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2013 Sailing Season

26K views 247 replies 25 participants last post by  Nicklaus 
#1 ·
Thought I might as well get a head start and designate a thread for all to post in as some are still sailing thorugh January and February. We typically post in a thread where we are going and what we are doing throughout the season and our escapades throughout the season.

We start out on the Ides of March ( March 15) for our first sail of the season.

Our Chesapeake group is one of the molst active on Sailnet with frequent posters and get togethers each month. Our 5th Annual Sailnet Rondezvous will take place June 8 at the Maryland Yacht Club as in years past ( There's a designated thread already). If anyone would like to volunteer to take some other days/ weekends during the season and kind of be the organizer for get togethers it would be helpful and appreciated by all of us. Sometimes we just need an organizer to take the lead herding us "cats" together. It would be great if we also could pull on thogethr down in Solomons this year to capture so others ( hint, hint).

I have been working on a design for a burgee for the "Lions of the Chesapeake" and have some design ideas but if someone has suggestions please let me know. How many woud be willling to purchase ( Looks like about $25 each. If enough want this I will proceed with itThis phrase came out of a sarcastic remark made about a few of us a number of years ago, implying we were not " real sailors" as we sailed in the Chessie. It kindof stuck as our moniker.

Also is anyone willing to take over the database and keep organized the Chesapeake eats/ Restaurant section we have. S/V Auspicious ( Dave ) maintained it for about 5 years and really did a great job with it, and it has helped many a person evaluate the various restaurants we have available. If you havent looked at it its quite extensive.

Heres to a great 2013 sailing Season..let the games begin.(bet Bubble is one of the first to post):eek:

Note to moderators: Could you make this a sticky as you have in the past and take the 2012 sailing season and let it float...Thank you:)

Dave
 
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#106 ·
4th of July

We spent the day in the slip, the kids enjoyed the pool while I finished up electrical stuff, ACR, Link 2000, AND Charger are all doing their thing, all I need to check is that the alternator is doing its thing ;)

So we're headed out early tomorrow morning for somewhere North & East, maybe Worton or up he Chester.
 
#107 ·
Daysail down the river this afternoon. 18 mph sustained, a few gusts to 24. Once we got below Commodore Barry Bridge we had 3' swells - unusual for our protected river.

Didn't see any debris today, but still don't want to risk night sailing, so we're sitting on the dock at West End Boat Club waiting for the fireworks at the nearby casino.
 
#108 ·
We had a nice broad reach upriver this morning. We grabbed a mooring ball in a cove, and rode to shore on "Take Two," our new little dinghy (just a raft + trolling motor). The sail back was very vigorous, but beating into a strong breeze was still HOT because of the sun. I had hoped to maybe stay overnight in the cove sometime this weekend, but it's too bloody HOT.

This place is not nearly as quaint as the towns on the Chesapeake, nor is it anywhere near as cool as island hopping on the BVI. But it's about a close as we can come to that experience around the Philly area, so it was a nice time that we will repeat in the future.

Click on the picture below to see the whole photo album on Facebook:


 
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#109 ·
We had a nice broad reach upriver this morning. We grabbed a mooring ball in a cove, and rode to shore on "Take Two," our new little dinghy (just a raft + trolling motor). The sail back was very vigorous, but beating into a strong breeze was still HOT because of the sun. I had hoped to maybe stay overnight in the cove sometime this weekend, but it's too bloody HOT.

This place is not nearly as quaint as the towns on the Chesapeake, nor is it anywhere near as cool as island hopping on the BVI. But it's about a close as we can come to that experience around the Philly area, so it was a nice time that we will repeat in the future.tv

Click on the picture below to see the whole photo album on Facebook:


Good deal. It is hot, but bearable. At night not so bad. We re meeting friends and anchoring in Broad Creek Magothy with them

Dave
 
#110 ·
Left late morning after breakfast and flew up the bay surfing all the way to Worton Creek. Cooled off in the water. Dinner was Grilled Tuna steaks with Israeli Cous Cous with Oranges, grilled zucchini, and a salad of fresh avocados, tomatoes, and feta tossed with a light vinaigrette.

Getting ready to enjoy a beautiful sunset...it doesn't get much better
 
#111 ·
Great to hear:). Sounds like a good time. Good eats too.

Brokesailor will be coming through on Scaliwag 37 Crealock, back from the LI Sound tomorrow AM . Keep a lookout for Jorge and Marcella.
 
#112 ·
Anchored in the Magothy with friends and their Tartan 3700 with a nice cool breeze even though its78 its not too bad. Had cold soft tacos filled with cumin BBQ chicken, snow peas, diced red pepper, scallions, spinach and black beans infused with a sesame oil- peanut butter- lime dressing. Washed down with a few DosEquis. Great fireworks display also

Good close haul sail today with 12-15 knott winds.
 
#113 ·
What a great weekend! Yea it was freaking hot as hell but the nights were comfortable and there was good wind.

After the fast sail up the bay Friday to Worton we decided to just stay put and enjoy the fresh water swims and bird watching. Saturday we took the dingy in to Worton Creek Marina to get some ice cream and check out the progress on the Burger Yacht the owner has been working on for years. Love that marina and ships store BTW, one of my favorites on the bay, has such charm and character. The Bald Eagles are such amazing birds to watch, we saw them frequently. We were able to get quite close to one, she was probably a full grown female (adult females are known to be larger than males, who knew). Also saw either a Golden Eagle or a immature Bald Eagle, not sure. Its great to see them back in such numbers on the bay, for a while now I learned. The water in Worton Creek is so nice to swim in, although not so refreshing at about 84 degrees but better than the 100 plus in the sun :)

The fireworks Saturday night were fantastic from Worton Creek, there was a great show in what I think was Middle River, I could not believe how high they were going. The other was much closer, I think, Mears Marina in Fairlee Creek? ah...doesnt matter, but they all were really cool, accented by the heat lighting to the West. The outside anchorage of Worton has now become a tradition for us on the 4th, it really is a prime vantage point for fireworks shows around the bay!

Sundays sail home started with us sailing off anchor, a first in a long time! It was the perfect conditions to try it out again, not many boats around and wind was a steady 10 kts. All went just as I planned and was a good feeling of accomplishment. I am also so pleased with my new battery set up, the amp hours I have now!!!! :) No need to run the engine as often like we used to. We ran the engine for about 10 minutes when we left Friday and didn't start it again until we approached Rock Creek entrance three days later, gotta love that :) (quick thanks to Mainsail and Chef2sail for their assistance and knowledge regarding my new DC set up) Next...solar and/or wind and we'll be ready to cruise long term.

All in all, amid some extreme heat, it was the perfect long weekend! Looking forward to many more this year.

PS...should I be worried, I think my kids are part fish?
 
#115 ·
PS...should I be worried, I think my kids are part fish?
You have the nicest girls. Be glad they can amuse themselves swimming:):) Worton/ Still Pond is the perfect place. Its clean there and no nettles. We went swimming in Worton last week. Saw the eagles and the red tailed hawks. Saw an eagle with a 4 foot snake flew overhead.

I noticed they went right to the pool when you got back today. They listen to me when I told them a while ago that when your ad and mom bring you back.....ask them to take you for a dip in the pool. LOL
 
#121 ·
It was a scorcher this weekend, but I decided to use the light winds as an opportunity to figure out how to use my spinnaker. I was expecting a major ordeal, but we got it up with only a few minor hiccups. This was the first time the spinnaker has been out of the bag since at least 2005.

After all the "hard work," we decided it was time to take a swim. I'll second the other post on here about the water being murky. Visibility in the Rhode River was less than a foot.

Dodging Jelly Fish | On Board Cordelia
 
#124 ·
Odd there are so many nettles considering all the rain, I know water temp has something to do with but still.

We're probably going to North again this weekend or up the Chester.

On another note, I read in the Notice Mariners that they should be dredging Kent Narrows, specifically the North channel soon, no date just said mid to late summer IIRCC. Reports of less than 4' seem to be often now.
 
#125 ·
Spent Friday on a nice quiet sail over to Rock Hall and anchored in Swan Creek. Has a great dinner of grilled Mahi Mahi with mango salsa, potato salad and grilled zucchini. For Dessert..New Jersey blueberries and a few Godiva Bon bons for my B Day. ( last one in the 50s)

Today had a rip roaring sail up the Chester River to a favorite spot behind Cacaway Island. We were supposed to raft up with people from our club, but they wimped. They stayed close to the club and went to Bodkin. We were already across the Bay so we decided to stay there in the peace and quiet. We are watching now the radar as thy got a good t torm there. Here...no rain at all.

For dinner tonight we had shrimp, black bean, fresh mango red pepper and roasted corn with a sesame garlic ponzu sauce stuffed in soft tacos. A great light summer meal. Saved a few Bon bons for later

Tomorrow predicted beam reach back across the. Bay with 10-15 knot winds and showers. Thank goodness for the enclosure my wife made we can zip in if we need to.

Great weekend break from the Chessie heat. Doesn't get any better than this.
 
#127 ·
Nice little jab Dave, you know its not always about the destination, it can be about whom your with, or not?

We enjoyed a great sail out the Patapsco towards the Chester, threw in a couple of tacks then set course on a reach into Bodkin Creek. We enjoyed some great food with the "wimps", shared some good stories among new friends. It was a great day to sail, even for the wimps!
 
#128 ·
Nice little jab Dave, you know its not always about the destination, it can be about whom your with, or not?

We enjoyed a great sail out the Patapsco towards the Chester, threw in a couple of tacks then set course on a reach into Bodkin Creek. We enjoyed some great food with the "wimps", shared some good stories among new friends. It was a great day to sail, even for the wimps!
Care to share the anchor dragging stories:). You weren't the wimp, they were. I thought it amazing that they were going to try Worton.

I am sure Bodkin was not your first choice today. Sometimes when you get in a group decision you kind of have to go where the group goes, even if its only 5 miles. I understand that.

Glad you had a great time anchoring with everyone. They are nice people and are fun. We frequently do that. Had I started from the MYC today I probably would have done the same. We have always enjoyed rafting with Hal and Cindy, Dick and Irma, and you guys of course. They are some of the reason we have liked being at MYC. They dispel that "yacht club" persona image.

I thought it useless to come back across the Bay and have no where to sail but the river. Often Cackaway us a 5+ hour sail. Today starting in Rock Hall with he great winds at a good angle once we hit the Chester we were hauling all bough the curves at 7+ with a furled 150. Got anchored in 3 hours. Hopefully the rain holds off tomorrow.

Hopefully you'll still be there when we get in tomorrow. Looks like well have good wind to cross.

Dave
 
#130 ·
FWIW, Take Five gets a well-deserved break this week while we're vacationing on the shore of Lake Wallenpaupack. Instead, the other 2/3 of our fleet gets a workout. When the wind is dead and the lake is smooth, we go waterskiing off the Trophy boat. When the wind kicks up and it gets too rough to ski, we take out the Phantom sailing dinghy.

It's all good.
 
#135 ·
Had a great sail on Saturday and anchored up on the Rhode River for the night. Weather was perfect, aside from a light sprinkle, but plenty cool enough to sit in the cockpit with a cocktail.

All About Tonight | On Board Cordelia

A couple from our marina even got a great pic of us sailing past Thomas Point Light.
 

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#137 ·
Anyone that wants a ride to Rock Hall from Solomon's on Friday contact me. Should be a fun sail 10-15 kts gusting to 20 from the SW. Departing Zahnisers just after 4 AM to try and beat the t storms. I have a slip reserved at Swan Creek Marina. Returning on Sunday. Pirates and Wenches Festival this weekend. I am Solo. Crealock 37 Yawl.
 
#138 ·
Got out last Sunday and sailed down the Severn to Annapolis and back from our community pier. Beautiful day, but gusty. We were tacking back up the river and that dumb fake riverboat tour boat made a tight turn around the corner off of the Naval Academy just as we had to tack or hit the seawall. We got laid flat by a gust and stalled right in front of the blasted tour boat while everyone on board watched. We were lucky the skipper slowed down. Then, on the same tack, we crossed to the other side of the river and ran hard aground. My depth finder still read 10.3 feet even after we'd come to a dead stop, and didn't beep until I was up at the bow, getting the anchor ready to bring it aft and throw it over the stern so that we could get the bow into the wind and work our way off of the sandbar. I think the tour boat company owes me some money for all the entertainment we provided for their guests.
 
#139 ·
Quietly anchored in Jubb Cove, Bodkin after a nice sail today.winds were mainly E / NE at 10-13 which was great for north south tacks. We sailed down to the Chesapeake By Bridge and decided to return tack to get loser to home port as a storm coming up the coast s scheduled to dump a few days of rain.

Dinner was two herb rubbed NY strips, Pittsburg rare with grilled portebellas and grilled argus. Dessert was grilled golden pineapple and grilled fresh peaches drizzled with a port chocolate reduction. Nice bottle of Boogle Red Zin to accompany. Life is good.

Nice to have these cooler days in August on the Chessie.

Dave
 
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#142 ·
To finish the weekend, It looked gloomy outside with NNE winds and the weather alerts were for rain, but the clouds looked mixed with the cumulous mostly to the east, probably on the Delaware River. The sysytem headed up the coast had us in nice steady 15 knot winds with a few spurts to 20. A little light rain ( no getting wet as we put the connecter between dodger and bimini in ) once in a while, but nothing major and an actually stupendous day to sail in the Patapsco.

After a nice relaxing breakfast of lox and bagels, turkey bacon and Kona coffee, We sailed twice all the way up through the Inner Harbor and back to Bodkin ( at the mouth of the Bay) in about 4 hours never going below 6.5 knots. Hardly any boats scared off by the forecast and we had most of the river to ourselves. Felt like fall, but shorts and T shirts were still the order of the day.
 
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