Sunny and chilly (45F) today but we, Carey and I, timed the tide perfectly. Headed south on and ebbing tide and turned north at Mt Vernon on a flooding tide. Wind was southwesterly from three to eight knots; easy sailing for about 20 miles total.
Century Club: Hank Messick
Friday, December 8, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Carey enjoys the sail
Hank helming while Dave flies the chute
Five to seven knot breeze on a warm (58F) and sunny day. Saw two "sun dogs" each 22 degrees of arc from the sun and a hint of a circumzenithal arc---much fainter than the one we saw on Monday.
Dave and Carey were onboard so we set the spin and ran from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to the 14th Street bridge. Easy sailing!
Monday, December 4, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Saw a Circumzenithal arc!
Carey and I shoved off at noon. Light NE breeze that dropped to one knot at times but the water was flat and we managed to get to the Washington Boundary Channel after three hours! (3 NM).
Luck was with us on the return leg. Wind backed, intensified up to 10 knots, and we reached back to the slip..
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Beautiful warm (mid-50s) afternoon with a southerly six to 12 knot breeze. Unlike earlier in the week, the breeze wasn't gusty and made for easy sailing for Carey and me.
Monday, November 27, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Jibless!
A northerly breeze gusting up to 18 knots was challenging at times esp when raising and dousing the main. The tiller pilot couldn't react fast enough when hit with a gust. Motoring faster might have helped.
Cruised off of Old Town Alexandria under a reefed main sail.
Friday, November 24, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Started to get cloudy when I shoved off today. A northerly 8-12 knot breeze blew down the river. Sailed all the way with just one tack from the WSM gate to the Frederick Douglas Bridge. Anna Marie, Waypoints and one other sailboat were out plus water taxis. Beam reached back to the WSM gate.Temperature was 52 degrees.
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Dave, Bob, Carey, Sara and I spent the afternoon on the water. Sunny and in the mid-50s, with 4 to 7 knots mostly WNW breeze which backed and veered preventing us from flying the spin. Good times.
Friday, November 17, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Warm weather and a southerly 8 to 12 knot breeze made for a delightful sail. Two S.C.O.W. Boats also were out and about.
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Installed my ancient cruising sails (+20 years) and went sailing today. Warmish weather a southerly 5 to 8 knot breeze made for a relaxing sail.
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Sunny, few clouds when I shoved off. Seven knots southerly breeze as I motored south of the WW bridge and then raised sails. Spend an hour tacking downriver against the tide and then the wind faded as the sky grew cloudy. Rain was on the way, according to my radar. Motored back to slip. Disappointing afternoon.