March 2024

Trip dates: 
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Trip length: 
1 day
Type of watercraft: 
Sail

Headed E towards Spa Creek/6th Street Drawbridge, passing Spa Creek “3” to starboard. Hailed drawbridge on VHF CH 13 for opening. Once clear of drawbridge, headed NE up Spa Creek Channel through the Annapolis Harbor and Spa Creek Anchorage area, keeping USNA "Class of 43 Light” [Fl (4+3) Y 30s 4.5NM) to port, Spa Creek “1SC” to starboard. Once past Spa Creek “1SC”, turned to starboard and headed SE towards Horn Point “HP” [Fl (1) Y 6s 4.6m 4NM]. Keeping “HP” to starboard to avoid the shoal, continued along a SE course towards Green Can “5”, passing it to starboard and Red Beacon “4” [Fl (1) R 6s 4.5NM] to port to avoid Greenbury Point Shoal. Continued SE to Yellow Beacon “A” [Fl (1) Y 2.5s 4.5NM] and turned to port heading NE towards Red Beacon “2W” [Fl 91) R 4s 4.6m 4NM], approx. 1.5NM away while keeping Greenbury Point to port (marked by three Red Aeronautical Beacons). Heading into Whitehall Bay, keep Red Beacon “2W” [Fl 91) R 4s 4.6m 4NM] ahead to starboard ("2W" marks the entrance to Mill Creek). Navigated through the narrow channel between Possum Point (portside) and Bowdoin point (starboard side) via a series of day marks - Green “3”, then Green “5” and Red “6”, followed by Green “7” and Red “8” and finally Red “10”. Once clear of Red “10” turned to starboard heading NW, keeping Hidden Point to starboard and Providence Cove to port.  Headed N up Mill Creek passing Cantler’s Inn and Martin’s Cove (portside). Prepared the fenders on the starboard side for docking. Called dock boy of approach after rounding Mill Creek “Green 11” to port and heading NW up the creek, passing Orchard Beach Marina, followed by Sailor’s Wharf Marina, both portside. Backed slowly into the slip after a few failed attempts learning how the rudder responds to prop walk. Secured portside spring line first, then stern lines and bow lines. Took a while to get the boat settled and secure for the first time in the new slip.