Spring 2011 Sailing Chesapeake Bay on “SERENITY”, (22’ sailboat).

5/24 thru 6/3 My good friend and brother Mark Moen and I set out for a real vacation leaving the “rat race behind”.  The launch went flawlessly out of Sandy Pt., MD.  As usual the weather dictated much of our trip.  Taking advantage of the one day of predicted north winds we headed south with the tide, nonstop throughout the night.  With light winds, we decided to try out the new 230% jib, which is almost as long as the boat.  Nervously, Mark took the first watch after sunset.  Getting past the Patuxent River and just outside of the shipping channel gave me a secure enough feeling to get some rest.  At 2 AM  the shout “fish trap”  had me in the cockpit within seconds.  Mark’s keen night vision had spotted the obstruction just in time for us to jibe and clear it within a few feet.  Through out the Bay, Maryland and Virginia have placed unlit and mostly unmarked nets giving fish and oysters a chance to regenerate, but never in this deep of water.  By noon the wind had died completely, so we motored into the Little Wicomico River, a secluded little anchorage just south of Smith Pt. off the Potomac River.

We had made it far enough South to be able to zig zag our way back home, exploring new as well as favorite spots along the way.  Heading ESE, with sails close hauled, we were just able to clear the southern tip of Tangiers Island turning North into Tangiers Sound.  Sailing along the western shores of Tangiers and Smith Islands we got a birds eye view of the two remaining inhabited islands of the Bay.  As we sailed into anchorage in Deal Island Harbor, you really got the sense of the eastern bay’s remoteness and charm.  The dilapidated, abandoned marina on the north end, contrasted by the small, still viable waterman’s town to the south.  All sailors need shore leave, so after navigating through Kedges Straits we set a course NW to Solomons Island.  We Secured an overnight slip at the Tiki Hut where the party overflowed from the outdoor bar into the adjoining dock.

With Mark still sound asleep, I pushed us off into a light, but cooling breeze, rounding Drum Point, heading NE.  As evening loomed the wind shifted, sending us into Castle Haven, off the Choptank River, a tropical-like setting with bluish-green water, and sandy beach, almost paradise.

Running aground is never fun, but at High Island, off the Rhodes River, on a Sunday, with hundreds of boaters watching, it is embarrassing at best.  Of course we got off easily, and then anchored close to the invisible sand bar watching other unsuspecting boaters meet the same fate.
 
The summer like heat tipping over 90 degrees convinced us to jump in the water, dragging behind the boat as the auto helm kept us on course. Acquiring a slip at the Waterman’s Crab House in Rock Hall MD, wasn’t hard since there was no electric hook up or any other amenities for that matter.  No worries for us though, as we snuck into the pool across the street to cool off.  Having cooked many a good meal on board, Mark gave me a night off, inviting me to a steak dinner at a local Pub.

Fort McHenry always gives you a welcoming feeling as you head up the Patapsco River, toward Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.  Pier 5, next to the light house museum is a great spot to tie up especially if there is a concert at the Pier 6 Pavilion.  With our trip winding down, the big city hustle and bustle brought us a little closer to reality.

A relaxing morning sail out of Baltimore quickly turned into a white-knuckle affair, as the winds increased from the SE, pushing us uncomfortably close to the rock jetty at North Point.   Falling off to a course for Hart-Miller Island, with a lee shore, kept us on our toes.  Anchoring in 3 feet of water was fun as we used our toes to dig up delicious bay clams.  A heavy storm kicked up in the evening, bringing with it heavy rain and winds, prompting me to put out a second anchor.
 
A stiff NW wind brought us to Fairlee Creek with it’s very tricky and shallow entrance.  The gap entering the small harbor was only about 20-feet wide with a really strong current.  We spotted a large yacht run aground, but finally, after what seemed forever, it freed itself with the rising tide.

Coming out of Fairlee in the morning against the tide was tough; we barely got out, and then ran uncomfortably close to shore.
 
The whole challenge of sailing is what makes these trips so much fun and rewarding.  After arriving to Sandy Point we had mixed feelings of accomplishment, vs. the reality of getting back to our normal lives.  Can’t wait to get back on the water!