2022 Chesapeake Bay Cruise

 

After NAVIGATOR had returned from Bermuda to Norfolk, it fell to Captain Frank and his crew - Bill, Mike, Uwe and Wesley - to return her to Rock Hall.  Along the way, the crew experienced a multitude of sailing conditions and challenges, along with stops in Cape Charles City, the Great Wicomico River, Solomons Island, MD and Annapolis.  The crew ably rose to the task and the boat was safely returned to her new slip at Lankford Bay Marina.

On Day 1, Captain Frank led the crew through boat familiarization exercises, discovering all of the gear and interesting features of an Island Packet 40.  Afterwards, the crew settled down to developing the navigation plan that would get the boat back.  Bill, the Skipper of the Day for the first leg, from Morningstar Marina Little Creek to Cape Charles City Town Marina, led the group in finding the waypoints and checking the Coast Pilot, Notice to Mariners and Light List for important information.  Somewhere during this time, the local Food Lion delivered the provisions for the trip and they were soon stored safely aboard.  That evening, dinner was ashore at a local Italian restaurant.

The next morning, after fueling and pumping out, NAVIGATOR nosed back out into the Chesapeake Bay and headed north, passing an aircraft carrier and a submarine along the way.  After setting the mainsail and genoa, we sailed along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.  Midway through the day's trip, Captain Frank pulled the first of his drills in his role as "disaster master."  A simulated fire developed in the battery compartment, forcing Bill and Uwe to fight the casualty while Wes and Mike controlled the boat.  After performing a two bearing fix to reestablish the boat's position, Bill directed a new course and we were soon following the range lights into Cape Charles Harbor, a unique experience for the crew.

Tucked into slip B05 at Cape Charles City Marina, the crew enjoyed showers, air conditioning and a visit to the Shanty restaurant, before having dinner aboard.  Captain Frank prepared the first meal of pasta and meatballs, enjoyed by the crew dining in the cockpit as the sun went down.  After some more navigation preps, the crew settled in for some well-deserved rest.

The next morning found the crew up and ready by 0600 for a 0700 departure.  We had a long leg today of about 45 miles and, after Captain Frank rolled NAVIGATOR out of the marina, Skipper for the Day Mike took over and we transited back out of Cape Charles, using the range lights as back trails to keep us in the bouncy waters of the channel. 

Once out of the channel, we put up the main and genoa again, with a preventer rigged to allow us to run a broad reaching course up the Bay.  Unfortunately, the wind didn't hold long and, within two hours, we were motor-sailing and finally motoring into flatter and flatter seas.  

We passed the abandoned light house at Wolf Trap and turned toward our destination for the day, the Great Wicomico River, where we would eventually anchor.  It was as we approached the channel leading into the river that the second (simulated) disaster struck - the engine died.  Mike and crew quickly assessed the situation and came up with a plan to sail the boat into the river, using the freshening breeze from an approaching storm cell.  Frank then restored engine power and the boat proceeded past the headlands, getting hit by the drenching rain just after dousing the main and genoa. 

Using the barely visible aids to navigation (and the occasional suggestion from Captain Frank), NAVIGATOR was soon anchored in a protected hideaway a mile or so up the river, along with four other boats.  We all spent the night there, with Mike preparing a delicious dinner of chicken fajitas.  Unfortunately, the rain was not done with us and it continued to dump water periodically throughout the night.

The next morning, we were underway again by 0700, with Uwe in charge as Skipper of the Dday.  It was another 40+ nautical miles trip, from the river up to Spring Cove Marina in Solomons Island.  Although it was still rainy and chilly for June, the wind was perfect, 10 to 15 knots from about 60 degrees off our starboard bow,  We romped along under main and genoa, at times exceeding 7.5 knots over the ground.  The boat was handling like a dream and we sailed past the Smith Point light, across the Potomac River entrance and were well on our way past Point No Point, when Mike became a medical emergency (thanks, again, to Captain Frank). 

Luckily, Uwe was able to put his medical skills to good use and Mike was quickly made comfortable as a call was put out to the Coast Guard for assistance.  Unfortunately, Captain Frank had another trick up his sleeve and simultaneously with Mike's injury, the radio failed, forcing Uwe and the crew to look for alternative destinations to assist their shipmate.

After securing from this drill and with Mike miraculously healed, we continued to Solomons and were tucked into our slip in Spring Cove Marina early enough to go ashore for a delightful dinner at the Pier restaurant, as suggested by the cheerful crew at the marina.  Back on the boat that evening with power and air conditioning, the last of the navigation preparation was performed and we were ready for a later departure the next morning.

Skipper of the Day Wesley, after reviewing the weather forecast for a warm and windless day, decided to advance the departure time and we were underway by 0800.  After departing the marina and heading back out into the Bay, we were forced to motor our way, but we finally received a welcome lift from the current as we rode the flood tide north.  As we passed the mouth of the Choptank River, Captain Frank threw his last drill of the trip and the backstay began to crack.  The alert crew caught it quickly and, under Wesley's direction, had the halyard rigged and tightened to take the strain off the failing rigging.  

Again, a two bearing fix reestablished our position and we were soon underway again, the halyard restored to its normal secured position and the crew ready for lunch.  Earlier in the day, the crew had put forth the suggestion to Captain Frank that they eat the planned dinner for the day at lunch and then have dinner ashore in Annapolis.  Frank agreed and Bill was soon handing up bowls of peppers and sausages, a hearty lunch for a tired crew.

We made it into Annapolis at about 1600 and were soon secured to mooring ball 26.  After calling the harbor master to pay for our night, the crew contacted the water taxi and headed ashore for cold drinks and another tasty Italian dinner on the waterfront.  Afterwards, ice cream cones in hand, we explored Annapolis before returning to the boat for a night in the gentle breezes.

Captain Frank took control of the boat in the morning and we returned to Langford Creek.  The crew did their 104 exams as we transited, since the day continued to be breathlessly still, although just as we made it through the Langford Creek area, we passed our little sisters, SCHOLARSHIP and ACADAME, heading out to do some afternoon sailing in the slowly rising breezes,  We were greeted with shouts of encouragement and welcome as we came into the marina, pumped out again, refueled one last time and tucked NAVIGATOR into her slip.  Once again, a cruise well enjoyed and an opportunity for learning.