fall 23 sailing track

 

the view from above

Back home after five weeks on the water.  Some great sailing, saw some good friends and enjoyed both the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival in St. Michaels and the Sultana Downrigging Festival in Chestertown.  Above is a nice photograph of SPARTINA on the Chestertown waterfront, forwarded to me by Kristen.  Pretty nice, don't you think?

Downrigging festival

Tall ships, including the Kalmar Nyckel, are beginning to arrive.

can’t walk away from wind

We arrived in Chestertown yesterday afternoon, a day earlier than planned/expected.  I had intended to spend a night on Southeast Creek and then come in this morning.  The wind was just too good, I couldn’t walk away from it.  

The morning began on Davis Creek just inside the larger Langford Creek. Small craft warnings with northwest winds gusting to the mid 20s.   I began with a double reefed main, mizzen and jib.  Once on the open water, exposed to wind and waves on the beam, I sailed under just mizzen and jib, making a little over four knots through the chop. 

It was rough on the wide part of the Chester River.  Once past Deep Point the river quickly narrows to less than a half mile wide.  I had all the wind but no longer the chop. How nice. I followed the river to Melton Point where it begins a series of curves to the northwest.  Conveniently the wind slacked and I raised a reefed main, then soon the full main.  The sky was blue and wind perfect as I bypassed a potential anchorage.  Soon I was on the Devils Reach (though the devil was apparently elsewhere at the time), tacking into a steady breeze until we rounded Primrose Point.  And there was Chestertown. 

Today is maintenance and cleaning   Tomorrow and the next few days will be day sailing on the Chester as the tall ships begin to arrive for the Downrigging Festival.

And so ends and enjoyable and interesting fall cruise.

 

four weeks

Today marks four weeks on the water. Should be in Chestertown in two days.

cloud watching

 

Rock Hall

In Rock Hall, a favorite port, for resupply, laundry and dinner with friends.  Yesterday was the beginning of week four of the fall sail.  From here it will be a leisurely trip up the Chester River to Chestertown.  Should get in a week from today. 

 

resupply

Into Georgetown this morning for shower, laundry, resupply and maybe a good meal or two at the Fish Whistle. 

 

leaving Swan Creek

twilight

St. Michaels

Tied up for a few days at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum docks to see friends at the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival. Cool front rolling in over the weekend. Will head north early next week.

Blue skies

Light winds and blue skies on the way to the Choptank River. Beautiful sailing.

pretty morning

…finally