Century Club: Hank Messick

Moe, Eric, Bob, myself spent a few hours on the West River on Bob's Tartan 34. A 6 to 8 knot breeze was forecasted but it was much lighter. Nonetheless it was sunny and warm (mid-60s). A great way to enjoy an December day!

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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.

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.

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.