Chesapeake Bay Sailing

As we all know sailing is both fun and entertaining. However, not all of us have taken the dip plunge into boat ownership and that is one of reasons you join PSC to have the opportunity to go sailing on the Bay!

For 2013, the Club is offering a various sailing opportunities on the Bay from day sails to overnight sails.

The following table lists the Bay sailing events planned by the Club for this year.

Date of Sail	Type of Sail	Notes
April 27 & 28	Training	Day Sails
May 25 thru 27	Memorial Day Raft-up	3-Day Raft Up
June 8 & 9	Training	Overnight Sail
July 6 & 7	Training	Close Quarters Maneuvering Training
July 27 thru August 2	ASA 106 - DELMARVA	7-Day Sail
August 3 & 4	Training	Overnight Sail
August 31 thru September 2	Labor Day Raft-up	3-Day Raft Up
September 21 & 22	Training	Day Sails
October 5 & 6	Training	Overnight Sail
October 26 & 27	Training	Close Quarters Maneuvering Training
November 2 & 3	Training	Day Sails

For specific details of each of these sails, such as sail description, type of boat, cost of sail, list of the crew, and the Skipper of Record (SOR), please check the schedule by clicking on Bay Sailing Schedule. As always, if you have additional questions (or need more information), please contact the Bay Commodore or any PSC Bridge member!

However, there’s something happening on the Chesapeake Bay nearly every weekend that you can take advantage of. The Club recognizes that sailing is supposed to be, first and foremost fun. PSC Boat Owners do organize informal events around the Bay. These are not official PSC events, but are “come as you are” activities, open to PSC members who own a boat, charter a boat, or simply want to drive over, meet, and socialize with other PSC members.

2. Send your completed Bay Activities Registration Form and check payable to "Pentagon Sailing Club" to:

It's a PSC sailing trip on the Chesapeake Bay scheduled during one of the three-day holiday weekends. We call these sails a "raft-ups" because we tie the boats together, like a raft, when we anchor the first night. The Club boat is joined by other PSC members who own their own boats, and our rafts can build to more than a dozen boats! The second night we usually stay at a marina and enjoy dinner together in a local restaurant or other dining event. On the third day, we rise in the morning, have a leisurely breakfast, and set sail for our home ports.

Absolutely!!! All you have to be is a PSC member or a guest of a PSC member. NO SAILING EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY! In an effort to encourage new members to join in this event, the Club offers a $50 discount to a member’s first raft-up sail.

Raft-ups are great fun and an opportunity to get to know more fellow PSC members better, crew on large sailing yachts, and explore the Bay with experienced PSC skippers.

The cost of a raft up varies in price primarily based on the boat the Club charters. Please see the Bay Sailing Schedule for the rates for currently scheduled raft ups. Please note that the price listed account only for the cost for chartering the boat. Each crew shares the cost of common expenses for the weekend, such as provisions, fuel, pump outs, marina fees, and the cost for your Sunday evening meal.

Yes! Members who have accrued Frequent Volunteer Sea Miles by volunteering for the PSC can use up to two FVSM coupons ($50) to offset their cost.

While you will need to tailor what you bring on a raft-up based upon the weather conditions and where the boat might tie up on Sunday, a general list of items that you could bring are listed at Seabag Inventory (What to bring).

Yes! The designated Raft-Up Coordinator pays half (50% off) the applicable Crew Rate PLUS he/she also earns five FVSM coupons for coordinating the Raft-up. If the Raft-Up Coordinator is also assigned as the Skipper of a PSC chartered boat (already at 50% off); however, no further discount is applied. Sorry! Please note that FVSM credits toward payments are still applicable, though. The Raft-Up Coordinator should review the raft-up process prior to departing for the raft-up at PSC Raft-up Coordinator's Checklist.

PSC Members with their own boats are encouraged to join us at no charge beyond your marina slip fees and restaurant bills. Please notify the Raft-Up Coordinator early so that marina and restaurant reservations can be made. Please provide your boat's name, LOA (incl. bow pulpits, swim platforms, etc), beam, draft, power requirements and cell phone number to allow a us to make marina reservations.

There many good reference cruising guides which are used for exploring the Chesapeake Bay. Please go the PSC Library Page for a list of these guides.

For the 2013 Bay Sailing season, the Club is chartered the boats from Annapolis Bay Charters (member of Dream Yacht Charter). Please visit their website at http://www.annapolisbaycharters.net/ to obtain more detail information on specific boats:

Interested in advanced sail training design to qualify you to command auxiliary sailing vessels up to 40' in coastal waters? Please check out the PSC Bay Training Program Information page for information on learning the process to earn qualifications, such as Senior Crew, Navigator, Watch Captain, and Bay Skipper!