2025 Chesapeake Bay Cruise

 

Two Island Packet 32 yachts were ready and waiting for the two groups of student sailors taking the ASA 104 course beginning on May 13, 2025. Our group – Kevin, José, and David -- met their instructor, Captain Doug Riley, aboard Scholarship. After introductions, the crew inspected the boat thoroughly on deck and below, learning the routine they would follow before each day’s sailing. They reviewed the equipment needed under U.S. Coast Guard regulations, and checked that each item was in its place. They agreed on a meal plan and drew up a provision-buying list. (There’s a knack to buying enough food, but not too much. Leftovers are awkward once the cruise is over!)

Captain Riley gave the crew an overview of Scholarship’s itinerary for the week. Her travels would take her on a zigzag route, departing Davis Creek, down Langford Creek into the Chester River, and then out into Chesapeake Bay. There would be overnight stops in Swan Creek, St. Michaels Harbor, and the Corsica River. The students worked together to compile a complete list of (a) each compass course to steer, (b) the length of each leg and (c) a description of the navigation aid that marked each turning point. This process took several hours and involved paper charts and traditional plotting tools, as well as the latest information about the route from the Coast Guard’s online sources.

Among other online updates, the crew learned that one leg of their route, the manmade channel through Kent Island Narrows, had recent reported depths of only 4 feet at low tide. It would be prudent to traverse this channel at high tide. Given the timing of the tides at week’s end, this meant a very early departure on Friday morning!

Provisions arrived from town and were duly stowed on Scholarship. After a busy day of navigation preparation, Scholarship’s crew joined the other ASA 104 captain and crew for a fun dinner in town. All turned into their onboard bunks, looking forward to the next morning’s departure.

In the morning, after pre-departure vessel checks, the crew discussed how to un-dock safely in the tight confines of Lankford Bay Marina. Teamwork, and a clear sequence of procedures, resulted in a smooth exit into Davis Creek. The winds were light, so Scholarship both motored and motor-sailed. She proceeded downriver, and then north into the Bay. Along the way, each student sailor practiced a “standing turn” under power – an important technique in close quarters, such as marinas.

While they had followed their plotted courses out in the Bay, once past Rock Hall Harbor the crew used chart-and-eye navigation to enter Swan Creek. They watched the depth sounder closely, and employed their instructor’s local knowledge, to traverse the slender Creek channel. An important rule of navigation: “use multiple data sources and check them against one another,” applied here. They arrived at their reserved mooring, rigged a mooring bridle, and tied up for the night. Captain Riley then conducted a “classroom” session, covering the many short topics included in the ASA 104 standard. A tasty supper of salmon, rice and broccoli (thanks to José for cooking) followed. The next day’s passage would be a long one, necessitating an early start.

In the morning, the crew had a simple breakfast and left their mooring early. The day’s travel would take Scholarship south under the Bay Bridge, along the western shore of Kent Island and into Eastern Bay. Along the way, the students drilled crew-overboard recoveries, each acting, in turn, as helmsman, spotter, and retriever. Again applying the “cross-check multiple data sources” rule, the crew also practiced using compass-equipped binoculars and a hand-bearing compass to obtain bearings for a location “fix.”

The crew followed their planned waypoints, backtracking once when they missed a mark, and faithfully navigating around a large shoal at the south end of Eastern Bay. They arrived at the wide basin outside St. Michael’s harbor. Scholarship circled in the basin until the marina attendant radioed instructions for pumpout and docking.

The slip assigned to Scholarship was right next to her sister boat, Acadame. The slip configuration allowed the crew to use a different docking technique than at our home port: we could back in while turning 90 degrees to port. This allowed the use of the boat’s natural tendency to turn left while backing, with no need for turning lines. The maneuver went smoothly – easy does it!

The marina’s elegant showers were most welcome. A very enjoyable dinner at a dockside restaurant followed, with the captain and crew of our sister boat joining us. A stroll around the historic town of St. Michaels ended the day. Another early departure, to take advantage of high tide in the shallow Kent Narrows, would be necessary.

Following the charted course next morning, Scholarship arrived at the small Kent Narrows drawbridge. The crew radioed the bridge attendant to let him know they would traverse the bridge, south to north, at the next opening. Sister boat Acadame was right behind. Since the crews had timed their entry into the Narrows for high tide, the depths in channel were more than enough for an uneventful passage back into the Chester River.

Winds had been light so far. The marine radio, however, warned of a strong squall line that would cross the area in a few hours. Scholarship’s crew practiced navigation by following depth contours (another “multiple data sources” technique) up and down the Chester River, before transiting the tiny channel that leads to the Corsica River anchorage. Acadame arrived at the anchorage just ahead of Scholarship. Each crew set two bow anchors in a “forked moor” arrangement. This technique preserves space in busy anchorages by greatly limiting the “swing” of the boat.

Supper preparations were abruptly interrupted by the approach of the predicted squall. The crew took precautions to protect their portable electronic devices from possible damage by any nearby lightning strikes. Captain Riley took compass bearings on surrounding points of land, to allow the crew to detect any anchor-dragging during the storm. The gusty, shifty wind howled at 40-50 knots, thunder crashed, and each boat swung about on its two anchors. The anchors held nicely. The crew was rewarded with the sight of a double rainbow arching over Acadame nearby.

The squall ushered in a mass of cool, clear, and breezy air. In the morning, the crew had the first substantial winds of the week’s trip: time to go sailing! They spent the balance of the morning practicing sailing skills. These included the all-important heave-to and gybe-preventer techniques.

At noon, it was time to wind up the cruise. The crew guided Scholarship back up Langford Creek to her home marina. A visit to the pumpout dock required landing with a strong offshore breeze. A steep approach, and the use of a turning line, rudder, and power to snug the boat up to the pier did the trick. Next was visit to the fuel dock – the same maneuver but with wind blowing onto the dock this time. In the close quarters of the fueling area, it was not possible to execute a conventional 180-degree turn to depart; instead the crew made a “3-point” turn by backing against a stern line.

The class returned the boat to her home slip (another stern turning-line maneuver), and left Scholarship for the last time. All passed the ASA 104 written test comfortably. After logbook endorsements and diplomas, sailors and captain said fond goodbyes and headed off for their next sailing adventures.