19 June 2025, Thursday, Little
Creek, VA Cobbs Marina
Brian was the first to arrive at 12:30 at Navigator after a long flight
from Alaska. He stowed his things in the forward v-berth and left to find
some lunch. Kurt and Matt arrived around 4:30 and the 4 of us started the
below deck checklist. Frank wouldn’t be arriving until late evening and
we would get him caught up Friday morning. After two hours of touring
every nook and cranny, we walked to dinner and met Frank there.
20 June 2025, Friday, Little
Creek, VA, Cobbs Marina
Everyone was up by 6 and coffee percolating. Real time to rise was 7
but hard to sleep when the sun is up on a boat. Breakfast done and ready
to prepare for our voyage up the bay from Cobbs Marina in Little Creek. We
went over the topsides and rigging first and a quick review of down below
for Frank. We broke for lunch, filled water tanks and shot over to the
fuel dock to top off on fuel and a pump out. The rest of the day was spent
planning our first day route to Godfrey Bay (just south of Fishing Bay)
near Deltaville. After the route was drawn, Light List and Local Notice to
Mariners reviewed, we were ready to leave early Saturday morning for
Godfrey Bay. Almost forgot, Navigator already had loads of canned
provisions onboard so we planned breakfast, lunch and dinners around what
was already here. Whatever else we needed we had it delivered from the
Food Lion down the road making that pretty easy.
21 June 2025, Saturday, Cobbs
Marina to Godfrey Bay, 44 nm
All were up by seven and boat prep started by 8. We were off the dock
just before 9. Winds were light and variable but got sails up by the 1 LC
coming out of the Little Creek channel. It was busy going up the bay and
passed many sports fishermen and wondered if there was some kind of
fishing tournament going on. Nothing was in LNM so guess not. Loads of
commercial traffic out and about too. Wind finally settled out of the
south and we put the preventer on, the whisker pole out and went wing and
wing for a few hours. We were even able to shut the engine off for a bit
as the wind out of the south built to around 15 kts. As we approached the
entrance to Deltaville, we got the whisker pole down, furled the genoa and
dropped the main. Depth going up into anchorages can be tricky so all eyes
were either on a chart, looking for marks or checking depth. We were
setting anchor by around 6. Students planned our next day route and I got
chili started for dinner.
22 June 2025, Sunday, Godfrey
Bay to Great Wicomico, Sandy Point, 26.2nm:
A little shorter passage today so we decided it would be perfect to
use the extra time for knocking out Man Over Board drills, reefing and
hove to at 1GW going in the Great Wicomico. Once again light winds in the
morning but it filled in from the south and had another chance to practice
with the preventer and whisker pole which was super fun. Once we got to
the 1GW, we practiced hover-to, reefing and completed 4 MOBs so everyone
had a chance to practice all of the positions. We made our way into the
anchorage and the wind died. It was soooo hot we jumped off the back of
the boat to cool off which was great at first and then we all got stung by
the sea nettles :/. The guys planned and I made pasta with chicken and
salad. That night was a hot one as the wind never came back.
23 June 2025, Monday, Godfrey
Bay to Solomons, Cove Springs Marina, 44nm:
Up early and eager to get to our next stop which would be a slip (read
air conditioning) at Cove Springs Marina, Solomons. We were in a major
heat wave with little wind and major sun. Wind was on our nose which was
light and variable. That turned into motor sailing with the main traveled
up to the windward side to prevent flogging and occasionally getting a
little help from the sail. Long hot day but saw some dolphins and many
rays which is always fun. We pulled into Spring Cove Marina about 4pm. It
was an easy t dock and they had a pump out on the dock so no need to stop
at the fuel dock. Super easy and grateful for the amenity. Still
sweltering, we tidied up the boat, plugged in to get air conditioning
going and took a quick dip in the pool. We were all surprised to find that
Spring Cove pipes music under water at the pool and you could argue that
it was more clear under water than above. Never seen that before either.
Everyone planned and we were walking to the CD Cafe for dinner by 6:30ish.
Fun evening.
24 June 2025, Tuesday, Spring
Cove Marina, Solomons to Annapolis, 45.3:
Good nights sleep thanks to merciful air conditioning. Tonight’s
plan was a mooring ball at the waterfront on Spa Creek but with the ground
hogs day forecast of hot and no wind forecast, I asked if we could just
practice mooring balls and get another slip. MSS gave us the go ahead and
we were grateful. Annapolis Yacht Basin is right downtown and $3/ft. Slip
fee was only a few more dollars than Solomons and there was availability.
I was pleasantly surprised because that is where all the mega yachts go,
it’s an easy marina to maneuver in and it’s right downtown. Pretty
cool. We made the passage and saw two loggerhead turtles right by the
boat! Never seen that before either. A trip of firsts. Another dolphin
sighting too. We knocked out four mooring ball approaches and were in the
slip by 5:30. Planned, showered and at Boatyard Restaurant for dinner by
7pm.
25 June 2025, Wednesday,
Annapolis Yacht Basin to Rock Hall MD, 27.9:
Last day today. Up like normal and got underway a little before 9. We
had a ghost of a breeze in the morning which allowed for about a half hour
sail to the ship channel which was nice but needed to get moving and didn’t
want to bob around in the middle of the channel so we fired up the iron
‘genny’ and got Navigator moving a bit quicker toward Lankford Bay
Marina. We did a review underway so Matt, our only student that needed the
test, would be ready. At Lankford we did one last pump out and refuel. We
motored approximately 30 hours and refueled 20 gallons. Got Navigator back
in her slip and cleaned her up per our checklist. We traveled a total of
187.4 nm back up the bay. Matt nailed the test and I signed log books.
Best of luck to Kurt, Brian, Matt and Frank who are all skilled sailors
and I hope to hear back soon about their next sailing adventures. Fair
Winds!
