2023 Chesapeake Bay Cruise

 

While all ASA104 classes present some challenges, this particular one included an experience that certainly had the students agreeing with Captain Frank’s “offshore, at night, 30 knots of wind” mantra.  This was despite the fact that we were in the middle of the Chester River, in the middle of the day.  Students Barry and Lori braved the elements and came through with flying colors, if a little dampened by the experience.

 ACADAME left the Marina at Lankford Bay, motoring into the still air of a cloudless on a cloudy Sunday morning after a full day of trip planning and provisioning.  Since there were only two students in the class, Captain Frank was acting as the Skipper of the Day.  After a run down the Chester with a water surface so flat, the clouds that were beginning to form in the late morning were reflected clearly, we performed a knotmeter transducer calibration run between Green 11 can and Red Buoy 12.  We found, after calculating, that our knot meter transducer was reading about 20% low, an important piece of information for our ded reckoning. Still having very little wind, we motored  down the course line that the students had planned the day before.  Continuing on the engine in the negligible wind and hot, humid air, we made our way along to Swan Creek.

We stopped on the pump out dock at Swan Creek Marina to give the crew a chance for a head break ashore and to await the delivery of some supplies that had been accidentally left behind.  After getting our gear, we settled onto mooring ball 16 at the Swan Creek Marina.  We had a gentle but persistent zephyr out of the northwest, which would occasionally pull our bow around.  However, most of the time, the current held the boat and the breeze would come through the open portlights into the cabin below.  We enjoyed a pleasant dinner after a long day.  

With sunup, ACADAME  was out of Swan Creek and headed for Saint Michael’s.   Rain was coming down in torrential buckets and the wind came from all around us, making sailing impossible.  Skipper of the Day Barry got us headed down to the Bay Bridge as the rains first moderated and then ended.  As we motored along, we found the Love Point safe water mark and, turning south, we passed under the Annapolis Bay Bridge as the sun came out, the wind died down and came out of the south.  At one point, we tried setting the headsail, but the wind came directly up our path.  As we approached the light at Bloody Point, we saw a tug boat pushing a huge barge coming around the bar and we quickly headed out into the Bay, allowing the tug and barge to pass down our port side before we rounded the point and headed up into Eastern Bay.  Determined to at least try to sail, Barry had the crew raise the headsail and we used it for some very close-hauled motor sailing.     

As we approached the green #3 Buoy in Eastern Bay, suddenly the engine quit.  Quickly diagnosing that the problem was not something that could be repaired on board, Barry had the crew prepare to anchor, while contacting TowBoat to request assistance.  Of course, it was just a drill, but the crew handled it well and soon, all that was left was to debrief the crew, get a three bearing fix and get back underway.  

As we came around Tilghman Point and headed for Bennett Point, we furled the headsail just before taking the southern route around the shoal near the mouth of the Miles River, then we came into the Miles and headed for the entrance to Saint Michaels.  

We took on fuel at the fuel dock then shifted over into the marina.  After taking slip 33 in the Saint Michaels Marina, showers and dinner ashore were a welcome set of events.  Luckily, since we were tied up with electricity for the air conditioning, the heat and humidity of the evening was no major problem.

Lori, our Skipper of the Day for Tuesday, calculated our passage at Kent Narrows, deciding that we needed to arrive about 11:30, so after breakfast and strong coffee, we prepared to get underway.  The light breeze of the previous day had deserted us so we motored back out into Eastern Bay.  By the time we reached the Narrows, the winds were variable, but building and we went through on the eleven o’clock opening, with a touch of current on the stern.  We were soon back out into the Chester River, with the breeze slowly building from the south-southeast.  We set the main and headsails, and started sailing up the River, enjoying the ten-knot breeze that moved the boat easily along.  As we turned round the Green #9 Buoy, we noticed very dark and ominous clouds on the western horizon.  Skipper Lori made the decision that we would sail as long as we could, but once we were under the clouds, we would furl the sails and head for cover.  That moment came just as we were abeam the Red #14 Buoy.  After two wonderful hours of sailing, it was time to restart the diesel.

The storm hit as we arrived at the “LC” preferred junction beacon, near where the Langford Creek and the Chester River come together.  For about 30 minutes, the crew held the boat off the mark by 100 feet as the rain came thrashing in, accompanied by small hail pellets and whipping winds.  This was, as Captain Frank explained, the serious conditions that can catch an unprepared crew and put them into dire straits.  Fortunately, since this crew was well-trained, with multiple classes at the Maryland School, it was simply a cold and wet annoyance.

As the sun came back after the storm, Captain Frank made the decision to shift the landing spot for the day from an anchorage to a return to Langford Bay Marina.  Partly, this was to allow for a period of hot showers and drying for the totally soaked crew, partly to allow Frank to grab some parts he needed for a minor repair that had come up the day before.  The boat was soon back in her home slip in the now once again dead air, while the threat of a second set of nasty storms rumbled in the distance.

On the next morning, ACADAME  got underway again to complete the last part of her training cruise - an opportunity to perform a Bahamian mooring.  After setting the two anchors and retrieving them, we pumped out, topped off the fuel tank and tucked the boat back into her slip, bringing one more - albeit very memorable - 104 class to an end.