2/13/2026
Many of you sailors may have heard of the massive sewage spill into the Potomac upstream from Georgetown. It is more or less contained, though repairs may involve additional sewage release(s). Repairs are reported to take 4-6 weeks. The level of pollution reported varies by reporting source.
In an abundance of caution faced with very limited current information, the PRSA board has decided to suspend use of the committee boats, which also means the suspension of the Laser Frostbite Series. We will be reviewing this suspension as frequently as we get new and reassuring information. We regret the lack of sailing opportunities in the meantime.
We are basing our decision on the information provided in the Potomac Riverkeeper webinar on February 11th. During the webinar, the Riverkeeper, a watchdog group, shared data collected in partnership with the University of Maryland showing elevated E. coli levels near the spill site (up to ~4,000 times safe levels) and several miles downriver. They also found Staph and MRSA (antibiotic-resistant Staph) near the spill site and Staph at several stations downriver. As of last week, the area off WSM appears to be within EPA safe limits for E. coli.
However, the Riverkeeper emphasized that the spill situation is very much in flux: additional releases are possible as DC Water continues to make repairs over the next 4-6 weeks, and there are many uncertainties related to how melting ice and increasing temperatures will impact water quality in the river, especially downstream. Critically, there are no public agencies regularly sampling the water (e.g., daily) at multiple locations downriver, nor are any state or federal entities (with the exception of MD) stepping up to issue public health advisories. Without trusted data and information available on a regular basis, it is impossible to be confident that our sailing area is safe on a given Sunday. This shouldn’t be the case, but unfortunately, it is.
There is much more to this story as noted in the attached summary, which also includes a link to the recording.
If you would like to support spill-related efforts, consider donating to the Riverkeeper and signing an advocacy letter pushing for health advisories from local agencies.
Ed Ryan
Secretary PRSA
Hangover Regatta – 2026
It was cold – air below freezing and water just above freezing. And the wind was gusty and shifty from the northwest. Nevertheless, 12 sailors rigged and launched their ILCA dinghies.
The first thing they and the race committee noticed was that there was very little water. The race committee (Nabeel & Barney) had to hunt for an area with enough water for the centerboards. It wasn’t easy.
The second thing the sailors noticed was that their control lines seemed very slippery and the cleats were not holding. A sheet of water was freezing on all the control lines. The sailors adapted. If the vang cleat was not holding, one solution was to bring it back to the mainsheet cleat. Outhauls were left in whatever position they froze in.
The third thing the sailors had to contend with is very shifty breezes which not infrequently resulted in a capsize.
Despite the challenges the sailors did their best and nine completed the four races.
Three members of the Jacob family were there: James, Alex, and Erin. It was good to see them all.
Mark Sanford came down from Pennsylvania. Thanks, Mark.
After sailing and after the boats were put away, we fired up a vintage Coleman gas camp stove and heated up a gallon and a half of cider. Mount Gay rum was available to those who wanted a dollup.
The top two finishers – Alex and James – finished every race in those positions. It was a contest for third place and Skeen captured that.
Finally, thanks to Jacob D. and Dan M. for volunteering for RC, helping get the boats and marks ready to go, and helping sailors get launched.
2025 Fall Series #4 October 5
John Van Voorhis, Nic Bogren, Kyra Tallon, and Nick Allen ran the races. The wind was light which could have resulted in no races or few races, which plagued the earlier fall series, but they were able to get off four races — good for them!
2025 Fall Series #1 – September 7
Nabeel Alsalam, Maryann Gallagher, Eva Hogan, and Kaitlyn Lucey was your RC. The winds were light and from the north or northwest. Being optimistic, we set up a pretty long course for the first race, but the wind was light and it took almost an hour and a half for all the sailor to complete the course. We pulled in the windward mark for the second race but the winds fell to almost nothing. So we shortened the race at the 2nd windward mark.
After the racing, the sailors congregated in the grove. Lee Mullins brought chilli and hot dogs were plentiful on the grill. It was a pleasant afternoon and, of course, the breeze seemed to pick up.
2025 June 15 Spring Series
John Van Voorhis and team ran the races. The day started off with challenges: 19’s battery was low, and the pee tube wasn’t producing. And none of the inflators were working. So initially racing was cancelled. But then Witt came to the rescue to blow up the marks and clear the pee tube. Racing was re-instated.
The winds were from the N and NE.
2025 June 1 Spring Series
Nelson Pemberton and team ran the races. Barney Harris was running the mark boat. It was day 2 of the Lightning Doc Gilbert Potomac Cup.
The winds were from the west and shots of breeze were coming in from both the left and right. At one point the wind went way right but by the end of the day it had shifted way left.
The Lightning class saw a very skewed start line that was difficult to lay on starboard. That created a mix of strategies from trying to start on port, coming down the line on starboard but tacking to port before the gun, to dip starts. Chaos ensued at the pin.
2025 May 18 Spring Series
2025 May 11 Spring Series
Nabeel & team of Aaron Boesenecker, John Van Voorhis, and Cathy Clarke were ready but the wind wasn’t there. At 10 there was about 2 or 3 knots of winds. The tide was ebbing reinforcing the river current which would have made it difficult to sail up current. So Nabeel postponed on shore for an hour. Around 11 Aaron & John went out to the river–the wind near the launch area can be more than out on the river due to a near shore thermal. They found even less wind and then it shut down. Racing was cancelled for the day.
2025 May 4 Spring Series
Stew Harris and Laura Albert ran the races from the line boat.
It was a breezy day but not too breezy. The Albacores were in Annapolis doing the Helly Hansen regatta.
2025 April 27 Spring Series
Lloyd Leonard and his team were ready, but there was too much wind–Barney wasn’t there. We decided not to sail.