Announcements

PRSA Photo Contest

PRSA is once again partnering with CalendarLink (http://www.calendarlink.org/prsa/home.html) to produce a 2016 tide calendar.  These calendars show the actual tides predicted for the Potomac River at Washington National Airport on the Potomac River!  

This year we are having a photo contest to select photos to include in the calendar.  All PRSA members are encouraged to enter their very best photo.  Each PRSA member may submit one photo for consideration.  The winning photo will become the cover photo for the calendar and the winner will receive a FREE 2016 PRSA Calendar. 

 Here are the requirements for calendar photo submissions:

  • Photos must be horizontal images from digital cameras. 
  • Photos must be a minimum of 300 DPI width of 10.3 inches, height 8 inches or 3100 x 2400 pixels or a 1.3 to 1 ratio.
  • Photos may be submitted in JPEG, GIF, or PNG format.
  • Photos need not be from the current calendar year.

So get out there and start taking pictures!  Then, figure out which one is your best picture and enter it into the contest.  Email your photo to Jeff Neurauter (jmnsailor@yahoo.com) no later than November 1, 2015. 

Announcements, News

Summer is Wednesday Night Sailing Season!

It is summer, so that means that it is Wednesday Night Sailing Season!  Stroll down to Washington Sailing Marina and look for our PRSA sailors in the dock/crane area around 5:30 each Wednesday.  If you’re new,  simply introduce yourself!  Wednesday night sailing is very informal, with short races in the cove and lots of fun/practice sailing.  We rotate people in and out of boats right off the dock, so everybody gets to take a turn!

Wednesday Night Sailing 24 June 2015
Wednesday Night Sailing 24 June 2015
Announcements, News

Replica French Tall Ship Hermione in Alexandra, VA on Wednesday, June 10 – Friday June 12

If you are interested in seeing an authentic replica of an 18th century tall ship the French frigate Hermione will be in Alexandra Virginia at the Alexandria Marina behind the Torpedo Factory from Wednesday June 10 – Friday June 12, 2015. She will also be in Annapolis, MD, from Tuesday June 16 – Wednesday June 17, 2015 before making her way further up the eastern seaboard.

The vessel on displa is a reconstructed replica of the 18th century French frigate Hermione (Air-mee-on).  The original Hermione brought Gilbert du Motier the Marquis de Lafayette to George Washington with news of French military aid in 1780 during the American Revolutionary War. It was a Concorde class 32 gun frigate that participated in the naval blockade of the British contributing to the defeat of General Cornwallis by Washington and Rochambeau in the siege of Yorktown, Virginia.

The British captured the Hermione’s sister ship, La Concorde in 1783.  Before putting it into their service they made a study of the La Concorde including making drawings and plans. These plans were preserved and formed the basis for the Hermione replica. Construction on the replica ship began in 1997.  The ship has sailed from France and is expected in Yorktown, VA on Friday June 5.

Tickets are no longer available to reserve in advance for the tour in Alexandria but some tickets will be available to the public at 8:30 AM and 12 noon each day. Other events will be occurring pier-side 9 AM to 7 PM Wednesday through Friday.

Learn more at:

http://hermione2015.com/voyage2015/alexandria

http://www.visitalexandriava.com/calendar-of-events/hermione-in-alexandria/

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32350305

Regattas, Lasers, News, Results, 2015

Capital City Laser Regatta 2015 – Results

Chris Bolton with the help of Lindsay Bach ran the line boat while Bill Kleysteuber & Frank Gallagher ran the mark boat.  The water was so low in the river from the previous two days of strong northerly winds that Chris was forced to set us up in the cove.  The wind was very patchy and  could switch 180 degrees between the windward and leeward mark.  The lead boat around the leeward mark often lossed that lead on the short beat to the finish as a result of big wind shifts that would lift the 2nd boat to the finish while leaving the lead boat stranded.

Len Guenther managed the conditions with patience and won the regatta.

Capital City Laser Regatta – Series Standing

Pictures from the mark boat by Lindsay Bach

Spring Series, Results, 2015

2015 Spring Series #6 on May 30

We had a beautiful day on the river with a 10-12 kt. southerly blowing steadily all day long.  Will Phillippe and his RC crew set a nice long racecourse and gave the various classes a mixture of “T” and “W” courses.  The great breeze meant that we finished 4 races in no time and I think most sailors were happy to head to shore to relax, stretch out, and enjoy a beverage with some BBQ after a great (but exhausting) day of sailing.

2015 Spring Series 6 – Buccaneers

2015 Spring Series 6 – Lightnings

2015 Spring Series 6 – Multihulls

May 31 Wind Observations

Regattas, News, Results, 2015

2015 Spring Regatta Wrapup

1 Comment

What a fantastic turnout for the PRSA Spring Regatta!  We had nearly fifty boats and almost 100 sailors out racing over a fantastic Memorial Day weekend.  Even though Saturday’s wind conditions were light and spotty we still got in 3 races on the upper course (and more on the lower course), followed by a wonderful BBQ put together by Lee, Lisa-Marie, and Jim.  It was great to see so many friends and family members at the post-race BBQ.  Our patience on Saturday was rewarded with a nice 8-10 kt southerly breeze on Sunday.  After 3 more fantastic races on Sunday we enjoyed another nice BBQ.

Race Results

Continue reading 2015 Spring Regatta Wrapup →

Spring Series, News, Results, 2015

2015 Spring Series #5

Although there was no wind when the sailors arrived at the marina, PRO Bob Astrove made the call to two boats up to the racecourse.  It was a good decision, as a nice southerly filled in allowing the boats to get in three good races before sailing back to the marina and enjoying a nice BBQ under sunny skies.  You can read the great writeup of the day’s action from Will Phillippe in the Lightning fleet on the Fleet 50 website.

2015 Spring Series 5 – Albacores

2015 Spring Series 5 – Lightnings