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2023 Chesapeake Bay Cruise |
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SATURDAY, JUNE 10,
2023 DAY # 1
Provisioning was
done by Mauree and the Captain and all crew helped with the stowage. By
this time the crew was ready for a well-deserved dinner at Baywolf in Rock
Hall. The tide tables were
examined to determine our best time of transit tomorrow through the Kent
Narrows bridge. We wanted to go through at High tide as there is much
shoaling North of the bridge. We planned on going through the bridge
around 12 noon. It
was a very good prep and planning day in port. SUNDAY, JUNE 11,
2023 DAY # 2 Student
Skipper/Navigator: Eray. Engineer: Mauree. Bosun: Rahul The crew were up by
0600, performed their assigned predeparture prep tasks and we were
underway before 0800. The main was raised
in the Chester River and after rounding R14 the jib was unfurled. Once around Eastern
Neck we furled the jib and motor-sailed to keep up boat speed and made the
11:30 bridge opening. We had lunch underway and raised the mainsail;
unfortunately, the wind was right on the nose, so we motor sailed a while
and unfurled the jib before getting to the Miles River. Eray did a good job
navigating into St. Michael’s. At St. Michael’s
marina, our crew expertly handled the boat backing into our slip (#37)
utilizing a Waterman’s springline. All crew handled their lines well to
allow us to expertly back into the slip. After showers at the
marina, by 5:30 pm the crew was sitting down to a wonderful dinner at
Foxy’s overlooking the marina, followed by a relaxing evening. It was
another good day. Later that evening, we did a weather & tides
briefing to prepare for their next day. MONDAY, JUNE 12,
2023 DAY # 3 Student
Skipper/Navigator: Mauree Thunderstorms are
predicted at Annapolis in the afternoon, so we discussed alternate
destinations but decided to go with our original plan. All crew were up by
0600, boat checks were done and ACADAME was underway by
0745. We motored up the Miles River channel in order to make our best
speed to Annapolis planning to arrive before the expected thunderstorms. In Easter Bay, the
crew raised the Main, putting 2 reefs in the mainsail and a full jib. As we rounded Bloody
Point bar, the crew rigged the main boom preventer. We sailed a lovely
broad reach all the way to Annapolis in lively conditions and 2 foot
seas.Student Skipper Mauree navigated well and led us to Tolly Point. The
crew did exceptionally well in these conditions. After arriving at Tolly
Point it began to rain.
Our Student Skipper
directed us into Annapolis, where we picked up Mooring #37 by 1315. The
crew executed their nav plan and we were secure on a mooring before the
thunderstorms arrived. Since it was
raining, we stayed aboard for a while longer, and I held
a mini diesel engine class for an hour. Afterwards, Mauree and
Rahul prepared the Nav plan for tomorrow to the Corsica River. By 1700,
the rain showers had passed and all crew took the water taxi ashore. A
lovely dinner was had at the Federal House. Mauree’s Dad was able to
drive to Annapolis to join us for dinner. In the evening, Rahul and Mauree
finished up their nav plan. Rahul would be Student Skipper tomorrow. Tuesday, June 13,
2023 Student
Skipper/Navigator: Rahul After a leisurely
breakfast and boat checks, we cast off the mooring and were underway by
0830. After we crossed the shipping channel on the north side of the
Annapolis bridge, the crew raised full sail. The winds were fluky
at times. The crew practiced taking and plotting 2 bearing fixes. They
also found it useful to take a bearing on the Swan Point Channel Range as
a way of creating a single LOP. Did their bearing come close to that in
the Light List after considering Variation? Yes, it did! The crew elected to
furl the Genoa because of the very light wind. We sailed around Eastern
Neck. Later, after we rounded RN #14, the wind increased. Now with full
sail we had a beautiful downwind run, sailing both wing & wing and
broad reaching. We were able to sail directly into the Corsica River and
anchored in a cove. Mauree and Rahul deployed first, our primary Anchor.
Afterwards, they set the smaller Danforth anchor in a forked moor
position. The crew was instructed in taking 3 sets of bearings and writing
it in our deck log. We would need these bearings to determine any anchor
drift during the evening or night. The cove has very good holding ground
and we did not anticipate any anchor dragging, but it’s best to be
prepared. By 5 pm we were anchored. Our skipper of the day, Rahul did a
good job of navigating and getting us to the cove.
We had a beautiful
sunset! It was a fitting end to what was another nice day on the water. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14,
2023 The crew took their
104 exam and all passed with flying colors. We had a variety of
wind and conditions on this trip. The crew was able to experience
traveling port to port and go into a slip, pick up a mooring and anchor
out. They will be well prepared to sail on day to day cruises to different
ports either on their own boats or when chartering.
All 3 crew did very
well in their roles as skipper, navigator, bosun and engineer. I believe
that they each learned how to run their own ship and will all do well when
they choose to skipper a boat of their own. Captain Robin Bauer
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