2021 Chesapeake Bay Cruise

 

This 104 class required some extra planning on the part of Captain Frank and his crew, Jenny, Jon, Michael and Michelle. Because the Annapolis Powerboat Show was going on, the popular mooring fields in downtown Annapolis were unavailable and we had to find another spot for our “mooring ball” night. Fortunately, the mooring field at Swan Creek Marina, which the school uses during the 106 cruises, was open for business. Navigation planning for this change involved working routes on the eastern side of the Chesapeake Bay between Love Point and Bloody Point, but the crew was easily up to the challenge.

Scholarship was off the dock by 9:15 on Wednesday. The five to ten knot breeze from the east moved us along nicely and, after clearing Langford Creek, Jenny, our Skipper of the Day, decided to set the mainsail with preventer and genoa. After a couple of gybes to get south of the wildlife refuge, we turned west and headed for the mouth of the Chester. It was during this run that Captain Frank threw out the first drill, a simulated fire in the electrical cabinet. While it took a little time to diagnose the problem, it was soon under control and we were back in business.

After doing a three bearing fix, Jenny turned us north in the dying afternoon breeze and we looked for the entrance to Swan Creek. After passing the collection of crab pots that guard the mouth of the creek, we dropped the sails and motored into Swan Creek, picking up the mooring ball at the Marina. We were soon joined by our sister ship, AcaDame, and friendly banter floated across the mooring field as we settled in for the night.

With sunup, Scholarship was off the mooring ball and headed for Saint Michael’s. By this point, the wind had deserted us completely and we proceeded under engine power under the eastern channel of the Annapolis Bay Bridge and down to Bloody Point Bar. Rounding the bar, we traveled up into the Eastern Bay. It was here that Frank threw his second drill, this time on Skipper of the Day John.

The crew was greeted by the screaming sound of the Raw Water Alarm. The crew’s quick response secured the engine and troubleshooting began. After effectively ruling out the usual subjects, the crew admitted to themselves that the problem was not solvable onboard and decided to call for assistance. It was at this point that Frank admitted that the alarm was a drill and we continued on our way. 

By this time, we were headed toward Tilghman Point. Despite the fact that this was a midweek day, there were still a large number of boats out enjoying the early fall weather. As we approached Saint Michaels, the breeze began to build from the east, promising a good day of sailing for the next day. We settled into slip 33, our customary spot at the marina and awaited the arrival of Captain David and his crew aboard AcaDame. Dinner was spent swapping stories as we sat looking out over the harbor where the two Maryland School boats were nestled side-by-side.

Micheal, our Skipper of the Day, decided that we needed to pass the Kent Narrows Lift Bridge at slack water, which was scheduled to occur at 1:30, so we wouldn’t leave the marina until 10:00, which gave us time for a delicious breakfast ashore. After stopping to pump out and get ice, we headed out into the late morning sunshine. Unfortunately, the gentle breeze of the previous evening, which we had hoped was a sign of things to come, had petered out and the day was just as empty of wind as the previous one.

Michael, undeterred, had the crew set the mainsail anyway, hoping for an improvement in the conditions. Unfortunately, it was not to be and as we approached the Kent Narrows southern channel, we were forced to drop the sail again. After motoring through the Narrows Lift Bridge at the expected slack tide, we headed out through the northern channel, passing a parade of boats headed in for the day. We rounded the 1KN light and were finally back in the Chester River.

Unfortunately for Michael, one of his crew slipped into a diabetic coma at this point and he had to quickly make decisions on how to get the best medical care for her he could. Well, he would have had to, if it had not been another one of Captain Frank’s emergency drills. After simulating contacting the Coast Guard and preparing to drop the anchor in order to remain in place until help arrived, Michelle, our “victim,” made a miraculous recovery and we were underway again.

From this point, we headed east and, after rounding green buoy 9, set the sails and headed up the Chester River. We still had no wind, but the crew was happy for the chance to, once again, practice the procedure of setting, and eventually dropping and flaking, the mainsail. After a run up the Chester which included a data run for checking the boats compass for deviation, we headed into Comegys Bight and dropped the anchor. 

We settled in for the evening and started preparing dinner. We missed our companions for the last two nights, but Acadame and her crew had chosen a different spot to anchor for the night and failed to join us. Still the field of ducks and seagulls that drifted around us as the evening came on provided an evening’s entertainment and, with dinner finished, we sat and discussed the upcoming written exam, exploring the areas of uncertainty the crew still had.

After breakfast the next morning, Michelle, our Skipper of the Day, directed the crew in raising the mainsail and unfurling the genoa, after we had raised the anchor. We were off the hook and sailing into the wider area south of Lankford Creek as Frank prepped the crew for their Crew Overboard (COB) training. First, the entire crew performed a series of COB recoveries. Then, as the boat sailed, Frank would call out a student’s name while tossing the COB mannequin over the side. The designated student had to go below and the remaining students had to perform the recovery as if they were rescuing their boat mate. The increased realism brought home Frank’s repeated dictum that it is better to stay attached to the boat than to be rescued.

After a few hours of finally sailing again in the boisterous 10 to 15 knot breeze, Scholarship returned to Lankford Bay to take on fuel and then headed for her home slip. We were soon in, cleaned up and ready to take the written challenge, ending another excellent 104 class.