A brisk (and gusty) sail from Annapolis to the Rhode River, where we rafted with friends. Alas, the JELLYFISH were are already here, before we even had a chance to swim this season. Grrrrr!
We are short a boat right now (Heron is having her bottom replaced), and the kayak is inaccessible because the community dock area is enduring shoreline repairs. Don't tink I"m going to make 100 this year.
Three days in lesser-treaveled creeks with the AYC cruising fleet: Meredith Creek off Whitehall Bay and Swan Creek. Both new to me as places to anchor. Mostly motoring, and a spectacular thunderstorm -- albeit brief -- in Swan Creek. Gorgeous sail on Sunday headed toward home, clocking 7 knots from Rock Hall to the Bay Bridge.
Gorgeous (albeit a bit chilly) weekend on the Bay. We'd planned for a CBSA rendezvous in the Rhode River aboard Calypso. But the water heater was not yet re-installed, so we went by Heron instead. A lot of fun with Curlew, Whisper and Kailani.
It was supposed to be a 4-day holiday weekend with the SCC. Instead, we only managed a motor to the Rhode River on Sunday, and a slow, careful trip through pea-soup fog on Monday. Where is spring?
With WNR on-again, off-again, we decided to take a spin on Heron. We were super-mindful of weather than never materialized, but I did see lightning, so a quick return to the dock was justified.
The quieter arms of Crab Creek are congested with grass, both floating mats of it, as well as stuff growing from the bottom. i observed some larger creatures thrashing around in it. Otters? Snakeheads? They seemed to have reptilian bodies, with scales. 3-4 feet long.
The first sailing trip of the season should be planned with the possibility of breakdowns in mind -- you just never know what's happened over the winter. We headed to the AYC Cruising Fleet rendezvous in Eagle Cove (off the Magothy). We had a fantastic sail over, but a trial run of our new dinghy davits showed us the dinghy we were using was not up to the task. It split a seam and deflated. Luckily, we rafted with friends who were willing to ferry us around.
We also had trouble anchoring. Some spots in an popular anchorage seem to get clapped out, and the anchor just won't stick, regardless of the skill of the crew. We failed to anchor twice, so we moved on to another spot. Stuck it. Stuck it so well it took a lot of extra effort to get out of there.
Live and learn.
Still waiting for shoreline work to be done at the community dock (it should have been done by now), so every time I walk down to the kayak launch, I might be locked out. Anyway, that wasn't the case today. Breezy, so I stayed in Crab Creek.
Seems like we get going later and later each year. This year, our first weekend on the water will be mid-May. But before that, I've got to move us aboard -- bedding, clothes, towels, provisions. At least that's done now.
The entire fleet is now in the water, ready for the season. Today, a test drive on Heron, around the South River.