2022 Chesapeake Bay Cruise

DAY 1: The day started with an abbreviated orientation with our vessel, Scholarship, as the students all had two previous classes on the Island Packet 32. We spent more time reviewing ship’s systems, including engine, battery management and fresh water supply. We then took an inventory of food and provisions before creating a meal plan and provisioning list. Our sistership, Acadame, was heading on a similar cruise, so we joined them for a session on navigation and cruise planning. The crew was tasked with putting a navigation plan together for our route to Annapolis the next day. Meanwhile, Captain Andy went to the market for provisions and supplies. 

After lunch, we loaded the provisions, then reviewed and finalized the navigation plan to Annapolis. We also loaded the cruising gear (extra docklines, power cord, water hose, handheld VHF, etc). A look at the weather forecast showed that this would be one of the cooler nights during the August heat wave this week. The crew was eager to get underway and take advantage of the forecast for lows in the low 70’s and a slight chance of thunderstorms. After prepping and inspecting the boat, we were underway at 1700 headed under power for a secluded cove in Grays Inn Creek. We reviewed techniques for anchoring with two anchors, then set up a forked moor: the first anchor set to our south for the evening wind, and the second set to the West for the predicted overnight wind shift. Anchored 1830. Capt. Andy prepared our first meal aboard and we all settled in for the night.   

DAY 2: FLASH! We awoke around 0030 to distant lighting. Only a 15% chance of storms, they said! After checking the radar, it was clear this one was big and heading our way. We took a reference bearing to the only thing visible in the darkness, a light on a distant farmhouse. Hatches and portlights were closed. Time to sit back and wait for it. The storm came fast and furious with a lot of lightning and winds topping 50 knots. Heavy rain and spray obscured visibility to the farmhouse, so we monitored our position using a handheld chartplotter to see if the anchors were dragging. James and Erik joined Capt. Andy on anchor watch and were ready to jump up on deck to maneuver if needed. The wind had shifted to the North during the storm and was now setting us toward a lee shore. Thankfully, with two anchors out, we held our position until the storm had passed at 0230. What a lighting show and what a way to welcome the class to cruising! 

We are rewarded in the morning with two bald eagles perched nearby watching us eat our breakfast on deck. Weighing anchor in the morning showed evidence of the anchors holding, as they were both well-set and caked with thick mud. A bit of a mess, but we are good to go on the trip to Annapolis. Underway at 0830. Caitlin is skipper of the day, with James taking on navigator duties. Winds were light 5-8 knots at first, so we motorsailed following the navigation plan out of the Chester River and into the Chesapeake Bay. A brief try or two at sailing had us making less than 3 knots, so back to motorsailing. The navigation plan is spot on and each mark appears on the horizon as expected. Between Love Point and the Bay Bridge, we find the red and white safe water mark. As we were passing under the bridge, a large cargo ship was approaching, heading south out of Baltimore. We hailed them to communicate our intention to stay east and outside of the channel marked by the red and green lighted buoys. They shared their intention to cut the corner on the red buoy that we were heading toward. Good communications. We gave them more room and they passed about 100 yards abeam without incident.   

By now, the wind had filled to a pleasant 10-15 knots from the West, so again time to set full sails, making nearly hull speed, on our way into the Severn River. Some tacking was necessary, which provided an opportunity for the students to do some piloting and adjusting of the navigation plan to conditions. After passing R”4”, sails were furled and lowered. We looked over our shoulder to see our sistership, Acadame, only a few boatlengths behind after a full day underway - both of us heading for the main mooring field in Annapolis Harbor. Moored at 1502. We called for pumpout and was informed the first available was 0900 tomorrow. Caitlin and crew began working on the navigation plan to St. Michaels for tomorrow. Water taxi, showers and dinner ashore make for a happy crew. 

DAY 3: Chris is skipper of the day, with Caitlin on navigation duties. We reviewed the navigation plan and were planning on a late start after pumping out. Upon seeing a large motoryacht leaving the Yacht Basin fuel dock at 0800, we decided to go there for pumpout and ice, and get an earlier start to beat the heat. Underway at 0850. Today’s forecast is hot, humid with light westerly winds, so we are motorsailing again today to start. We passed Thomas Point and Bloody Point lighthouses, and drilled for various emergencies, including rigging failure, medical emergencies, collisions, etc. We verified our position along the way with two-LOP and three-LOP fixes and determined we were close, but slightly north of the planned course, and altered course accordingly. After entering the Miles River, we saw a green can well to the south of our plotted course and double checked the navigation plan. Sure enough, we should leave it on our port side and altered course once more. We hailed the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum for our slip assignment and were docked by 1450. Free time for showers, exploring town and touring the museum before an early dinner at the Crab Claw. After dinner, we review DR plotting skills using the day’s log entries, time/speed/distance calculations, fuel consumption and range under power calculations, then begin work on the navigation plan through Kent Narrows.   

DAY 4: Erik is skipper today while Chris is in charge of navigation. We check the weather: hot, humid, light southerly winds, expected to build to 5-10 knots with a chance of thunderstorms late in the day. Underway early at 0750 to make the 1030 bridge opening at Kent Narrows (near high tide and slack current). On the way up the Eastern Bay, we have trouble finding the G “1P” buoy. A daymark is spotted about ½ mile off the starboard bow. Still no buoy in sight. Looking back at the Local Notice to Mariners does not show any change, then we discover that the LNM we are referencing is four weeks old. We get the most recent LNM on deck and sure enough, green can “1P” has been replaced with a new daymark “1P”. Mystery solved! Red nun “2” has also been replaced with a new daymark, but not yet noted in the LNM. We are making good time and get to the narrows at 0955, hail the bridge and need only wait a few minutes for the opening. Erik does a fine job navigation the swirling following current as we pass through the drawbridge. We honor all the temporary marks to follow the shifting channel out of the north side of the Narrows, then use a bearing to a nearby water tower to determine when we can turn and clear the shoals. The wind has picked up a bit, so once again, it is time to sail. Once at Lankford Creek G”1”, we do some tacking and gybing drills and a surprise COB drill. The entire crew was on the ball and had our float back onboard in short order using a hove-to with motor-assist technique. 

From G”1’, there are no more navigation marks to get into our next destination, Grays Inn Creek Marina, about two miles up around the bend. The crew does a fine job navigating by soundings to stay in the relatively deep (8 or 9 ft) water, only seeing it dip under 7 ft once, despite being distracted by a dolphin or two on the way in. Docked along the T-head at 1445. Pumped out again. Sitting in the cockpit, we notice a large osprey nest with two nearly grown offspring on a piling less than 50ft away, the mom and dad teaching their young how to fly and fish. Time for review and questions in preparation for the test tomorrow. Chris is our chef and we feast on Spam-fried rice (much better than it sounds!). We toast the successful journey as another round of thunderstorms approaches. This time, securely tied up to the pier, we can relax a bit more than the first night at anchor. 

DAY 5: It’s a captain’s breakfast of pancakes and sausage this morning. We take our time departing and are underway at 0845. James is skipper with Erik on Navigator duties. Today is a relatively short trip back to Lankford Bay Marina. Once again, the forecast is hot, humid and light winds. The plan is to do more sailing drills if the wind allows, but alas, there is too little wind on this day. We head to LBM and refuel, then James takes us back into our home slip by lunchtime. It’s time to pack up, offload, clean up and then reflect on all that this crew has accomplished on this Chesapeake Bay cruise - well done!

Captain Andy Barton
On board S/V SCHOLARSHIP
Rock Hall, Maryland
August 2022