!
We finished at 02:28 AM Saturday morning; second in our class to cross the line and taking 3rd place on corrected time. Winds 10 to 15 and mostly on a beat down the the Potomac and on the beam going up the St Mary’s River. Only made two tacks in the river! Best Gov Cup I have sailed. Even the clouds parted and the stars shown as we headed to the finish line.
Took two days to transit to Colonial Beach and made it back to WSM from CB in 11.5 hours on Sunday. Rode the rising tide all the way back. Beautiful day.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
The SE breeze was a bit stronger than expected and after a crappy start in which I was squeezed out at the pin by a boat that was going to be OCS, we restarted and kept windward of the fleet. Passed all boats except one by the windward mark, and passed her there on the second lap. Finished three and half minutes ahead of our nearest competitor (owe her 66 seconds/mile) and she corrected ahead of us by 4 seconds! Frustrating but we're still in first place for the series.
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Frustrating light breeze on the North Course. We were second to finish but I think we'll end up in 4th place on corrected time.
Saturday, July 19, 2025 to Monday, July 21, 2025
Number of days:
3 days
Raced on a friend's boat, Moovin, Saturday and Sunday. We took third place overall in our class of 10 boats. About a 14 mile course. More enjoyable than buoy racing.
Monday we moved Moovin from Solomons back to Colton's Point which took only 9 hours compared to 12 last year. Saw a bottlenose dolphin for the first time in the Potomac!
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Leading the fleet!
The first two races were cancelled because of storms however, the weather behaved tonight. A steady 4 to 7 knot southwesterly breeze on a flooding tide provided pleasant conditions for racing. Dave raced foR the first time this season. He had a successful recovery from his April open heart surgery and was looking fit. We will race in non-spin A this series and return to spin fleet in the fall.
Had an excellent race beating all our competitors.
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Jake, Dana and, me return "Juniper" back to her slip at Tantallon Marina/Swan Creek today after leaving her at WSM overnight. A pleasant 90 minute trip. Need to take more day trips this summer along the River.
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Partying on the upper deck
Relaxing at the helm station
Jake and I brought his "Biloxi trawler" up from Swan Creek to WSM to pick up the Porters, Clements, Zehra, & Greg to anchor off of Old Town for the city's annual birthday fireworks. By evening the temperature and humidity diminished, a nice breeze swept over the upper deck as we snacked and drank. Fireworks launched at 2130. At least 150 boats were at anchor to watch the show.