Century Club: Hank Messick

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Friday, November 22, 2024 to Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Number of days:
5 days
Down the Bay Adventure
  • Volantis at Regatta Point Marina
  • Sunset while grounded near Horn Harbor

Jake, Peter and I sailed Volantis, Jake's 50' Dickerson Ketch, from WhiteHall Marina near Annapolis to Severn Yacht Center (Mobjack Bay). Stopovers at Solomon's Island (Safe Harbor zahnisers), Deltaville (Regatta Point Marina). We breakfasted at anchor in Fishing Bay for a few hours after leaving Deltaville then headed for Horn Harbor (Mathew's, VA), our planned final destination.

A beautiful sunset greeted us as we arrived at the outer channel marker to Horn Harbor  at high tide. A couple of hundred feet later we were grounded. Two days earlier we enjoyed a spirited sail to Solomons in 20+ knot nw winds. Those same winds reduced the water levels in the Bay for the next couple of days and was the reason we grounded. About 45 frustrating minutes later we managed to pager out of the channel and headed south to Mobjack Bay where we anchored for the night. Next morning we motored a few miles to Severn Yacht Center and left for home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, November 16, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Volantis short Haul

Jake and I took his Dickerson 50' ketch, Volantis, from slip today at Whitehall Marina down to Bert Jabins for a power wash. Wind was 15+ knots out of the NW as we motored to Back Creek. Rob Jabins and crew were professional group who expertly and easily got all 22 tons of Volantis into the well for hoisting.The shaft and prop we covered with barnacles while the rest of the hull had a light slime and few barnacles. We fueled at Annapolis Landing fuel pier on the way back, taking on about 52 gallons. Still windy but warmer on the return trip to White Hall.

 

Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Election Day sail
  • Woodrow Wilson Bridge on the horizon

I voted weeks ago and decided to sail up river to see the Capitol and Washington Monument. Windy and warm w/Gusts to 14 knots.

Saturday, November 2, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Founders Cup
  • On the way to the race course
  • Wish it was 1st place—next year!
  • Happy crew returning home

Mt Vernon Yacht Club hosted their first regatta Saturday after a very long racing hiatus. Fantastic weather, autumn colors everywhere and and 5 to 7 knot northwest breeze. Dave, Josh, Sara, Paul and myself  raced against five other spin boats and took 2nd both times, loosing to Dark Star by a minute in corrected time.

Grounded twice in the WSM  channel for about two hours total returning to the slip during a lower than usual low tide. Nonetheless I  had an enjoyable time at the post-race party at the MVYC clubhouse.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Wednesday Sail
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Frostbite Regatta
  • Arcas beats to windward
  • Before the breeze piped up!
  • At National Airport

Paul, Sara, Howell, Carey, Joshua and I enjoyed the breezy weather---18 to 20 knots and a good 1 to 2 foot chop today. Half a dozen boats showed up. We rigged the chute but there was no point flying it. Good times!

Saturday, October 26, 2024
Number of days:
0 days
Frostbite Regatta

Breezy day w/gusts in the mid-20s and lots of chop. Paul, Howell, Sara, Cary, Josh and myself enjoyed some spirited sailing. Only six boats showed up and a couple dropped out after the first race. We had a great time.

Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Wednesday sail
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Fall Series, Mt Vernon Chase
  • Arcas and Mt Vernon
  • Dark Star chasing Arcas
Monday, September 30, 2024 to Friday, October 4, 2024
Number of days:
5 days
Riverboat Delivery
  • Juniper on the Potomac
  • We passed Morgan and Josef heading downriver
  • Morris-Fisher Stack at Reedville

Jake and I resumed delivery of Juniper from Horn Harbor after a three week hiatus for repairs.

Shoved off Monday. Double digit winds from the ENE creating a bad chop which forced us to helm from the cabin because Juniper was rolling to much to stay on the fly bridge. Arrived in Reedville that evening and stayed they thru Tuesday because of worsening weather. Almost every restaurant, and the maritime museum, wouldn't reopen till Thursday. No cabs, no Uber--Ghost town!

Wednesday weather improved and we were back on the fly bridge and had an easy passage to Colonial Beach and overnighted at the Boat House Marina. Celebrated Jake's 66th Birthday at an excellent (who knew!) Thai Restaurant.

Thursday was another easy passage although we wasted an hour being diverted by Range Control RIBs around the US Navy's Dahlgren Gunnery Range. As we were leaving the northern perimeter of the the range about 10 rounds were fired southward  but we couldn't  see the projectiles splash. We kept close to the shore as much as possible (Juniper's draft is 2.5 feet) to avoid a strong current from rain storms spawned by Hurricane Helene days earlier. About an hour out from our destination at Belmont Bay Marina (Woodbridge) the tide changed and we motored at over 7 knots to the marina. Bill and Brenda met us there and we drove to the "Dixie Bones" restaurant for scrumptious barbecue dinner! 

We awoke to a beautiful Friday morning sunrise and three hours later reached Juniper's-new home port at Tantallon Marina on Swan Creek.

 

 

 

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