2022 Chesapeake Bay Cruise

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022  DAY # 1
Barometer 1010 mb at 0800
Our crew met in the school office joined by the crew of S/V Acadame for an overview of the course and proposed ports of call. Our crew then went on board Scholarship for a thorough below deck orientation and gear inventory. We also added extra gear aboard from our 104 supplementary supply. At the dock, the crew practiced handling all running rigging, raised the main, set the lazy jacks and practiced reefing. We elected to leave a reef in in anticipation of tomorrow’s wind forecast.  After a lunch break, John, Ed, Christina and Greg started the navigation plan for the next few days. Several of the crew had taken the ASA105 navigation course, which proved very helpful for them. This is an important planning phase as many reference sources are utilized. 

From the nautical chart, courses and distances were determined from Waypoint to Waypoint and entered into the ship’s deck log. Courses are determined in True and converted to PSC (per ship’s compass). The Light List is very important and often under-utilized by recreational boaters. LL Numbers for each ATON (Aid to Navigation) are determined and written into the ship’s log. Not all ATON characteristics can be included on a chart, which is why the Light List is necessary for this advanced preparation phase.

The crew also looked for any discrepancies or problems with the Aids to Navigation in the recent Local Notice to Mariners. Also, on the nautical chart, references were made to see a note, which were then looked up in the Coast Pilot. The Chesapeake Bay Cruising Guide would also be consulted during the cruise. All four crew members were involved in this process, each taking a section of the planning  work on and rotating those tasks. 

By late afternoon, several crew joined me in a trip to the grocery store for provisions, which were then stowed aboard Scholarship. Afterwards, it was back to more Nav planning. Our goal was to complete the plans for as many days as possible while in the classroom, instead of in the evenings during our cruise when the crew would be tired. This helps to prevent navigation mistakes. Our crew had a well-deserved dinner at Baywolf where we were joined by the crew of Acadame. It was a long day, but the crew did an awesome job of cruise preparation. 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022  DAY # 2
Student Skipper/Navigator: Ed     Engineer:  John     Bosuns:  Christina & Greg
WX:  N/NW 10 -15 gusts 20/25   waves: 2 ft.   Temp: 50’s
After the morning boat checks, Greg took the helm for departure. Our destination was Annapolis. We motored out to the Chester River and raised both mainsail & Jib. We sailed to the RN “14” gybing around it and had a nice downwind run. It was a good time to review and practice rigging a “preventer”.  We passed S/V Virginia and another all Ship on their way to the Down Rigging festival in Chestertown. When rounding Eastern Neck, student skipper Ed used the 28 & 16-foot contour lines on the chart to keep us in a safe position. Once around the Neck the wind was on the nose and the crew was put to the task of practicing their upwind sailing and trim. Winds and waves had increased giving us a lively sail. By 1pm we turned on the engine to allow us to sail a better course north of Love Point. The crew’s nav planning has proved to be spot on thus far. After rounding Love Point the crew kept an eye out for the RW LP Mid- channel buoy. The crew also was getting accustomed to performing boat checks and entering the data into our tabular log. This includes battery & bilge checks, wind & waves conditions, ships hourly course and more. 

While crossing the bay and before crossing the shipping channel we consulted my Marine Traffic App to obtain the status of ships anchored south of the Bridge, and also North towards Baltimore, to determine if any of these ships were underway towards us. Indeed, there was a large container ship just getting underway. We elected to stand off and circle on the west side of the channel to wait for it to pass under the bridge and clear us to the north. Greg was at the helm and steered us under the bridge and John took over the helm steering into the Severn River. He expertly steered up to Mooring # 23 in Annapolis Harbor, and our bosuns, Christina & Greg, secured 2 separate lines to the mooring ball. Next… time to go ashore, and we took the water taxi to shore. We all had a wonderful dinner at the Boatyard. It was a lovely evening. It had been a long day and the crew now had a chance to relax. 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022  DAY # 3Student Skipper/Navigator:   Christina     Engineer:  Greg     Bosuns:  John & Ed
WX:  N/NE 15; gusts higher
Our plan for today was to sail to St. Michael’s and anchor out. We would re-evaluate our anchorage plans later in the day. At 0915, with Ed at the helm, we slipped off the mooring lines. Christina guided us up the channel, out of the Severn River and into the Chesapeake Bay. Before reaching Tolly Point we raised the main with 2 reefs and partially furled genoa.  There were many sailboats out today getting ready to race.

Christina set a southerly course. It was good downwind sailing, mostly broad reaching with a preventer rigged. The crew took photos of the well know Thomas Point Lighthouse, built in 1875, as we passed it. We changed course towards the old Bloody Point Light. Once past the Light the crew practiced taking bearings on two objects for a two-bearing Fix. Scholarship was now beating to windward up the Eastern Bay.   

As the winds eased this afternoon, the crew raised more sail. Once at the Miles river entrance, crew discussed this evening’s planned anchorage.  Due to the annual Oyster Festival taking place, we knew it might be very crowded at the anchorage outside of St. Michaels and it would also be a lee shore. Therefore, our crew decided on an alternative anchorage in the Wye River. At 1530, we diverted course towards the Wye River and we were glad we did. At 1640 we passed the R”2”in the beautiful Wye River. Wow! What wonderful scenery and gorgeous views of the fall foliage. Motoring carefully up the Wye, we were very particular in choosing our overnight anchorage. We found a lovely tributary and after some reconnaissance, the crew dropped anchor at 1730. Bearings were taken on distance homes and entered into the Ship’s Log, and we were treated to a beautiful sunset and delicious dinner of Chicken Alfredo. The Captain held a mini diesel engine and boat systems class this evening. Tomorrow's crew assignments were made, and we all retired early since our plan was to be underway early next morning.   

SATURDAY OCTOBER 29, 2022   DAY # 4
Skipper/ Navigators:  Greg (early morning) & John ( late morning & afternoon )         Engineer:  Christina         Bosun:  Ed
WX:   Wind N/NE 5 -10 Gusts to 20    Waves: < 1 ft.    Sunny, with some clouds   Barometer:  1028 mb
Our destination for today is to Grays Inn Creek Marina on the Chester River.
All crew were up by 0530, the engine was started by 0630, and we were underway during civil twilight eagerly awaiting for sunrise which would occur very soon.  What a spectacular sunrise on the Wye River in the fall. Absolutely beautiful! Our student skipper Greg carefully navigated us through the shallows and monitored the depth with vigilance during the many winding turns of the of the river. Exiting the Wye, we headed north towards Kent Narrows and planned to arrive for the 10 AM bridge opening.

Prior to making our approach to the bridge, John took over student skipper duties at the 1KN Green buoy. John had been carefully recording his nav plan since earlier today. Christina took the helm to steer us through the bridge. The North side of the Narrows has quite a bit of shoaling adjacent to the channel so care must be taken. After exiting the narrows, John had the crew raise sail and head south towards Eastern Neck and we sailed downwind towards the Neck. 

After rounding Eastern Neck, the wind speed dropped, and the crew hove to and shook out the one reef that we had in the main and quickly got underway again. It was good practice. The crew had a lot of practice this trip shaking out reefs. After rounding RN 14 in the Chester, our MOB module went for a surprise MOB drill.  The crew saved the MOB by deploying the Life Sling, encircling the MOB and tossing a heaving line to.  Great job! After dropping all sail, John guided Scholarship into Grays Inn Creek towards our marina slip for the evening. The boat was docked by 1530. It was nice to be docked early, since the crew wanted to study for their exam. After pumping out the waste holding tank and taking showers ashore, the crew enjoyed a well-earned dinner of salad, pasta with marinara sauce and turkey meatballs. After some study and test review the crew took the navigation and plotting portion of the exam.  

SUNDAY   OCTOBER 30, 2022  DAY # 5
WX:  cool, temp 50’s, overcast. No wind.  Barometer:  1025 mb
Student Skipper:  Greg   Helm:  All Crew
Today is a short trip to our home port. After a leisurely breakfast and boat checks, we departed at 0830 with John at the helm leaving the slip. Greg and John carefully guided us out of the creek to the Chester River, and all crew took turns at the helm enroute to Lankford Bay Marina.  Greg took the helm and brought us alongside the fuel dock. Ed took the helm for departure with Christina handling our spring line to turn the boat 90 degrees to leave the fuel dock. Ed adeptly brought us back into our home slip.

The crew took their ASA104 exam and all passed with flying colors.

Our crew had become a cohesive team.  Each team member had an opportunity to practice being a Student Skipper/Navigator and learning how to manage their own boat in the future.

I know they all will do very well.  Well done!

Captain Robin Bauer
S/V SCHOLARSHIP 
Rock Hall, Maryland 
October 2022