Finally, Belle Bateau is splashed, on April 23. We motored from Port Annapolis Marina to BB's new home at Selby Bay Yacht Club, our first time here.
Century Club: Cheryl Duvall
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 to Saturday, November 9, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Belle Bateau in sling at Port Annapolis Marina
Belle Bateau in new slip at SBYC
Tuesday, January 16, 2024 to Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Number of days:
15 days
View from fort in Marigot, Saint Maarten
Beginning of overnight passage to USVI
Moon during overnight passage
Taking advantage of rainy day to write SpinSheet article
Rainbow in Great Lameshure Bay
Mooring in Charlotte Amalie Harbor with city lights
I flew into St. Maarten to join my friend Julie on her 45-foot Leopard, At Ease. This is the second year that Julie invited me and one other crew member (Cordelia) to join her. After a few days in St. Maarten, where we happened to also meet SpinSheet writer Cindy Wallach, we did an overnight passage to the USVI. We spent the first night at Christmas Cove, with yummy dinner from Pizza Pi. Then we moved to a mooring in Great Lameshur Bay, part of the Virgin Isle National Park system. Sustained winds were in the 30s, with gusts 35, so we stayed a few days longer than intended. But we took daily dinghy rides to shore and hiked trails, found beautiful beaches, took a bus for provisions and dinner at Skinny Legs. Eventually the winds died down enough that we could move to Maho Bay, and then Caneel Bay where we watched the Ravens lose to the Chiefs on Jan 28 playoff game. The next day we moved to Charlotte Amalie to be close to the airport for departures on Jan 30.
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
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.
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).