After spending the summer in NE coastal waters to Maine, the barnacle growth on Belle Bateau's thrusters was astounding. BB also needed some washing and waxing, and we didn't want to wait until the spring. The sunny and warm beginning to November encouraged us to do the work ourselves, rather than hiring it out. We worked for several days, but only counting one here, since it's Day 10 of 10 of maintenance as per Century Club guidelines.
Century Club: Cheryl Duvall
Monday, November 6, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
washing and waxing
Lots and lots of barnacles on thrusters
Waxed and ready for the winter
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Sailing past Thomas Point Lighthouse
After several days of preparing Belle Bateau for the winter (winterizing everything but our diesel engine), we motored from our slip on the South River to Port Annapolis who would be hauling our boat the following day. It's always good to sail past Thomas Point Lighthouse, even on the saddest day of the season.
Monday, October 23, 2023 to Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Number of days:
3 days
The annual flaking of sails
Sad dinghy
The pink stuff
Over three October days, we winterized Belle Bateau's fresh water systems with antifreeze, took down her three sails, removed all food stuffs and liquids, and motored the dinghy to shore for deflaction in preparation for on-land storage. Counting these as Days 7-9 of 10 allowed for boat maintenance.
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 to Friday, October 20, 2023
Number of days:
4 days
Sunset at anchor near Oxford
Sunset at anchor in Goldsborough Creek
Belle Bateau at free municipal wall in Cambridge
Spirited sail on Oct 20
Reached 8.2 knots with reefed sails! (hull speed is 8.4)
We hadn't been to Oxford or Cambridge yet this season and wanted to squeeze in a trip before we winterized BB. The fall weather was glorious. We had good north winds as we sailed south to Oxford on Oct 17. And we chose to sail upwind to Cambridge on Oct 19, which made for a spirited sail with lots of tacks up the Choptank River. Then on our return to Annapolis on Oct 20, we had good south winds as we sailed north. Lots of sailing!
Friday, October 13, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Fun to kayak to see Belle Bateau
With Cordelia, visiting BB by kayak
My NY friend Cordelia attended the sailboat show with me on Preview Day. The next morning was perfect weather to kayak from Gingerville Creek to see Belle Bateau in her slip on the South River.
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Walking along the water's edge
Water taxi (connector) - amazingly free
I planned a full afternoon to show my friend around Baltimore, where she hadn't visited in more than 50 years! We walked more than 3 miles along the waterfront, and then took the FREE water taxi back across the Harbor to Pier 6. She enjoyed her time on the water, and in the vibrant city of Baltimore.
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Peter at the helm
Suzy Q in slip at Jabins
My friend Peter invited me for a day sail on his boat Suzy Q, in Annapolis. The winds were forecasted to be low, but we were pleasantly surprised that we had quite sporty winds for the first two hours as we zipped across the bay.
Sunday, October 1, 2023 to Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Number of days:
4 days
Aboard Selina II with Capt Iris as we sailed past Belle Bateau at anchor
We sailed to St. Michaels on Sunday Oct 1, listening to the Ravens beat the Browns on the radio. It was glorious to sail 4.5 out of the 5-hour passage. On Monday we took a 2-hour cruise aboard Selina II, with Captain Iris, and sailed past Belle Bateau at anchor. On Tues, we dinghied to shore to visit the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and saw Her Helm exhibit. On Wed, I took dinghy ashore to visit with a friend before we began 5 hour motoring back to Annapolis (no wind).
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Kayaked from land-based home to water-based home (Belle Bateau)
After 101 days at sea, Belle Bateau is snug in a new slip on the South River. We thought it would be fun to kayak from our Annapolis land-based home in Riva Trace to our water-based home Belle Bateau in Edgewater. It took about 40 minutes each way because we paused to admire nature and other boats. So much fun to be close enough to our boat to kayak to her!
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 to Thursday, September 14, 2023
Number of days:
101 days
Day 3 Docked in Baltimore
Day 8 Overnight passage from Lewes to Sandy Hook
Day 10 Hello Lady Liberty!
Day 26 Anchored in Block Island
Day 30 Foggy approach to Cuttyhunk
Day 37 Provincetown mooring
Day 43 Whale sighting at Stellwagen Bank
Day 47 Passing Isle of Shoals
Day 49 Boothbay Maine mooring
Day 54 Anchored in Hell Half Acre near Stonington Maine
Day 58 Northeast Harbor Maine (Acadia)
Day 62 Camden Maine harbor
Day 65 Port Clyde Maine
Day 66 Ferried over to Monhegan Island
Day 68 Passed through swing bridge west of Boothbay
Day 70 BB at anchor in Potts Cove Maine at Sunset
Day 72 Wicked current on mooring Portsmouth NH
Day 80 Surprise safety inspection by USCG near Woods Hole MA
Day 80 Arrived Martha's Vineyard, Edgartown MA
Day 82 Ferry with bikes to Chappaquiddick
Day 86 At anchor in Newport RI
Day 89 Sewing repairs to dinghy chaps at anchor, Fisher's Island NY
Day 91 Mirage en route: Ferry boat flying into power boat
Day 92 At anchor in Northport NY (Long Island Sound)
Day 97 Passing Statue of Liberty during storms
Day 98 Offshore passage on September 11 with rainbow
Day 99 Overnight passage from NJ, entering Delaware Bay at sunrise
Day 100 Cheers at anchor on Sassafras River
Day 101 The Bay Bridge says "welcome home"
Day 101 Back in slip on South River
Garmin Track from June 6 through Sept 14, 2023
My husband and I recently retired and finally have time for a long cruise. On June 6, 2023 we threw off our dock lines in the South River and began a 100+ day sailing adventure to Maine and back. It's our first time north of Philadelphia in Belle Bateau. We are chasing 72 degrees up to Maine for Summer 2023 and returning to Maryland in the fall, as the wind blows. For more information about our journey, see https://www.sailingbelle.net.