2023 Chesapeake Bay Cruise

DAY 1: The crew for our voyage gathered aboard ACADAME at 0845. After stowing of some gear and a round of introductions we review the objectives of the class. Capt. Andy’s assessment that the ASA 104 level is really about safely managing the boat and crew more so than sailing the boat would turn out to be prophetic, as there was little wind on this cruise.  After a thorough review of the stowage plan and ship’s systems (especially plumbing, electrical and engine), the team breaks for lunch. 

After lunch, there is a lesson on navigation charts and route planning. One student had previously taken the ASA 105 navigation class, while the others were either in progress or only basic training.  We cover how to determine waypoints, connecting them to form a route, how to determine the course and distance for each leg, then start to plan a route from our home marina, through Kent Narrows, to St. Michaels.  A passage through Kent Narrows can be tricky due to shoaling in the tight channel and strong currents.  After checking tide and current predictions, we make a plan to pass at the 1300 or 1330 openings, which would have us passing shortly after low tide, on a rising tide, near slack current.  Based on the distance to Kent Narrows and estimated speed, we plan our departure time for 1000 tomorrow. 

Switching gears, we discuss provision planning and develop a meal plan for our time aboard. While Capt. Andy goes shopping, the rest of the crew work together to finish the navigation plan to St. Michaels.  Upon returning, provisions are stowed and we review the navigation plan. We choose to stay at the home marina to enjoy air conditioning on this hot August night and dinner in Rock Hall. 

DAY 2: SE 5kt, building to 5-10 in the afternoon, with w/chance of afternoon and evening storms. We start the crew rotations with Chris as student skipper, Harry as navigator, Jen as bosun and Joe as engineer. Acadame is prepped for departure, including engine and deck inspections.  The fresh water tank is topped off, and we are underway a bit ahead of schedule at 0945.  We are motoring due to the light winds (this would become a theme for this class). This crew does well at navigating down the Chester River, and gets in the routine of hourly boat checks and logging our progress. We arrive at the waypoint near GC”7” ahead of schedule, so take some time to review VHF protocols before heading into the Kent Narrows north channel. 

Joe is at the helm for this segment.  As we enter the channel, we note a temporary red nun dead center, and honor it by leaving it to starboard.  We proceed with caution, watching the depth sounder, because it is near low tide.  The chart and the Local Notice to Mariners indicate depths as low as 4ft MLLW in the channel. We make it safely through the north channel, seeing no less than 5.1ft, and note that a 1-2 knot flood current is running against us. Our timing is a bit late, and Chris hails the drawbridge tender at 1300, after hearing a northbound vessel request an opening. The bridge agrees to hold the opening and Joe steers us adeptly through the swirling current until we pass clear at 1310. 

We navigate down Prospect Bay and set the mainsail to see if we can sail in the building 5-10 knot breeze. The wind is almost directly on the nose without much sea room for tacking, so motorsailing it is.  Some of these legs are quite long, so it is time to get some bearings for a 2-LOP fix to verify our position.  The fix puts us almost exactly on top of the intended course line!  After a bit of confusion about a red mark that was described as a dayboard in the Light List, but appeared as a nun on the chart, we determine that it is in fact, a nun. Harry is doing well navigating us around the shoal at the entrance to the Miles River.  Jen does a nice job directing our stern-in docking maneuver.  We get settled and put the boat away in anticipation of the coming storms. While having dinner ashore, there is a torrential downpour and we see a lightning strike between the restaurant and our slip.  The crew preps tomorrow’s navigation plan to the West River and checks weather before turning in. We plan on an early start to stay ahead of the predicted afternoon cold front and storms. 

DAY 3: S5, building to SW5-10 afternoon. Partly cloudy, 25% chance of showers, then 80% chance of late afternoon/evening TS.  Our crew is up and ready to go. Harry is our student skipper while Jen is our navigator. When unplugging shorepower, we notice some burn marks on one end of the cable … perhaps due to the nearby lightning strike? loose connection? Capt. Andy inspects the shorepower inlet, and it appears to be okay.  Fortunately, we carry a spare cable in the 104 classes.  We are underway at 0720, motoring again due to light winds astern. The wind is filling and we set sail at Eastern Bay RN”6”. The wind has also clocked to the SSW, and is now on the nose.  Wanting to stay on schedule and ahead of the approaching cold front, we elect to motorsail, tacking at 30deg apparent to make best progress to windward.  This also provides a perfect opportunity to take some fixes and practice our dead reckoning (DR plotting).  We pass Bloody Point and cross the shipping channel by 1130. 

A call from below deck! While starting lunch prep, Jen has a mishap with the knife while prepping an avocado. Fortunately, Harry and Joe both have advanced medical training, and readily tend to Jen’s finger.  Ironically, we were just talking about how Bloody Point got its name … now there is another reason for its name!  A crew meeting was held, and it was decided that we should alter our destination to Annapolis where there are nearby medical facilities that can check out the wound and provide additional treatment if needed.  Harry sets up some revised waypoints and we work our way into Annapolis Harbor.  After a short stop to pump out, we are docked and settled by 1500.  Jen and Joe head out to get her finger checked while Chris and Harry develop the new navigation plan for tomorrow from Annapolis to the Corsica River. Good news - Jen was able to get treated with minimal wait and both her and Joe return in time to join the crew for dinner ashore at the Boatyard, where Harry discovers raw oysters!!! 

DAY 4:  Clear, NW 5-10, clocking to SW during the day.  Low humidity!  No rain in the forecast.  Before getting underway, we take time for lessons on time/speed/distance calculations, battery management, fuel management and a review of DR plotting.  Underway at 1100.  Joe is the student skipper while Chris is our navigator.  Joe directs the crew nicely as we pull out of the tight slip and marina. Once clear of the Y”A” marker, we set the main.  Winds are still light, so we motorsail past Hacket Shoal GC”1” toward the main channel under the Bay Bridge.  Scanning for shipping traffic, we notice a large northbound tug and barge a couple of miles off our starboard quarter.  Joe takes a bearing of 172M.  After about 10 minutes, the barge is still behind us, bearing 170M.  After another 10 minutes, the barge is less than a half mile away, bearing 165M.  This indicates that it will likely pass closely ahead of us, even though it is still off our starboard quarter.  It appears uncomfortably close, so Joe orders that we slow down to let the barge pass clear ahead before we go under the bridge. After passing under the bridge, we set a course for the RW”LP” safe water mark.  We notice a stronger than predicted ebb current, maybe 2 knots setting us from our port bow.  Chris and Harry go down below to work on a revised course to steer, taking into account the current.  We alter course 10 degrees to port.  The safe water mark appears on the horizon off our port bow, indicating even more current than we estimated.  The course from LP to the Chester River entrance is also adjusted for current.  We get a 3-LOP fix using the range light towers and Love Point.  Once safely around Love Point and in the Chester River, it’s time for a surprise engine failure drill!  The crew responds by getting ready to set the jib and sail in a safe direction, and suggests that anchoring might also be a good alternative if there is not much wind.  The water is glassy now, and we continue to navigate and motor our way into the Corsica River, choosing a cove on the northern shore to get as much breeze as possible flowing into the boat on this August night.  The cove is a bit tight, so we set two anchors in a forked moor arrangement. We have a bit of difficulty getting each of the anchors to set, but eventually they dig in.  Jen works magic in the galley with Joe and Capt Andy as sous chefs to prepare a delicious shrimp scampi dinner on the hook while enjoying a beautiful sunset. 

DAY 5:  S5, clear.  Breakfast consists of whatever remains of our provisions … a hodgepogdge of yogurt, fruit, oatmeal, PB&J.  Jen is our student skipper today.  Joe is our navigator and puts together a plan to get us back to Lankford Bay Marina (LBM).  The rest of the crew preps the boat to get underway. The wind shifted a bit overnight and load was on solely on the port side secondary anchor, so we retrieved the primary anchor first.  It was well set in a bed of mud and shells, making it difficult to break free.  The second anchor was then retrieved, washed down and stowed, and we are underway at 0915.  Once again, the water is glassy due to a lack of wind, postponing our lesson on sail trim.  Just before rounding the “LC” preferred channel marker, Oscar (our MOB float) jumps into the water. Oh no!  The crew responds quickly to stop the boat and make an efficient recovery. 

Upon return to LBM, we stopped for pump out and then fuel before returning to the home slip, offering everybody some opportunity for docking and spring line practice.  Docked in home slip at 1215.  Time for our last lunch together before offloading gear, filling the water tank and general boat cleanup.  The crew does some last minute review before heading up to the classroom and testing.  Another successful training cruise in the books.  Time to reflect on the learning adventures and friendships made … well done!