Andiamo.
1st boat - Colette, Veronica going to Cartagena for her birthday, Christy, Chelsea, Pack. The last 4 know each other from church.
2nd boat - Colette, Troy, Yadira, Nina from Venezuela.
I devoured several slices of pizza. Grateful for all the wonderful benefits of SCOW.
Dave bought us ice cream at the end!
We were only out for about an hour, but they practiced docking the entire time.
Dave and I got to rescue a capsized Flying Scot. We hopped on a skiff with Ben from the WSM, and helped right the boat skippered by Steve, the instructor, and his student, Taylor. We got close enough so that we could hold the mast and prevent the boat from turtling. I made sure the mainsheet was uncleated. We helped right the boat, and then I boarded to help Steve and Taylor back into the boat.
Once all personnel were recovered, I ran a quick check on all the boat systems: sails, centerboard, steering. The jibsheets didn't have stopper knots so I recovered them, ran them through the fairleads, and tied them off. The centerboard wasn't down all the way so I lowered it. With the boat back to operational status, I hopped back into the skiff, and was ferried back to the dock with Dave.
I used the opportunity to polish Dave's sailing before his checkout this weekend. We did lots of jibing in heavy air and lots of practice docking. He needed the heavy air experience.
I actually got to practice, too. A guy on the dock thought we were docking and reached out his hand to touch the boat and hold it by the shroud to the dock. He screwed up our flow, and we ended up sailing between the docks, doing a U-turn, and then sailing back out. The Scot really turned on a dime. I haven't had the need to demonstrate the maneuverability in a Flying Scot, but sailing them more often this past week and teaching others has really honed my own boat handling skills.
We were back well before dark. We were only out for about and hour and 45 minutes, but I'm in my flow when I sail. It feels like hours, an I'm exhausted at the end of each session.
Flew with my friends Astrid and Isabel to Frederick, Maryland today for crab cakes.
Talya texted me asking me if i wanted to go sailing. I said, "yes."
Me, Astrid, Talya, and Isabel motored to DC from Alexandria to drop Isabel off in DC and wish her well before she left DC for grad school in Michigan.
Storm blew in. We docked at Gangplank Marina, and hung out with our friends, Macon, Casie, and Clare. Saw a rainbow. Got Thai food for dinner.
Astrid navigated all the way back and docked the boat. It was cold and dark, but we made it just fine. Lightning was off in the distance and moving away.
The girls refilled the tank, and I emptied the head.
Great day overall with both flying and sailing. These are the days where I feel satisfied that I made the most of my time.
5th day in a row! Got my ice cream at the marina and went sailing. Tutored Jerry in a Flying Scot "Caroline." Did lots of docking and practiced sailing without a rudder. Astrid Davila and Josh Seeley crewed. Jerry is ready to check out as a skipper.
Loaded up on leftover sushi and ice cream before I left work today for the marina. Carpooled with Astrid to the marina. I launched Andamo with the help of Heather Hodge, Theresa Bruton, and Jerry Lee for social sail.
Sunset was beautiful, and Jerry got a good amount of tiller time as we practiced figure-8s and crew overboard at the end of social sail. The Fountos family was there, and I got to tease Tate and hold Emmy. Hugs all around for all my other SCOW buddies. Randy and Martha Moore made a cameo appearance.
A bunch of us went out to dinner afterwards at Rustico: Astrid, Jerry, me, Billy, Martha, Preston, Jackie, Matt, and Shannon.
3rd day in a row of marina ice cream and tutoring in a Flying Scot. Ran Jerry through very tight figure-8 drills for practice. We almost didn't get a boat because it was Wednesday night racing for SCOW. Fortunately, they cancelled and we got to sail!
I got an ice cream chipwich today at the marina store. Mmm mmm good! 2nd day in a row of beautiful weather, sailing, and ice cream. Talk about joie de vivre!
Winds 06015G19. Practiced figure-eights, crew overboard, and docking with skipper candidate Dave. He's ready to checkout as a SCOW skipper as long as he get his knots down pat.
Sailed with Talya. She's great crew, very capable. The less that I have to worry about the boat, the better, and I don't have to worry about the boat with top-notch crew like Talya around.
With experienced crew, I can explore and expand the boundaries a bit. We sailed back by the wet slip docks today. NO ONE does that, but i just wanted to do it to see if we could. We went half way down the channel, and then decided to turn back because the wind was so light. It'd be cool to test out how far back one can sail back there.
I actually got to sail the boat again today, and I absolutely loved it! I shook out the reef and headed out into the river to where the DISC races were taking place. Those boats were booking.
The river was flooded with debris again, but less so than yesterday. Current was still strong with the river in a flooded state.
We were done by 8:15 pm. By then those river pixies start swarming the marina. Going to plan to have the boat back by 8 pm to avoid those little bastards.
Tutored two friends today so they could become SCOW skippers. We practiced reefing, temporary tie-down, crew overboard, and docking. They both did very well, and they are on the brink of completing their checkride.
Really fun day of sailing. I even got to sail the boat to practice crew overboard procedures and sailing backwards to the dock with an onshore wind. We went out for sushi afterwards and the guys covered my dinner. Zento Japanese Restaurant in Alexandria has an 18-piece sushi combination for only $18.50. What a deal! This was my 2nd dinner, and I'm not ashamed.