day twenty - turning back south

Sail off anchor 7:00, the sun not yet up and no wind.  A slow drift down the creek.  49 degrees and mist clinging to the guts in the marsh.  A perfect morning.

Blueberry Rx bar, buffalo bar and fruit cocktail for breakfast. I slip on my neoprene booties against the cold chill of the deck.  Out of the creek and motor sailing at 7:30.

It's a short sail across the Chester River to Kent Narrows, round up at 8:10 outside the channel entrance markers to bring down the sails, working quickly to make the 8:30 bridge lift.  Calm water in the narrows, a light breeze and I'm in position with 10 minutes to spare.  I radio the bridge tender and he tells me to stand by for a lift.  I hear the bells ringing, the bridge lifts and I make the easiest transit of the narrows that I have ever experienced.  

Sails up at 8:40, wind over port quarter and making 2.7 to the south.   By 9:30 the temperature is rising, sunny with a light wind on the port beam.  Making 2.7 passing Parsons Island.  Choppy confused water at 10:00 where Eastern Bay meets the Miles River.  Light wind, 2.3.

Very rough water at 11:30 trying to take a short cut across the shoal into the Wye River.  Still struggling at noon, fighting the shifting wind, outgoing tide and the wakes from all the power boats coming out of the Wye.  Under power into the Wye.

Wind, just a little and inconsistent, on the Wye, tacking into Shaw Bay at 1:05.  Steady stream of power boats throwing wakes that make sailing in light winds impossible.  Under power.  Drop the anchor in the little cove just inside of Drum Point at 2:15.

I spend the afternoon napping, reading and listening to a football game on the radio.  A fledgling eagle feeds along the shoreline.

Alpinaire creamy beef and noodles with mushrooms.  

18.8 NM for the day.