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2021 Chesapeake Bay Cruise |
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Saturday, September 18, 2021, Day # 1 After a lunch break and discussion of the meal plan,
at around 1400, the crew started work in the classroom on the navigation
plan for the trip. Dan had already taken ASA105, so that was helpful to
the rest of the crew. This navigation planning phase is very important.
They will utilize many sources in addition to the nautical charts and will
gain practical use of the Light List, the Local Notice to Mariners, US
Coast Pilot and local cruising guide. This is a good time in one’s
sailing career to begin to learn how to use these resources. Courses are
determined in True degrees and converted to Ship’s compass degrees (psc)
using the TVMDC procedure, local Magnetic Variation and the ship’s
deviation table. The crew worked on this for several hours after which we
all enjoyed a well-deserved lasagna dinner. After final boat inspections
and loading the extra 104 gear, our crew was ready for a tomorrow morning
departure to Annapolis. This was a very good prep day. Sunday, September 19, 2021, Day # 2 Dan, as student skipper of the day, took charge of our Nav plan for today. By each crew taking a turn as student skipper for a day, they are preparing and learning how to take charge of their own vessel in the future by directing sail maneuvers, delegating assignments to other crewmembers, and monitoring all vessel functions. We motored to the Chester River and raised sail and rigged a preventer for our downwind run and gybing around RN # 14. Rounding Eastern Neck can be tricky as there is a good dealing of shoaling in that area. No problem for Dan though as we continued our course past the Eastern Neck with Dan monitoring a bearing line on his target mark; once the correct bearing was acquired, we turned North.
The wind had now picked up and was on the nose, so we
tacked up the Chester River towards Love Point for a while. It would take
many, many tacks and our progress towards our destination was slowing, so
we furled the genoa and elected to motor-sail around Love Point. Later,
Ally was at the helm and steered us under the bay bridge towards
Annapolis, and Dan directed our approach into Annapolis Harbor. Ally
steered us into the mooring field where Rick picked up buoy # 24. Secure
for the evening, the crew had a relaxing evening and dinner aboard. Monday, September 20, 2021, Day # 3 As student skipper for today, Ally planned a course from Annapolis to St. Michael’s. She had the crew up early and we were underway by 0730 from the mooring field. Noticing we were behind Scholarship, Ally hailed them using proper radio protocol and switched to a working channel. A brief discussion ensued about the future planned events for today. This was a good opportunity for the student crew to practice VHF use. We motored out of Annapolis Harbor to the Chesapeake Bay where we raised sails. Winds were light but we were able to sail for a while. Ally had us head on a course of 187 psc (per ship’s compass) towards Thomas Point Shoal Light.
While enroute, our Man Overboard dummy went
overboard. No worries though, the crew performed a Tack & Back
maneuver and hove-to into the rescue position, and brought the MOB dummy
aboard. Afterwards, multiple bearings were taken by the crew on charted
objects that we could see, and they updated our position on the chart to
confirm our navigation progress. Passing the South River Preferred Channel
Marker, the course was altered towards Bloody Point Bar. Would the skipper
be mistakenly using the old Bloody Point Lighthouse tower or the new
lighted beacon as listed in the Light List? We will see... We cleared the bar and entered Eastern Bay. We
continued to sail for a while but with the wind once again on the nose the
crew furled the genoa and we motor sailed up the bay to the Miles River.
After dousing the mainsail, Ally choose the more challenging route to St.
Michael’s through a narrow passage around a shoal near the Wye River. At
St. Michael’s, Dan did a good job parallel docking alongside the fuel
dock where we took on fuel and pumped out. Rick took the helm for departure from the fuel dock and did a great job steering us into a tight slip with a large catamaran nearby. The crew is working well together. After securing ACADAME, we joined the crew of Scholarship At Foxy’s for a delicious dinner ashore while swapping sea stories and tall tales about the day's events. Tuesday, September 21, 2021, Day # 4 Rick, as student skipper for the day, planned on a course north in the Miles River to Prospect Bay, then north to Kent Narrows, through the bridge and into the Chester River. He carefully determined the tides and the time of slack Current” at the bridge, which can have a tricky current, so it is best to transit at the time of slack current if possible. Since Rick planned for the 1330 bridge opening, we decided to depart our slip after 0900. Prior to departure, we did a thorough inspection of the diesel engine and held a mini-class on diesel engines in general.
Ally backed us out of the slip, and we motor-sailed
up the Miles River. With Rick at the helm, he steered us under the bridge
towards the Kent Island Narrows North Channel where he resumed his
navigator duties. He negotiated the shallow channel carefully. Once in the
Chester River, we rounded the Eastern Neck and went up the river.
Since our crew member was still not feeling well, our decision was
to head back to our home marina, where we would drop him off to spend one
night ashore. He could rest up before his following classes started up.
Ally parallel docked at our marina and our one crew disembarked. We then
departed for Cacaway Island where Rick deployed two anchors in a forked
moor position. There, bearings were taken and entered in the ship’s log.
It was a perfect evening at anchor. We had a nice dinner and watched the
sunset. The crew later studied for their exam. Wednesday, September 22, 2021, Day # 5 With Ally at the helm, Rick hauled in both anchors,
and we set course for Long Cove Marina where we pumped out. We also took
on fuel there since the afternoon weather report was for thunderstorms. It
was best to get our end-of -cruise chores completed early. We then set
course for the sailing area in the Chester River. Rick directed the
raising of sails and chose a double-reefed main and a 75% jib. It was a
good choice. The boat was nicely balanced. The crew enjoyed sailing to
windward and practiced de-powering techniques in the gusts, and it was a
wonderful sail to conclude our weeklong trip. With the darkening skies and threatening
thunderstorms, we headed back to Lankford Bay Marina, off-loaded gear and
cleaned up the boat leaving it in Bristol condition. Student then
completed their ASA104 written exams, of which they all passed, and we
concluded the class and a successful cruise. Ally, Rick and Dan did very
well with their onboard leadership skills, and I know that they are now
ready to skipper their own boats on multi-day cruises. Well done! Captain Robin Bauer
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