Hunter sailboat owners enjoy summer cruising on the Chesapeake
The Hunter Sailing Association Station-1 (HSA-1) had a busy month in June with three memorable sailing trips.
First weekend of June cruise
HSA-1 met up on Fishing Creek off the Little Choptank River June 6-8. This beautiful and remote tributary hosted four boats for a three-day, two-night raftup led by fleet captain Tom Fox. An all Marlow Hunter 40s fleet composed of Chasseur, Pinch Me, Stargazer, and Windrose rafted together to enjoy the early season weather in the protected anchorage.
Upon arriving on Friday evening Windrose hosted a lovely steak dinner aboard while other boats contributed side dishes. Saturday afternoon the group boarded dinghies and toured Fishing Creek for several miles, taking in the local bald eagles and waterfront homes dotting the shore in smaller numbers common to the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Pinch Me hosted a happy hour after which everyone made their way back to their respective boats to prepare dinner as night fell.
Summer Sailstice
HSA-1 participated in the worldwide "Sailabration" of the Summer Solstice with a registered event to the Middle River and a tour of Hart-Miller Island from June 20-June 22.
Four boats attended the event: Marlow Hunter 40s Blue Heron, Chasseur, and Pinch Me and Hunter 36 Adventure Bound. There was virtually no useful wind on the bay the entire weekend, until late Sunday afternoon, and temperatures were exceedingly hot with National Weather Service heat warning issued. Members of North Star and the Friday Sailing Club invited all HSA-1 members to dinghy to nearby Cutter Marina to cool off in their wonderfully refreshing pool, which was greatly appreciated, and most took advantage of the offer. Pinch Me hosted a happy hour aboard and then all departed to start generators and cool down their boats for dinner and a overnight in the anchorage.
On Sunday morning all boats departed the anchorage bound for Hart-Miller island. Everyone anchored just off the island and dinghied into the sand beach. The ranger station was closed due to the Juneteenth holiday, but our very own Diana Fox gave a lecture on the history of Hart-Miller island, it's history, wildlife, and the purpose of the manmade island. She then led a short hike into the nearby woods to demonstrate how to find and log a Geocache. Everyone noticed lots of small wildlife - toads being particularly numerous. After the short hike the group retreated to the ranger station elevated deck for lunch and a group photo. Afterward the refreshed group made their way back to the beach, and dinghied to their respective sailboats in the early afternoon to head to anchorages or home.
July fourth weeklong cruise
HSA-1 completed a weeklong cruise to several destinations over 4th of July in the mid-Chesapeake Bay.
Four boats trekked to five destinations over the week: Marlow Hunter 40s Blue Heron, Pinch Me, and Windrose, and Hunter 36 Adventure Bound. The trip kicked-off at Shipwright Harbor Marina in Deale, MD. HSA-1 hosted a barbeque attended by 18 club members with pitmaster Mark Streger gamely presiding over the grill on a sweaty late-June afternoon. It was a good catchup for a lot of club members, and former commodore Frank Pitts attended and shared many fun stories about past club events.
Our weeklong trip started at anchor in St. Leonard's Creek off the Patuxent River. Adventure Bound kindly hosted all three boats for happy hour and an excellent kabob dinner in the roomy Hunter 36 cockpit. The next day we departed for St. Mary's College at the Horseshoe Bend anchorage in St Mary's River off the Potomac. We motored past the Dove replica at St. Mary's City and into the anchorage. We were greeted by our host, assistant waterfront director Rick Loheed, who waved at us from the dock at St. Mary's College.
The following morning all boats dinghied ashore for a tour of the St. Mary's waterfront facilities and received an excellent presentation from Rick Loheed on the Governor's Cup, which is hosted by the college annually. Rick is a primary organizer for the major event, as well as having raced it on many occasions. After lunch, we toured historic St. Mary’s and made it back to our boats just as the torrential rain was starting.
From St. Mary’s we crossed the Bay bound for Onancock, VA. During the roughly 54 nautical mile voyage, the fleet did have a fair amount of wind and was able to sail/motorsail to the mouth of Onancock Creek. As the boats pulled into the dock they were met by a monsoon-like rain squall which soaked all to the bone. After cleaning up everyone met on Pinch Me for a quick happy hour before walking next door to Mallard's, where we shared a good meal and celebrated Sue Reitz's birthday with Key Lime Smith Island Cake!
While Blue Heron headed to Kilmarnock, the other three boats took a down day in Onancock, enjoying the charm of the small historic town.
On the 4th of July all boats converged on Reedville, VA, at the aging and somewhat exposed docks of the closed Crazy Crab restaurant. Everyone saw dolphins and schools of menhaden on the surface as we approached Ingram Bay and Cockrell Creek. Adventure Bound found a quiet anchorage just around the corner and dinghied over to meet us. All walked the historic one-street town of Reedville, enjoyed it's local ice cream shop and the outside displays of it's maritime museum before having dinner aboard. Later we met on Blue Heron for a wondrous display of fireworks right over the water in front of us. For such a small town, Reedville did themselves proud!
The next day we set sail for Solomons Island and we all met up that evening at the eponymous Tiki Bar where live band The Reagan Years absolutely rocked the house while we enjoyed drinks and dinner. Bootlegger and Tide Together also joined us for dinner.
Sunday, July 6, we said goodbye to each other as most of us were heading home. Thus ended a tiring but rewarding week-long voyage around the middle Chesapeake Bay. The fleet visited five ports (Blue Heron visited six) and logged well over 260nm for the week (Windrose well in excess of 300!). This all begs the question: Where will HSA-1 go next year for their extended summer cruise?!
If you have a Hunter or Marlow-Hunter in the mid-Chesapeake Bay and are not a member, please check out our club at hsa1.org or email [email protected] to learn more about the benefits of membership, which includes access to all club cruises and events and a direct connection to a network of Chesapeake Bay Hunter owners. We hope you will join us!
by Celeste Streger
