Today was one of those days that showed the full range of what fall sailing on the Chesapeake can deliver. Out at Stingray Point, it was blowing a solid 16-20 knots from the NNE – rough and choppy enough to make you grateful to be inside Fishing Bay instead. Inside, we had a much more manageable 8–12 knots, still puffy in the middle but without the waves.

Seven Flying Scots turned out for four races on an H course. I was on the mark boat with Bob, and we stayed busy all afternoon setting marks, watching the shifts, and keeping an eye on the fleet. Midway through the day, one of the Scots capsized, and we had to jump into rescue mode. After the boat was upright and the sailors couldn’t get back in I climbed aboard to pull them out of the water and back onto the boat.

By the end of the day, the sailors got in four good races, and the race committee team had a good time being on the water. I got some good pictures and video of the sailing.

PICTURES | VIDEO

Fishing Bay Yacht Club opened the season with a beautiful race day for a 12.5 nm course. After a flag raising and skippers meeting,  the fleet headed out on the water. The crew from our sailboat was the race committee today and I was on the mark boat to set the start/finish line. I also had a front row seat to the start and finish and got to fly my drone around the boats when the wind subsided enough while most boats were finishing.

The three fleets started in sequence, sailing out into the bay near the Rappahannock’s mouth, then turning south before heading back to the finish line in the Piankatank River.

Though I wasn’t racing, it was rewarding to help run a smooth event and capture the action from a unique perspective.

PICTURES | EVENT WEBSITE | VIDEO

Here are my favorite photos from 2024:

ILCA Midwinters East in St. Petersburg Florida in February
ILCA Midwinters East in St. Petersburg Florida in February
Cherry blossoms at the tidal basin in Washington DC in March
Cherry blossoms at the tidal basin in Washington DC in March
Mad Hatter leading a string of boats out of Jackson Creek for Fishing Bay Yacht Club's Opening Day Race
Mad Hatter leading a string of boats out of Jackson Creek for Fishing Bay Yacht Club’s Opening Day Race
ILCA sailing upwind during FBYC's Spring ILCA Regatta
ILCA sailing upwind during FBYC’s Spring ILCA Regatta
Riding the Sandia Peak Tramway in Albuquerque New Mexico
Riding the Sandia Peak Tramway in Albuquerque New Mexico
Sunset from Sandia Peak in Albuquerque New Mexico
Sunset from Sandia Peak in Albuquerque New Mexico
Beaching by boat in Mathews VA in August
Beaching by boat in Mathews VA in August
Sunset on the sound in Brant Beach NJ in August during the ILCA Atlantic Coast Championship
Sunset on the sound in Brant Beach NJ in August during the ILCA Atlantic Coast Championship
Sailboats racing in the Stingray Point Regatta at Fishing Bay Yacht Club in September
Sailboats racing in the Stingray Point Regatta at Fishing Bay Yacht Club in September
Sailboats racing in the Stingray Point Regatta at Fishing Bay Yacht Club in September
Sailboats racing in the Stingray Point Regatta at Fishing Bay Yacht Club in September
Sailboats racing in the Stingray Point Regatta at Fishing Bay Yacht Club in September
Sailboats racing in the Stingray Point Regatta at Fishing Bay Yacht Club in September
Adjusting sail trim during the Closing Day Race in October
Adjusting sail trim during the Closing Day Race in October
Sunset on the Rappahannock River in November
Sunset on the Rappahannock River in November
Sunset near the Norris Bridge on the Rappahannock River in November
Sunset near the Norris Bridge on the Rappahannock River in November

See past years here.