2023 Chesapeake Bay Cruise

 

DAY 1: After brief introductions, we dive below for a stem to stern orientation of Scholarship that begins with the stowage plan and continues with a review of plumbing, electrical, galley and engine systems onboard.  During this process, we also identify the location of and inspect all essential safety equipment.  Break for lunch, then deck orientation, followed by provision planning.  After a look at the 5-day weather forecast, as well as tides and currents in the area, we decide that our first stop will be Annapolis Harbor. The students begin work on the navigation plan from our home slip to Annapolis while Captain Andy makes a trip into town to secure provisions for our voyage.  We load on the provisions together with additional equipment (spare dock lines, shorepower cord, charts, etc) and stow them away.  It is getting late in the day and still a bit hot and humid, so we decide to stay in the comfort of our home marina and air conditioning for the night.  After a nice dinner ashore, we review tomorrow’s navigation plan once more before tucking in for the night. 

DAY 2: The day begins with a discussion of the weather forecast, then basic docking principles.  The crew reviews the navigation plan once more. We ready Scholarship, top off the water tank and are underway at 0950, making a stop to pump out the holding tank on our way out. Colleen is student skipper today, with Ilana acting as navigator and Mike keeping the boat ship-shape as bosun. Winds are light from the south, so we are motorsailing.  This crew is doing an excellent job navigating down the Chester River as we review a few other knowledge topics. There is some difficulty locating RN”2” as we near the mouth of the Chester, so we get a 2-LOP fix and revise our course appropriately.  With the course revision, we now see the marker that is our waypoint directly ahead. Our next waypoint uses a depth contour. Just as we are getting a bit uncertain and thinking about getting a fix, the depth drops quickly to 35+ feet and we are at our waypoint. 

Working our way across the Chesapeake Bay and toward the Bay Bridge, Captain Andy orders a course change to pass close by the “LP” safe water mark. There is a large automobile carrier ship (“ro-ro”) heading out to sea from Baltimore, so we decide to alter course again to cross the shipping channel well in advance of when the ship will pass, then proceed through the Bay Bridge three spans west of the main channel to allow the ship to pass safely.  The sea breeze has kicked in and we set full sail on our way from the bridge to Annapolis.  The crew is thrilled to be heeled over, sailing strong into Annapolis, and keeps the sails up until just outside the harbor by the Naval Academy sea wall.  We find a mooring and are secured at 1620.  After some time for rest and reflection, the crew works together on tomorrow’s navigation plan for the Magothy River. Water taxi to town for dinner, touring and ice cream! 

DAY 3: Partley cloudy, morning showers, a chance of pm thunder storms.  Winds SE 5-10 knots, building to S 10-15 knots.  Given the forecast, we start the day with a detailed discussion on weather and weather systems. While waiting for the weather to clear a bit, we continue our lessons with fuel management, battery management, and time/speed/distance calculations before readying the boat. Ilana is our day student skipper while Mike is navigator and Colleen as bosun.  Dropped our mooring at 1100 and find the Severn River channel heading out. Once past Y”AN”, full sails are set, and the preventer is rigged for downwind sailing.  The crew is doing a fine job executing our navigation plan, including some PST gybes and wing-on-wing sailing.  Once north of the Bay Bridge, we obtain another fix to verify our position and update the course into the Magothy River.  

The breeze has been building as forecast. It’s fabulous sailing as we are now making 6+ knots on a broad reach.  Time for a surprise COB drill!  After a bit of panic, the crew stops the boat, furls the jib, and starts the motor to assist in positioning the boat for COB recovery.  All is well, and we are back on course sailing through the hourglass entrance to the Magothy River. Navigation is difficult, as the navigation waypoints used private aids that are more difficult to see than the government marks.  We take another fix and proceed with caution, eventually finding our waypoints and working our way into a nice protected cove to drop anchor. Before dropping anchor, we recheck the weather forecast which shows the wind is predicted to circle 360° during the night.  We debate using a single hook versus a forked moor or Bahamian moor, and choose to set a Bahamian moor with two anchors off the bow in opposing directions.  Eagles, osprey and blue heron are all nearby, each trying to stake their claim in the trees and surrounding water. Dinner is prepared and we settle in for a very quiet night on the hook. 

DAY 4: Partly Cloudy, Winds SSW 5-10 knots, chance of late afternoon thunder storms. We check the tide and the current for making our way across the Chesapeake Bay. We expect a flood current will be pushing us north as we head east. Mike is student skipper of the day, with Colleen serving as navigator and Ilana as bosun.  Underway at 0905, motoring out of the Magothy before setting full sails.  Everybody has some practice with obtaining 2 or 3-LOP fixes. Winds are relatively light, and the current is pushing us, so we revise the course to steer to compensate.  While still a mile or two from the entrance to the Chester River, we note dark clouds forming to the WNW. A weather alert is received noting a severe storm over Sparrows Point, about 5 miles away. Storms arrived here earlier than predicted.  Time to set a reef! 

 The skies continue to darken as we approach RN”2” at the mouth of the Chester. We drop sails and motor upwind at best speed into the Chester, nearly perpendicular to the path of the storm. We “batten down the hatches” and prep the boat and crew. This one passes just north of us, but another storm is on the horizon WSW of us. There is no avoiding this one. We consider options and would prefer to anchor to ride it out.  The plan is to wrap just inside Eastern Neck, then drop anchor.  As we approach Eastern Neck, it is obvious that the storm is worse there, so our best bet is now to get a fix and take some safety bearings to ride it out in open water. Skies darken, temperature drops suddenly, the rains hits, winds pick up, clocking to the north then east, and seas quickly build to 2-3 feet. It passes after 20-30 minutes, and we get a break to resume our voyage to Grays Inn Creek. With the help of some local knowledge, the team does well navigating the unmarked creek leading to the marina.  Secured at dock at 1600.  Everyone appreciates the day and each other as there is a sense of relief, gratefulness for the experience, and respect for Mother Nature.  Pump out, showers, and review time before a taco dinner aboard prepared by Colleen and Ilana, on the condition that Mike demonstrates his chef skills by making omelets in the morning. 

DAY 5: Clear, Winds S 5 knots. It’s a short day with a casual start after Mike’s tasty breakfast of  eggs and coffee. Colleen is student skipper with Ilana practicing her navigation skills.  We have group review and practice of dead reckoning skills before getting underway at 1045.  The crew navigates on their own out of the unmarked creek and back up Langford Creek. We are motoring due to very light winds, with time for discussion and drills on various types of emergencies underway.  Stopped to take on fuel on our way back into our home slip at Lankford Bay Marina, arriving at 1300.  Lunch, followed by putting the boat away, removing our gear, general clean-up, then testing. Time to reflect and appreciate the learning experiences and friendships developed over the past 5 days.  Well done!