2021 Chesapeake Bay Cruise

Wednesday, June 2, 2021.  Day # 1

We met on the vessel ACADAME, IP32.  Mark had just completed ASA 103 yesterday on this same vessel. Diana had completed 103 with MD School last fall. Wx: Sunny, Temp 65 – 70.

 After our intros and course overview, our crew set about inspecting the vessel bow to stern, both below deck and above deck.  Dockside we reviewed the running rigging and sail controls as well as practiced reefing the Main. Next our crew loaded additional special gear, which we bring on all our Intermediate cruises, as well as having our propane tank filled.

We departed the dock with Diana at the helm and motored to the mooring field for practice of maneuvers under power, standing turns and stern to docking. They might need those skills when we dock at St. Michael’s. Mark took the helm for our return docking “stern to” utilizing a “Waterman’s Spring”.

Once secure in our slip, our crew of 2 had more to do. Provisions per their plan were purchased and stowed. After a lovely on-board dinner from Bay Wolf in town, our crew started their Nav plan. With a crew of 2, they both will be quite busy with Navigation planning and execution of their plan this week. Diana had taken the ASA 105 Nav course this winter. Mark was a very quick study with the nav material.

Diana would be student “skipper of the day” tomorrow and the Navigator. She and Mark planned for a course to St. Michael’s.

Courses are determined in True and converted to ship’s compass using “TVMDC”. They learned to utilize the Light List, Local Notice to Mariners as well as the US Coast Pilot, local Cruising guides and Tide Tables as well as the ship’s deviation table. They worked well into the evening to establish all their waypoints for this leg of the trip, as well as organizing the charts for this entire trip. The experience puts the ASA 105 course material into a practical plan. We will see tomorrow how they execute it.

The “skipper of the day” role preps a student to learn how to run and manage their own boat and crew.

Day # 2

Student Skipper of the Day & Navigator: Diana    Engineer & Bosun: Mark

Wx: Winds S/SW 10 -15, gusts to 20, cloudy, possible rain. Prediction for severe T-Storms approx. 3 pm. Temp High 60’s – low 70’s. 

After a good night’s rest, we departed by 8:30 am planning on the Noon opening at Kent Narrows Bridge. Enroute to the LC sailing area, we raised a reefed Main & Jib in prep for gusts and later stormy weather. Tacking back & forth with wind on the nose slowed our progress. We motored sailed with the main from Red Nun 14, around the Eastern Neck and lowered all sail near Green 7. At the helm, Mark expertly brought us through the “narrow” Kent Narrows Channel. Our skipper Diana’s Nav Plan was spot on for our 12 Noon opening. Mark carefully guided ACADAME through the opening against a bit of current. Our other school boat, SCHOLARSHIP, followed us through. Once into Prospect Bay we were able to raise sails, and sail to the Miles River.

At St. Michael’s we took on fuel, then docked into our slip. Excellent docking and line handling skills by our crew. After showers, a relaxing dinner was had by all at the marina at Foxy’s with the crew of SCHOLARSHIP joining us. The rain held off until just after dinner. Great timing!

Later that evening Mark & Diana worked hard with the NAV plan to Annapolis.

Click pictures to enlarge

Day #3

Student Skipper & Navigator: Mark     Engineer & Bosun: Diana

Wx:  W S/SW 7-8/10 PM lighter winds, possible T-Storms

Departed St. Michael’s approx. 8:30 am and motored up the Miles River. In Eastern Bay the wind was on the nose and the crew elected to motor sail to the opening of the Chesapeake Bay. While in Eastern Bay there was a lot of boat traffic and it was a good time to review the important Nav rules. The crew obtained a two-bearing fix using the old Bloody Point Light and a radio tower on land, thus confirming our position. We raised full sails and were broad reaching with a preventer rigged and sailing wing-on-wing towards Thomas Point Light. Across the bay, we saw Pride of Baltimore. It is interesting to note that our school ship NAVIGATOR would later see her enroute to Bermuda.

Winds were light and with a darkening angry-looking sky we lowered all sail and made a bee line for Annapolis harbor. Diana did a good job steering us to our mooring ball # 6, while Mark picked up the pennant. We utilized a two-line technique to secure to the mooring.

Next up was a water taxi ride ashore, showers, a stroll around the harbor and an outside dinner at Federal House, once again being joined by the crew of SCHOLARSHIP. A nice end to our day.

Back at the boat, Diana and Mark worked out the Nav plan for tomorrow. 

	Click pictures to enlarge

Day #4

Student Skipper & Navigator: Diana    Engineer & Bosun:  Mark

Wx: Sunny, light winds

Departed Annapolis approx. 8:30 am for the Chester River. Final anchorage was to be finalized after the late afternoon weather update. Mark took off our mooring lines and Diana steered us out of the mooring field then took over as Navigator. Mark motored out of Spa Creek and rounded the Naval Anchorage towards the Bay Bridge. Dianna brought us through under the span to the left of center. We maintained a course passing Sandy Point light. We could see the bright white Baltimore range light and the Baltimore light itself. Diana knew it was time to alter course to Love Point. After crossing the shipping channel, we raised sails. We were on a beam reach towards the buoys off Love Point, passing a key Mid-channel marker. We tacked down the Chester River towards Eastern Neck, rounded Eastern Neck when the winds lightened. When rounding the Neck we are ever mindful of depths and utilize the depth contours as a guide. We sailed for a bit downwind, but our progress was slowing so we furled the Genoa and motor sailed.

We set course for the Corsica River. Mark was at the helm for the approach to the cove.

Dianna dropped the anchor and Mark did a power set with the engine. We took 3 to 4 bearings, sighting over the ship’s compass. These were confirmed & compared with a hand bearing compass. All bearings are recorded in case we need to re-confirm our position during the night.  We had Chicken Alfredo for dinner and watched the sun set over this lovely cove on the Eastern Shore. It does not get much more peaceful than this.

After some test review, Mark prepped his nav plan for Lankford Bay Marina – with a stop first at Long Cove marina.

Click pictures to enlarge

Day #5

Skipper / Navigator:  Mark   Engineer & Bosun:  Diana

Wx:  Wind S/ SW 5-10 Temp high 70’s – 80’s

I was awakened by many birds early today. Certainly, it was a nice alarm clock. All crew were up earlier today as we anticipated a warm day. Mark raised anchor and we were underway by 7:30 am. Diana was at the helm while we motored to the LC area.  Emergency scenarios were discussed.

Once there, “Weenie”(our MOB dummy) “fell overboard.” Mark put out the life sling and encircled him. The life sling is useful especially for shorthanded crew.

We raised all sail and were able to do a bit more sailing by sailing upwind towards Red Nun 14.

We practiced heaving-to and “hove to“ for lunch. Once we got underway it was time to head back to our marina. We navigated into the shallow channel for Long Cove marina to take on fuel and pump out.

Mark steered us in and did a nice job parallel docking, starboard side to.

Diana undocked us and turned us around for our departure to Lankford Bay. Diana also brought us into our home slip; once again using a “Waterman’s Spring”

In summary, it was a busy week for our small crew of two and one Captain. However, this gave each of the crew more time as Skipper/ Navigator helping them to develop their student skipper navigation skills.  One day, this may help them to make those important decisions not only during the planning process, but once underway making evaluations and updates, and revising their plans.

I know they will be successful.

Captain Robin Bauer
On board S/V AcadAme
Rock Hall, Maryland
June 2021