On Saturday, I helped bring a sailboat from Annapolis down to Herrington Harbour North in Deale, Maryland. The 20-mile trip was in crisp fall weather, in the 40s but clear. The early clouds of the morning gave way to bright sun.
Owner Bob Frantz, Howard Brooks, and I left Ridout Creek around 10 am and motored into Annapolis’ Back Creek to top off the fuel tank at Annapolis Landing Marina. As we crossed Chesapeake Bay towards Annapolis from Whitehall Bay, a narrow ray of sunlight burst through the clouds and hit a small cruise ship anchored in Annapolis Harbor like a spotlight. The effect was pretty cool, as it made the cruise ship look like a bright-white hospital ship in contrast to the many small boats racing.
After taking on fuel we motored out of Back Creek as a pilot boat passed by us at slow speed. Once beyond the narrow channel, however, the pilot boat came up to speed and was soon gone. That is what they do, bringing Bay pilots out to the ships to help guide them safely into the Port of Baltimore.
The gloomy clouds soon burned off, and in anticipation of light winds on Chesapeake Bay, Bob rigged his boat’s Code Zero to take advantage of the light air. For about a third of the four-hour trip south we enjoyed a great sail. While cold, the wind was on our beam, and I snuggled under the dodger as we sailed on. Fall sailing at its best…but a thermos of hot coffee or chocolate would have been nice!
Anyone remember the days of drinking hot Tang while on watch?
Sailing past Thomas Point Light on our way down from Annapolis.
It was so low humidity that we saw the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the distance almost the entire way down to Deale.
The full main and Code Zero were effective in this beam wind, and we sailed along at 7 knots. Not too shabby!
Then the wind died, of course, and we motored with the 55hp Volvo diesel the rest of the trip. But it was a nice sail on this November day.
We got into a slip on K Dock for a day or two before the Swedish Hallberg-Rassy 372 is hauled for the winter, near the offices of Free State Yachts, the HR dealer in this part of the world.
Have a great week, wherever you are, and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
