The breeze filled in as we motored south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to hoist sails. Beautiful day with Dana onboard. Caught up with Hiatus again, as she headed south to Mt Vernon with a different crew than yesterday. One of my race crew was skippering.
Century Club: Hank Messick
Friday, November 3, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Sunshine and warmish weather again. Light southerly breeze but enough for a satisfying solo sail. Crossed paths with "Hiatus", a Sailing Club of Washington Catalina 25, which had two crew members aboard that raced with me this season. They snapped a photo of me flying wing-on-wing, jib sheet in one hand and tiller between my legs.
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Chasing cat paws of wind on the river today! I was the only one on the water except for a water taxi. Brilliant blue sky and autumn sun glinting on the water and not to chilly.
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Just enough breeze to fly the spin
Last weekend's race had 18 knot northwest breeze but today it was a fickle, southwesterly 5 knot breeze that often faded especially when powerboat wake was most intense.
We lost the race in the last 100 yards to an Alerion Express 28 whom I should have covered after the (almost) wind-less leeward mark. Lesson learned. Homemade gumbo graced the Post-race dock party as participants mingled and swapped stories.
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Bill Porter and I took his Alerion Express 28 out after changing down from a Genoa to a jib. After about 90 minutes the breeze faded completely. Warm, sunny but not windy weather!
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Exhilarating!
Beautiful day on the Potomac. Northwest 12-15 knot breeze with gusts up to 28 knots. Raced with both a reefed main and reacher and consistently hit speeds just over eight knots.
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Beautiful day so I took Arcas for afternoon sail. Shifty, light breezes but I managed to get around. Saw a few other sailboats on the water. Relaxing.
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Beating upwind on a beautiful day
Drizzly morning that changed to brilliant sunshine after the front moved through. A 12-15 knot NE breeze sent us down to Mt Vernon and back in less than 90 minutes under a reefed main.
We were the only boat to show up and race which made for a leisurely cruise!
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
A gloomy gray evening at the start
Chilly and grey evening with a steady 6 knot NE breeze. Looked like rain but barely a drizzle early in the race.