Association Forum - Anyone Out This Weekend ?

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Anyone Out This Weekend ?

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

USA
3466 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/18/2011 : 04:44:55

Saturday, I took my cover off my boat since the 2 recent winter storms really did not materialize in the DC/Potomac River area. Then I put the finishing touches on the new halyards I installed a few weeks earlier by changing out the shackles - I had bought a size too large and had them exchanged at WM. Then I whipped the ends. Then I checked out the ice situation in the marina, Anacostia & Potomac Rivers.
The flow agitators are not placed so well this year for where my boat is and as a result, there was an ice sheet blocking my way out of the finger slip, it was about 25 feet long and covered 75% of the space at end of the finger slip to the opposite finger slips/dock. Then the ice extended down the channel betwen the docks about 50 feet or so. I then went to the end of the long dock that I am on and took a look at the rivers. I could see the Anacostia River, Washington Channel and Potomac River from the end of the dock. There were giant slabs of ice that were moving up the Anacostia from the Potomac. The Potomac River seemed clear but hard to tell and I knew that upstream past the bridge a mile north, it was all ice. Temps were 40F mid-day Saturday and predicted to be about the same Sunday, but overnight Friday night it was down in the 20s. Saturday night it was going to be much warmer and so it seemed that this ice may be all gone by Sunday and so I planned to go out Sunday.

Sunday, I ventured out. The area in front of my finger slip was just a 10 foot loose ice that I would not even call a slab. No real creaking sound as I plowed through it. Then no ice except one area opposite the marina in the Amacostia River but it posed no problem for me heading out and raising my sails. The Potomac was completely clear. Except for one motorboat pulling into my marina hoping to get gas, I was the only one out on the Potomac with winds about 10mph with gusts to 20mph. I had left my main reefed as we entered the winter season and so I left it that way. I wound up heading with the wind down the river toward Old Town, Alexandria. I noticed over at the Washington Sailing Marina the sailing teams were in their little Albacores practicing in the cove area but did not venture into the Potomac River. Sailed for about 3 hours. Not one boat, sightseeing or otherwise on the Potomac. Not even the DC Harbor Police or the CG. Overall, a great day. Nice and fairly quiet out there and...that's saying a lot considering this area is normally pretty noisy.

Today, it's back to work. Early this morning, we had a thin coat of ice on the roads with some precip turning to rain. Trucks salted the roads but many schools closed in the area...Due to the rolling hills in many areas where the school buses have to go, they close the schools when they spot a snowflake. One time a few years ago, I remember they closed the schools before the first snowflake even touched the ground.......and...it never did ! Anyway, back at work now. We'll see how the rest of the week shapes up and see if a another sailing day emrges by this weekend.

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - OLarryR on 01/18/2011 04:51:34

piseas
Former Treasurer

Members Avatar

USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2011 : 08:17:39

Larry, sounds like the perfect day. I love it when I am out and not a sole can see seen. Nice winds, easy seas but I dont understand where everyone else is. I ask myself in these times, "Has life on this planet ended!"
I too thought I would go out Sunday. I have not been sailing for a couple of weeks due to weather. And even though lite winds, I needed my fix. Got all ready on the boat and went to lower the outboard in the water. But something was amiss. It lowered about 2/3rds the way down but not touch the water. I tried to raise and lower several times. No change. After a closer investigation, I noticed something was amiss. The motor was hitting the mount. What the ****! My friend noticed several scratches on the left side of the shaft. I raised the motor and gave it a good looking over. The shaft was bend to the right side. OMG! Apparently someone hit the motor while she was in the slip. I am furious to say the least. My friend suggested taking a screw driver to force it back in place which did work and the engine went in the water. I motored for about half an hour and everything seemed ok. I put up the sails but alas no wind. It was very disappointing.
I called my Honda mechanic who advised me not to file down the bracket as this could affect holding down the motor when in reverse. So I am gonna take motor in next Saturday and hope for the best.
I am waiting to hear from the marina manager to see if the video cameras were on the last couple of weeks.
Glad to hear someone had a great sail Sunday!
Steve A

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2011 : 10:49:49

Too bad about your outboard and...no fault tp you it was damaged. Hopefully, they can square it away fairly quickly since many of these marina mechanics seem to have something else to always work on and work on your own outboard oftentimes gets delayed. Then, hopefully, not too expensive to fix.

I was a little surprised there was no one out on Sunday (except for the small sailboats in the cove). On saturday, when I was checking things out and asa that giant ice flow up the Anacostia River, I did see the DC Harbor Police fooling around with an airboat they have. They were cruising up and down the ice which was probably about 200 feet long and the entire width of the Anacostia River. There did seem to be a few areas where the there was water between the thin ice sheets and I then did see a regular patrol boat maneuver through it. Then one of the large sightseeing boats came out of the Washington Channel - The Odyssey and he seemed to be in clear water. But then on Sunday, everyone was gone. Maybe they were watching the football games in their offices.

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2011 : 13:07:00

We did a night sail on Friday, nice breeze, about 8 to 12 knots. It was chilly, about 40 degrees.

Edited by - on

TCurran
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2011 : 14:45:03

Should have sailed Sat, but waited till Sunday. Saturday was the better day, but who can argue with sailing any day in Jan in shorts. Saw one boat fishing on Sun (not counting the wildlife guy who proceeded me out of the marina), no one else on the river.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2011 : 15:48:04

Sailing in shorts !...Well you got me beat ! Any alligators out there ?

Edited by - on

TCurran
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2011 : 18:56:41

Nope, no gators...just a few dolphins.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2011 : 15:26:44

It started snowing again about an hour ago. Forecast calls for 1-3 inches tonight, maybe more tomorrow. We're supposed to help our daughter & her husband move to another apartment Saturday. Not looking forward to that, but oh well, can't go sailing either!

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.