We went from shark tooth island to mill creek off the great wicomico. It is one of our favorite spots when the weather cooperates just a little. It was teeming with fish and cow nosed rays. The trip there was mainly motoring but we did some good sailing on the Potomac in the early morning. As we approached mill creek we determined we needed ice and water so we went into Ingram bay marina which was quite the experience. The approach was a narrow dredged channel that showed a six foot hump at dead high tide. It looked outrageous. As we went by an older couple was fishing off the bulkhead. They waved and said they hadn’t caught anything yet but the wife was quite surprised to see me on the helm instead of Matt. “Oh! She driving! Hello!!” (They caught their dinner while we were at the fuel dock). The wind was blowing toward the fuel dock so we motored past it and then tried to stall just a little off of it. We were slightly bow in and it was quite awkward but the fuel dock was shorter than hobo and there was no margin for a gliding approach. We met a young man named Elijah who said it was his very first day. He didn’t know how to pump the diesel so he had to call for reinforcements. Low or mid tide we might have been aground at this ramshackle dock so we got our ice and water and four measly gallons of diesel and got the hell out.
From there it was a ten minute motor back out to the mouth of mill creek where we dropped the hook and watched pelicans working the water. We also saw the Reedville menhaden fleet come into the little cove there and net out all the fish. Ridiculous.
The moon rose orange, not scarlet like the night before but I had my camera this time and got a couple of good shots.
Sunset was also lovely.
The next morning we headed south for Urbanna so I am crossing some things off my bucket list today. We are sailing around the northern neck of Virginia trying to make the mouth of the rappahannock before we literally die of old age.
The tacking back and forth was not getting us around Windmill Point to we ultimately motored over the bar behind the light, experiencing a nice washing machine effect before we could turn up the Rappahnnock and start sailing downwind towards Urbanna. We received an update as we approached the first bridge over the river that a thunderstorm with gusts to 60 mph and quarter sized hail was approaching. Although we were doing hull speed in a wing and wing position we decided to drop sail and secure everything just in case. The fleet captain (retired) ahead of us, decided to barrel on into the storm (it passed in front of both of us so joke was on us).
Everyone dropped anchor in Urbanna harbor right across from the Urbanna Town Marina. 5.00 a day per boat for hot showers and laundry.
It rained cats and dogs and the wind blew pretty hard for two days straight. We woke up the first morning finding we had dragged anchor a little bit so we picked it up and moved a bit. Made it all day the second day with no further movement until the wind piped up in the evening and we found ourselves dragging into Sugaree. It seemed we had been anchored by the chain to a log all day and dragged the log with us. Upon the third re-setting of the anchor we seemed to have gotten it. I would say that the holding there was not too good as we were not the only boat who dragged anchor more than once.
We had a great time in town anyway, checking out every single local restaurant and shop. The farmer’s market and car show were cancelled for the weather.
We had a few spots of sunshine to dry out in.
After the third night we got up early and headed out, making a very long day of 50 plus miles across the bay south of Tangier Island. The wind was excellent for the crossing as we headed east, but to turn north and pass between Tangier Island and Watts Island we had to motor into it. We continued north to Crisfield where we stopped for Ice. The entrance into Chrisfield harbor is absolute madness, especially if they are running ferries to Tangier.
Tried to dock at the local fuel dock on the leeward side but the wind kept pushing us off and the dockhand was green as grass and weighed about 90 lbs soaking wet so we gave up and Matt went in on the dinghy. He bought so much ice on accident since the dock hand had no idea what the size of the bags were, and couldn’t run a credit card and retrieve the ice in the same locations that we had to dump some of it out. It literally would not fit.
Left Crisfield behind us and went north to Jane’s Island where we had the most spectacular sunset and stars of the trip. The fetch at that location made it not a great anchorage and by morning we were getting tossed around. It was another early morning and 50 mile day.
Made some peach daiquiris for the crew. Everyone was too tired for visiting so we just drank them by ourselves.
The way north was full of crab pots and the wind was howling. We double reefed the main and reefed the jib and were just barely not over-powered. The crab pots were the densest I have ever seen, and required a slalom like approach where I frequently had to hope our momentum would carry us past them as we turned directly into the wind and coasted in irons.
Good times. The Fleet Captain and the Fleet Captain (retired) went for Kedges Strait but I had been promised Hooper Island Strait so while they beat into the wind to clear Kedges Strait, Hobo cruised on a beam reach all the way up to Hooper Island. It was awesome.
We continued north to Hudson Creek on the Little Choptank, arriving late in the day and quite exhausted.
The next morning we left the Little Choptank for the West River. Everyone gathered at Pirate’s Cove for an early dinner and then proceeded on to the Rhode River, which remains one of my favorite anchorages.
The cicada Brood X was in full swing there, flying around, singing, and drowning in great numbers.
The mountain laurels were also blooming prolifically.
The next morning everyone headed for Annapolis, which was fun as the Annapolis to Newport race was planned to start the next day. The docks were crowded with the dinghies of people scrambling with last minute preparations.
This was the starting line for the Saturday morning start. I think the big boats were going out on Sunday, so this was probably the smaller boat class as well as the two handed class.
We motored north, there really was no wind to speak of all day, to Worton Creek. It is a longish day trip from Hances Point so we knew we could get home the next day no problem. We passed the Pride of Baltimore II as she set out for Bermuda.
Happily at anchor in Worton Creek. We had an excellent beach party that evening, joined by Juniata Lily and her crew.
The next morning we lingered a bit and then made for home. We sailed all the way to red point, then motored back. I feel that our procedure for putting Hobo to bed has really come a long way. It look less than half an hour to pack up even after being out for two weeks.
Bird tape test number one commenced — we can’t have any more nests on the solar panel.
