2004 Chesapeake Bay Cruise

• Ocean Reports
• Graduate Letters
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• Weather

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27 July:  Overview of course, guidelines for cruise preparation, provision for cruise. Lectures on Rules of Road, docking, navigation. Hard rain all day.

28 July:  Boat systems, how everything works. Docking practice. Students outline limits of cruising area for a week, plot a course to Baltimore. Depart at noon. Motor in windless conditions up Brewerton and Fort McHenry channels to Baltimore Inner Harbor. Dock at Inner Harbor East Marina. Walking tour of Inner Harbor, dine at the Hard Rock Café.

 29 July:  Lecture on navigation in congested areas and shipping channels. Plot course to Annapolis. Motored most of way in light winds. Sailed some off Annapolis, checking points of sail and man overboard recoveries. Motored through congested “Ego Alley” at city dock, then picked up a mooring for the night. Took dinghy in to town, strolled around town, dinner at McGarveys Pub, ice cream at Italian parlor, and back to boat.  

30 July:  Tested written 101 for Bruce. Passed.  Plot course to Rhodes River. Good winds (12-15kts from south) provided great sailing into the West River entrance and into the Rhodes. Anchored and dined on fresh corn, sliced potatoes and chicken from the barbeque.   

31 July: Lectures/review for ASA 103.  Another day of wonderful south winds S 12-18kts. Sailed from Rhodes River to Bloody Point, up Eastern Bay, then close hauled towards St. Michaels. Great test of navigation skillsas we tacked under reefed sails the final 8 mile leg to mouth of Miles River, then motored on to anchorage off St. Michaels. Used dinghy to ferry back and forth from boat to downtown St. Michaels. Sightseeing, laundry, more provisions, dined on crab cakes and preferred beverages. Tested 103, passed ok. Spectacular sunset over town. Some studying and review.  

August 1: Pulled anchor after breakfast and pulled in to St. Michael’s Marina for fuel, pump-out. Set out on plotted course to the Wye river in light winds with some rain and thunderstorms. Motored to Wye, explored, anchored in Shaw Bay with just a few other boats. Several jumped in to swim around a bit. Refreshing. Cooked on the Barbie, dined as sun set. Some lectures/discussions, studying and review.   

August 2:  Plotted course from the Wye river to Rock Hall via Kent Narrows. No wind made for more motoring. Lots of practice navigating using visual fixes. Arrived at Kent Narrows, called drawbridge via VHF for opening time. Held position in a following current for 20 minutes waiting for bridge. Discussed what to do if engine failed in these circumstances. Passed through drawbridge, then docked at Harris’ Crab house for crab cakes.  Navigated out of Kent Narrows into Chester River on to Rock Hall. Docked, reviewed course materials, closed down for the day.  

August 3:  All took ASA 104 test and passed.  Drove to Haven Harbor for fuel and pumpout, then docked at home slip. Secured and emptied boat, graduation ceremony, and all was well.

Captain Don Kinney
S/V MOXIE
Rock Hall, MD
August 4, 2004

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