2023 Chesapeake Bay Cruise

26 MAY-2023: An enthusiastic crew reported aboard at 0900 sharp to begin the day’s instruction with an inspection and overview of Acadame’s systems and equipment in preparation to begin a Memorial Day Cruise on the Chesapeake. With all confirmed to be in order, the crew broke for lunch and mustered back in the MDSchool classroom for instruction on marine navigation resources, chart preparation and logbook-keeping to plot out their course and plan details of the trip. Becoming intimately acquainted with the USCG Light List, Coast Pilot, Local Notice to Mariners, the plotting triangle, parallel ruler and a pile of local navigational charts, the students laid out their course and entered the details of their waypoints into the ship’s log. Once the crew were into a rhythm with their navigational planning, Captain Brian made a run to the grocery store for provisions. On his return, they stored their bounty aboard Acadame, packed away the navigational aids in their proper cubbies and draws (in accordance with the Chesapeake Bay Coastal Cruise Training Plan) and concluded the day’s training for a night on the town in Rock Hall where they all enjoyed a delicious meal at BayWolf.

27-MAY-2023: The crew mustered aboard at 0900 to a clear calm day with temperatures in the 70’s and winds from the Southeast at 5-15 knots. The forecast called for the winds to shift to the Northeast during the afternoon and waves on the bay at 1-2 feet. Rodney Dyer was assigned as student skipper for the day. Captain Brian assisted the crew in performing the pre-departure checklist and they cast off the dock lines at 1045 and made course to Annapolis, MD. They motored to the vicinity of the Langford Creek junction mark where Eli and Melissa performed boat handling drills under power to familiarize themselves with the Island Packet 32, as it was their first class with MDSchool. Once all were comfortable with the basic controls, the crew raised the mainsail, set the genoa and motor-sailed down the Chester River on a course to round Love Point.

Rich served as the Navigator, maintaining the ship’s log and plotted multiple two-bearing fixes. The crew discussed considerations for long-term cruising, medical emergencies and a deeper dive into ship systems. They rounded Love Point at 1455 and with the winds having shifted to the Northeast as promised, blowing a steady 10 knots, they were able to secure the engine and proceed down the Bay on a beam reach until passing beneath the Bay Bridge. On approaching the channel into the Severn River, the winds died to 5 knots, so the crew dropped sails in preparation for entering Annapolis Harbor.

With the holiday weekend, the mooring field was completely full and numerous other boats vied for prime spots in the anchorage close to the Naval Academy Sea Wall. The crew ultimately set the hook in 12 feet of water in a quiet corner on the east end of the South Anchorage, secured the vessel in accordance with the checklist and hailed the water taxi for a ride into the city docks. They wandered around town for a while and ended up in Eastport where they found a table at Forward Brewing, enjoying dinner and some cold beverages. While in town, the winds shifted again and picked up to a steady 15 knots out of the East – the ride back to Acadame on the water taxi was a bit choppy and wet. The taxi’s captain advised that the local police were out dealing with numerous boats dragging anchor in the anchorage. Fortunately, Acadame was safe and bobbing snuggly where she was left, well away from the chaos. The taxi captain expertly delivered the crew aboard and all settled in for lights out at 2200.

28-MAY-2023: Everyone was up and about by 0630. Rodney relinquished his command to Eli Lehrhaupt who proudly embraced his responsibilities, donning his custom-made shirt identifying himself as “CAPTAIN.” Morning temperatures were in the low 60’s rising in the afternoon to the mid 70’s. Skies were partly cloudy and winds were from the Northeast at 5-15 knots. After completion of the pre-departure checklist, Captain LeBlanc discussed and demonstrated setting a second anchor using a Bahamian moor. The crew then retrieved both anchors, set the mainsail and genoa and navigated out of the Severn. They set a course south down the Chesapeake to Eastern Bay and headed for Saint Michaels. Cautiously avoiding numerous other pleasure craft and anchored container ships, the crew discussed emergency procedures and simulated several of the situations. They continued discussion about boat systems, sailing tactics and navigation rules. On the approach to Eastern Bay, Captain Brian walked the crew through the process of taking a danger bearing off Bloody Point Light.

After clearing the point into Eastern Bay and the boat traffic having settled down, the crew all rotated through evolutions of man overboard drills. They then motor-sailed the rest of the way to Saint Michaels where the crew had reserved a space to tie up alongside Saint Michaels Marina fuel docks for the evening ashore. They explored the town together, attempting to find a restaurant with space available for five before the kitchens closed. Foxy’s welcomed them in, where they were able to immediately get a table and settle down for a much-deserved meal – and some refreshing cold beverages. On returning to the boat, the crew took advantage of the chance to catch a hot shower ashore and tucked into their racks by 2230.

29-MAY-2023: Reveille dawned much too early with Captain Brian’s alarm blaring Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville at 0600. The deal with Saint Michael’s Marina that allowed Acadame to tie up alongside the fuel dock for the night required her to cast off before the office opened at 0800. As the crew enjoyed breakfast aboard, a moment of tension ensued as Eli Lehrhaupt and Melissa McNulty faced each other down, both having donned their cherished, custom-made “CAPTAIN” shirts – there can only be one Captain…. Eli reluctantly turned over command and changed into a sweatshirt (the crew suspects he probably kept the tee shirt on underneath.) Melissa walked the crew through the pre-departure checklist and Acadame seamlessly departed the dock, backing against a forward-lead spring-line from the aft cleat.

Temperatures were in the low 60’s, the skies overcast and the winds were at 0-5 knots out of the Northeast. With the winds dead on the bow and trying to make time to get to the draw bridge at Kent Narrows, the crew motored North on the Miles River with no sails set. The Narrows were congested and a fairly swift following current was running in the channel through the bridge when they arrived, but Melissa expertly helmed the vessel through and navigated around the narrow twists and turns to the safe open waters of the Chester River. With the winds non-existent, the crew motored into Grey Inn Creek where Captain LeBlanc guided them through setting a Bahamian Moor. A storm was forecast for the afternoon, so they settled in for lunch, lectures and open discussion on navigation rules, marine weather, coastal navigation and sail trim. The crew unanimously decided that they preferred to spend the last night in home port rather than anchor out somewhere, so the Eli, who was serving as navigator laid in a course for home.

When the promised front passed through, it brought a little bit of rain and the winds kicked up – perfect for sailing! The crew retrieved the anchors and returned to the Chester River where they practiced putting in a reef, shaking out the reef, rigging the preventer and then returned to Langford Bay Marina under sail on a downwind run. They had the dock lines tied up at 1730 and all went ashore for another dinner together at Waterman’s Grill in Rock Hall.

30-MAY-2023: Rich Osten served as student skipper for the last day of the cruise. He oversaw completion of the pre-departure checks and Acadame departed her slip promptly at 0830. Temperatures were in the low 60’s with slightly cloudy skies and winds from the Southeast at 10-20 knots. The crew proceed to the vicinity of the Chester River junction mark for Langford Creek where all hands rotated through a turn at the helm performing figure 8 man overboard drills. Then all had a turn navigating the boat around a course between the LC junction mark and Green No.1 Daybeacon. They headed back to home port at 1200 to pump the holding tank, filled up on fuel, completed all the final day tasks for returning the boat to her slip and challenged the daunting ASA104 exam. All students passed with flying colors. They said their farewells with hopes to cross paths again someday in the future.