October 17 to October 21

Sunday, October 17th
Location: Summit North Marina
Destination: Sassafras River

Once again, we struggle over whether to leave or not. The high winds and advice from locals, prompt us to wait another day. We meet Ed and Pat Land, S/V Finistere (IP37), who give us some good tips on sailing and anchoring in the Chesapeake. They had just returned from a trip in which their bilge pump failed. With following seas, their bilge starting filling, requiring them to manually pump it dry periodically. (Even though we have a vented loop in our bilge pump line, I promise myself to check our bilge more frequently while underway.)

Sandy took the marina shuttle to town and restocked the larder, wine, and tequila holds. Not only did they drive her to the stores, but they then loaded the supplies into a golf cart and delivered Sandy and contents right to our boat. What service!

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Monday, October 18th
Location: Summit North Marina
Destination: Sassafras River

This morning, it is sunny and warm with light winds. We depart the marina at 1:00 PM and catch the ebb tide. Our destination is an anchorage off of Ordinary Point in the Sassafras River.

The trip today reveals a panorama of rolling fields, beaches and nice homes as we motor through the remainder of the C&D canal, down the Elk River and into the northern Chesapeake Bay.

Anchor Note: (Location: N 39 22.4, W 075 58.4) We anchored in 9 feet facing a country mansion set on the hillside as Pat Land described. The holding was good.

We took the dogs ashore at Ordinary Point and discovered what sea nettles are. Joop and Tula began hopping up and down with these very prickly balls stuck in their paws. Sea nettles should be avoided says Joop!

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Tuesday, October 19th
Location: Sassafras River
Destination: Annapolis

We awake to fog and cold drizzle. Northeast winds 14 to 16 kts. We haul anchor and with radar on, head out of the Sassafras at 8:00 AM.

Along the way, we saw a few tug and barges. The biggest threat was the wake from large, fast-moving, passing motor yachts. After the first wake nearly rolled us 50 degrees or so, we got much more defensive and tried to cut the wakes at 45 degree angles to help offset the roll. Just as we were passing under the William P Lane Bridges, a stout, little recreational tug, called Wanderer, cut across our port bow in some madcap race attempt I can only guess. I shifted into neutral and steered off to avoid collision. So much for right of way.

As we approached Annapolis, it felt like mission accomplished. We had been here 4 years before when we had dinner with Les and Pat Adams and several other IP 420 owners who came together to share commissioning tips for preparing their boats. Now we finally arrive with our own 420 all outfitted for her first trip South.

We pick up a town mooring and pay fifty dollars to the harbormaster for a two night stay.

After a night of heavy rain, we packed up our empty propane tank and headed for the True Value hardware on Bay Ridge Ave. about 3 miles from town. Along the way, a man named Martin, who says he's been boating for thirty years, kindly offered to drive us to the hardware and then return us to town. Having lugged this tank before, I was very thankful for his generous offer. (Martin mentioned that he will soon be the new marina manager at Yacht Haven in Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas. Sandy and I have been at this marina aboard our friends Larry and Letty Wheeler's boat Samana.) After Martin left us off, we headed over to Middleton's Tavern and indulged ourselves with crabcakes and beer. Fantastic!

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Thursday, October 21st
Location: Annapolis
Destination: Solomons Island, MD

Another morning of drizzle. Upon taking the dogs to shore for their morning stops, Sandy finds a bright pink purse on the dinghy dock containg a cell phone, money, and passport. She hands the purse to a passing environmental policeman and hopes the person will recover their valuables.

We drop our mooring pennant at 8:00 AM and slowly motor out through the harbor. Northeast winds 10 to 15 kts. are forecast. We head down the bay into the chop before deciding to raise both main and staysail and motorsail. As we pass the Choptank inlets, waves and wind on the beam make for a lively ride. We make 6.5 to 7.5 kts against the tide. We are encouraged when we see our first pelican of the trip. (Lots of pelicans in Florida.)
As we approach the entrance to Back Creek, we decide to make a course change and leave the small island to North.

Anchor Note: We anchor just around the corner from the Zahniser's Marina in about 10 feet. (N 38 19.4, W 076 27.5). Holding is soft mud. We put out 70 feet of chain to nestle among the other anchored and moored boats.

Back creek looks like a busy collection of marinas. We take a dinghy tour and find the dock at Hospitality harbor. The night is calm and quiet. Sandy takes the first anchor watch so I can catch up on some rest. We decide to stay here a couple of days till the weather forecasts can sort themselves out.

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Total accumlated miles traveled: 488.2 nautical miles
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