Sailing the Potomac

June 25, 2003

(Note:  If I have one regret, it has been that I cannot risk taking the camera on the boat.  Lightnings occasionally do flip over and I can't risk the loss.  You'll just have to try to imagine the sights I've described below. Ron.)

It would be hard to imagine topping our day at Annapolis.  But then, we had never sailed the Potomac.

We left our base at noon and drove to the Washington Sailing Marina.  We have gotten pretty good about traveling with 14620 in tow.  John used to live up here and knows his way around pretty well.  The traffic is incredible, even during the off hours, but if you prepare yourself mentally for it, it's negotiable.

We arrived at the marina at 2 PM.  We were a lot more comfortable at a public marina.  We paid seven dollars to use the facilities for a day.  After eating lunch at the marina cafe, we pulled 14620 into the shade and set her up to sail.  John sold his first Lightning to a fella in Fleet 50 (home fleet for this marina).  To his surprise, the guy was setting up to sail and John ran off to see how he was enjoying his old boat.

Washington Sailing Marina is a huge public marina for sailing only.  It is located across a small basin from Reagan Airport.  From the docks, you can see the capitol skyline, the Washington Monument, and the capitol building.  It's breathtaking.  It is also the largest gathering of sailboats on one place I have ever seen!

Frank Gallagher drove up and introduced himself.  Soon, the other Lightning sailors were pulling in.  They were all buzzing that a sailing magazine was going to be taking pictures tonight.  We met a lot great folks including Bobby Astrove who sailed a beautiful wooden Lightning.  Frank helped us get to the hoist and explained the evenings activities.

By 5:30 we were all headed out to the race course.  I didn't count, but we easily had 12-14 Lightnings.  How jealous we were of such a turn-out for a weeknight series!  As we neared the committee boat, a huge revolutionary era battleship left her dock and hoisted full sail.  It wasn't Old Ironsides, but it could have easily been a replica. 

The race committee of one, Jeff Storck, laid out a short windward/leeward course.  We cruised by long enough to say hi and learn it was a three minute start sequence.  With seconds to go we were on the line in good shape.  At the gun, three of us flew off the line and separated from the fleet.  We were first to the windward mark.  By the time we got to the leeward mark, we were in third and had learned a quick lesson on the Potomac currents.  We worked our way back to second thanks to one boat hitting a mark and doing penalty turns and that's where we finished.

Race two yielded a perfect start.  We pulled out to a 3 boat lead, tacked and crossed the fleet, and led to the windward mark.  We were better this time than in race one, but still fell to third by the lee mark.  We figured out the current now and went much further out before tacking for the finish line.  We passed one boat when we tacked.   The leader had tacked immediately and could not make the finish line without one more tack.   We were dead on the pin and making good speed.   The leader tacked for the line, but it was too late.  We crossed in front, on starboard, and he had to duck.  I pushed it across the line for a bullet!

We were again competitive in race three, but our start was not as good.  We finished fifth. 

The racing was great fun regardless of the results.  I cannot describe what it is like to race in the evening as the sun sets over Washington.  We were blessed with great breezes and mild temps.  Seeing our national treasures at every turn of the helm is indescribable. 

And then there were the planes.  As we returned to the docks, we sailed right under the landing path of jet after jet.  They were so close we could feel their exhaust!  It was incredible.

Back on land, we met Nabeel Alsalam.  Nabeel has worked hard with all the Fleet 50 members to build a first class Lightning fleet.  I knew of him long before going to Washington as many sailors in the Southeastern District have complimented his work.  Nabeel had been on a motorboat tonight with the magazine photographer.  We hope they got great shots and more well-deserved publicity.  Almost everyone who sailed came by the boat to say hi and ask about our trip. It was great fellowship and great sailing from some wonderful Lightning sailors.  Thanks to everyone in Fleet 50 who made our evening so much fun.  We'll be back.

We hit the road for home base.  We went back to Bennigan's for dinner.  Tomorrow we will move our base to Solomon's Island on the Chesapeake Bay.  We have one more night of sailing there and then I turn my attention to Jason and Christianne's wedding while John will join his family for more visiting.