Heading out to Hawk Cove.
The beach on Hart-Miller Island. Nice anchorage as long as there aren't too many boats.
Wonderful sunset at Hawk Cove.
Our anchor float keeping track.
Parkside to Hawk Cove: I started today cleaning up from the rainstorm. Also, I did some small jobs like I re calibrated the fuel gauge, filled water tanks, and cleaned the heads. Then I popped on over to the slip holders’ picnic where there was great food and conversation and games. After getting back to the boat I decided to get away from the docks and headed out to hawk Cove. I tried to sail a bit but the winds were very light so I headed over to my favorite anchorage spot to drop the hook. This time there is a new procedure, as I added the anchor trip line. I got everything ready and return to the cockpit to deploy at the helm. I dropped about 15 feet while in idle reverse. I went forward to see the anchor underneath the boat as we were still moving forward. Then reversed took hold and I paid out more chain. I felt it grab it about 20 feet then I paid out 50 feet and put on this snubber. I increase the RPM and went forward to see that the float was not being affected so that means the anchor stuck - the anchor float is a great new device. I shut things down and readied for swim call. Powerboats were all running home and it made it quite rough, but I had my float and swim line. Then catfish stoped by to deliver an anchor to me, very nice of him. We chatted for a while but it was too rough to be rafted and he didn't have running lights so he headed back to his marina. Dinner was light since I was still full from the picnic. I cleaned up down below and called boaters midnight around 10:30 - certainly after checking on the anchor, which, all was good. Quiet night.
Hawk Cove to Hawk Cove: I woke up around 7 to a nice cool morning, temperatures in the high 60s. I made coffee to have with my cereal. Then I cleaned up a bit and decided to tackle some small jobs. I cleaned and scrubbed the white fender, so now it looks presentable. Then I installed the new winch handle holder and finally tighten the lifelines and secured their cotter pins. After a lunch of sandwich, chips, and an apple, I was looking for my next job but the power boaters were getting quite loud and bouncing me about. Since the wind was picking up I decided to go for a quick sail. I recovered the anchor and came back into the cockpit and let the jib out and began sailing without using the engine for propulsion. When I shut the engine down, I heard a thumping coming from the spinning shaft. That bothered me so I put the transmission in gear while I sailed. I had a nice sail out passed Pools Island and then I jibed back on the inside of Pools Island. About half way back I took the transmission out of gear and the noise had stopped. Hurray! I then decided I would try anchoring without engine propulsion so I brought the boat in and then slowed down by reefing the jib and until I was sailing very slowly. Then I turned into the wind pulled the jib in and started the engine to run the windlass. I ran up and dropped the anchor in 20 feet then I came back up to the cockpit to payout up to 50 feet. I went forward and could not see the anchor float. It turns out the water was too deep and it was submerged. I re-anchored and used the engine this time so all was well. Dinner was grilled burger, Mac and cheese and rice pilaf reheated. Then I chilled outside until the boaters midnight of about 11:00 o'clock. It was a nice cool night.
Hawk Cove to Parkside: It was quite bumpy overnight with wind gusts over 22 to 25 knots. The anchor held quite well. I love the anchor buoy as I would get up and look for it and find where I was in relation to it. It made me feel secure. I was up a few times to check on things as rain was predicted - it never arrived. Finally, I got out of bed and started the coffee. After awhile I noticed that the coffee hadn't started perking so I inquired and determined there was no more LP gas. Wow I think I started that tank around last August. I switched tanks and had breakfast. I was planning on a swim and sail but since there was no wind, I decided to get home to start jobs that required me to be at the pier. It was an uneventful motor in I kept the RPMs around 1500 and that had me moving around 4.4 to 4.9 knots against the tide. I did a poor job backing into the Maryland Marina pump out but I eventually got in and cleaned out both heads. Both were emptied with the aft head at 4% and the forward one at 51%. Yikes. You can hear the water hit the bottom of the tank so it should be zero. I did OK backing into the slip with four to six knots of southeasterly wind. I had a beer to get ready for the jobs.
Total Days: 3 Days to date: 22
Total Miles:27.1 Miles to date: 274.2