7:05 dead calm in the little cove surrounded by trees, motor out of the wind shadow onto Hudson Creek. There is a front coming through today with gusts forecast tot the mid- 20s. So I have a plan and I think it is a good one.
With the morning's forecast of wind in west wind at 15 mph I can easily sail into the wind to Hills Point. Should the front and associated gusts arrive before I get there, I can turn back downwind to Hudson Creek or other anchorages on the Little Choptank. If I make it to Hills Point before the gusts arrive, I'm in good shape and can easily reduce sail to mizzen and jib and sail comfortably downwind to the Tred Avon. I have found SPARTINA sails well under mizzen and jib across the wind or downwind with gusts in the high 20 mph range.
7:25 catch the wind on Hudson Creek. 7:25 on the Little Choptank, 2.5 kts. 8:30 wind filling in, making 5.2. 8:30 round Ragged Island, 5.0. 9:00 Tilghman Island in sight the north.
9:10 round Hills Point. 9:30 forecast gusts arrive. I consider taking in a reef or two, but with the downhill run and a short sail across the Choptank, I bring down the main, sailing with mizzen and jib. I point the bow towards Cook Point.
And then the wind and waves build beyond my expectations. Gusts feel like they are over 30, which I think I can deal will. But the waves are big and steep and leave no room for error.
I look ahead and can see the trees at Cook Point, and then I remember the shoals that reach out from the point. I keep the wind aft of port beam until I can clearly see the waves breaking on the shoal. Get past the shoal and turn downwind towards Oxford.
The river is called Choptank for a reason. The waves are tall, maybe four feet or so, and very close together. Wind and waves are on the port quarter, waves slapping the hull and sending the water flying. Lots of spray, almost constant spray. I'm wearing just my foul weather bibs and getting soaked. My hat flies off in the wind. I want to put on my foul weather jacket but don't dare leave the tiller.
I see two big sail boats out on the river, both pounding in the waves and wonder why they are out there. Then I wonder why I am out there.
Cold and wet, I get some relief when I can pick out the water tower at Oxford. SPARTINA is handling the waves well, she is really proving herself in this weather.
10:20 is see a low patch of marsh that sits off Benoni Point. We aim just below the point. 10:50 rounding Benoni Point, the wind is still with us but the waves are instantly gone. Sigh of relief.
Anchor down in a little cove at Pecks Point, trees blocking the wind.
Set up the boom tent, get out of the wet clothes. The sun comes out and it turns into a pretty day. I think about the sail and what I did right or wrong. That the wind exceeded the forecast, I don't know what I could have done about that. But with the front forecast to come through I should have been wearing the drysuit. My plan was a good one, and I guess it worked. It was just rougher than I had expected.
I dry out my gear, read and relax. And think about those waves and how much I can trust my boat.
19.77 NM
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