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Downrigging Festival

misty morning

done

Arrived Chestertown marina about 2:00 this afternoon. The trip is done. It was a good trip, a different sort of trip.  Less sailing as far as mileage, more social as I spent time with friends, both old and new, along the way.   The sailing was great.  Above and below you’ll find two videos that show the range of sailing.  At the top is the video from the sail a couple of days ago from Rock Hall to the Chester River.   And below you’ll see a quiet morning at the top of Queenstown Creek (turn up the volume so you can hear the birds!).

So I’m in Chestertown for the next week or so for the Downrigging Festival.  Tall ships will be arriving over the next few days.  The Festival begins Friday.  If you come to the festival please drop by and say hello. 

chilly morning

rounding Hail Point on the Chester River

 

Centreville Wharf

cool and crisp

A chilly morning followed by a day of tacking south on the Bay. Very pleasant.

oh, the thrill of sailing / evening

I've wrapped up my chores: laundry, water, getting rid of trash, recharging power blocks. Off tomorrow, a pretty day with light winds. We'll see where we go.

wind

Great wind today to sail from Worton's Creek to the Sassafras River. Tied up at a favorite marine to resupply, laundry, etc. plus enjoy the little waterfront town.

back on the water

Cast off from St. Michaels this morning with blue skies and warm sunshine. Wind was iffy most of the day, did some sailing, motor sailing and just plain motoring. Coming in to Hail Creek, a fave anchorage, spotted some swirls in the water and cast out for a nice stripper for dinner. Good to be back on the water.

a new beginning

side trip

Still rough weather but got an invite from great friend Kristen to sail her Cape Dory 32 from St. Michaels to Oxford. A fun sail with delightful company. Excellent forecast starting tomorrow morning and will head north in SPARTINA.

from the land of horizontal

Day five of wind and rain. Sailflow showed gusts to 28 mph, though tapering now I'm wearing the mango dry suit as regular foul weather gear doesn't cut it in horizontal rain. Stealth camping in shelter at the museum. Looking forward to sailing again.

unexpected crossing

The sun broke through the clouds just after 10:00 this morning. First time I had seen the sun in a few days. Before I knew it, with gear packed and boom tent stowed, we were crossing the Miles River under mizzen and jib. Hit 6.9 in a gust. Tied up at the museum's dock. Will wait out the rest of the weather here.

waiting out the weather

Very glad for the dry suit, good thermals, hot tea, am sports radio and a well-protected cove. First the remnants of Ian and now a little nor'easter.

Gale warnings

A nice photo from Kevin as I was leaving St. Michaels a couple days ago, and the marine wx forecast this morning.

a day for reading

Still on Leeds Creek waiting out the weather. A fair amount of rain last night and some swirling winds. Better weather today. Bobby with the Pathfinder LAGNIAPPE tells the wind was down enough for a race at the small craft festival. I thought of sailing but was caught up in a good book. Plus stronger winds tonight and more rain tomorrow. I am content where I am. There is plenty of time left to sail.