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.
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.
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.
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.
Carey, Josh, Paul, Wolf and me went out this morning. Light to no breeze.
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!
Dave, Paul, Josh, Carey and me took one of the SCOW Catalina 250s out for a day sail. Sunny, cold with a light breeze. Beautiful day. We amble down to the WW Bridge and back. First time nearly all of Arcas's race crew has gotten on the water in months and there was plenty of commraderie and catching up. Arcas is has a clogged sail drive so not available for today.
Carey and I ventured out for a few hours today. Wind from the North blowing a steady 15 knot and lots of debris in the water. Eight foot timbers bobbing along with smaller flotsam and jetsam. Four other sailboat (three from SCOW) ventured out on the River---usually were the only one on the water.
Returning to the slip the impeller shredded setting off an engine alarm and smoke leaked out of the engine compartment. Got to the public docks and WSM's yard fellas, Howe and Stan, towed us around to my slip. Back to the marina tomorrow to replace the impeller. Fingers crossed there is no other damage from over heating.
Carey and I headed south to Mt Vernon on the ebb and planned to return on the flood tide. Sunny with a six to eight knot southerly breeze and lots of debris in the river from torrential rains earlier the week.
A few minutes after hoisting sails south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge I heard a "pop" and the main sail went limp. The halyard, made of Vectran, severed about a foot above the shackle! Our adventure ended and we motored back to WSM.
Bob, Carey and I sailed with Moe on his 1963, 37 foot Chris Craft Apache, from Hartge Marina (West River) beyond Thomas Point Light and back. Wind was blowing a steady 18 to 20 knots from the Northwest, waves were two feet. Mostly sunny which helped with the wind chill. Clocked over 8 knots with a reefed main and a #2 headsail. We were a little over canvassed but we zoomed along easily despite strong gusts. We were the only ones on the Bay except for a 20' RIB skippered by a photographer. He took maneuvered his boat around snapping photos often from almost water level. We'llhave to check out on his Instagram account.