Very rough on the boat in the early morning hours as the wind swings to the north. I wake to a dark overcast and waves rolling down the sound. Should have tucked up farther inside Whale Point.
Spend 30 minutes looking to the east, watching the waves and trying to judge the wind. My goal is to sail to Onancock, which is slightly downwind at 125 degrees. From past experience I know the entrance to Onancock Creek blends into the shoreline, my concern with the strong north wind and waves is that I come in too low and it would be a struggle to work my way back up.
I decide to angle just below Watts Island with mizzen, jib and double reefed main and see how it goes from there.
7:45 raise the anchor, right away the rudder touches bottom. I quickly reset it, head out onto Tangier Sound. With the boat pounding in the waves I find I can head up into the wind. I slack the mainsheet and fall off towards Watts Island.
SPARTINA rolls in the big waves but seems to handle it well. Lots of waves, some bigger than others. I'm surprised as a splash of water seems to come down from above and land on my hat. The low battery alarm goes off on the gps, something I should have checked before leaving Cod Harbor. I change batteries crouching over the device so it doesn't get soaked in the spray. Making 5.9.
8:05 get a glimpse of the trees on the Eastern shore. 8:30 south of Watts Island and a little calmer water. 8:50 round up and bring down the double reefed main. Now sailing mizzen and jib, fall off a bit more. 9:30 sail just inside the marker for the Watts Island shoals. GPS shows speeds from 4.2 to 4.8 depending on the swell. Pass out of the lee of Watts Island, rougher water, making 4.9 sailing on the southern edge of Pocomoke Sound. 9:40 spot red marker "0" and fall off to the south southeast.
I can see a sand beach ahead, maybe Parkers Island that is just above Onancock Creek but I'm not sure. 9:50 see a green marker, gps tells me it is for Checonessex Creek. Turn downwind along the shore and start looking for entrance markers. Come up along the sand beach and stay just offshore. Spot red markers ahead.
10:00 round Ware Point and sail onto Onanccok Creek. Round up and raise double reefed main. Sailing close-hauled on the creek and make a few tacks into the wind. Near East Point fall off and the channel turns east southeast.
Good wind on the starboard quarter and making 5.2 on calm water as we follow the gentle curves in the creek. 11:10 Onancock Wharf in sight. 11:15 sails down and motoring to the dock.
Tie up and pay for two nights at the slip, I check my phone to see a text from Hannah with a photograph of SPARTINA sailing up the creek. I text back "are you in town?". She replies that the photo was shot by a friend's brother, who sent the photo to his brother knowing that he likes sailboats. The brother sent the photo to Hannah, knowing she likes boats too. Hannah see the photo, says "I know that guy." It's a small world on the Eastern Shore.
Lunch at Mallard's, then an afternoon of laundry and drying out gear. A good time to clean the boat.
I get an afternoon text saying she is going to dinner with mutual friends at a sushi place than has live jazz, offers to pick me up at the dock. And so a nice, unexpected evening with good friends and music, and even more coincidence as the guy who sent the photo of SPARTINA to Hannah is playing in the jazz band. It is a very small world indeed.
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