Distant lightning and thunder in the early morning hours. Wake to a clear morning, southwest wind. Sail off anchor at 2.6. Glance back as I pass the Island Packet to the east, the one that had a woman perched at the bow yesterday, and shake my head in disappointment. Seeing the name CLARA out of Nantucket, I recalled that I had met that woman a year and a half ago when she and her husband were anchored at Chestertown. In fact she had sailed with me. It would have been nice to reconnect. I find an email from her, send her a quick note asking if my memory was correct.
6:50 making 3.4 past the lighthouse. 7:00 entering Bardens Inlet, wind over the port quarter. Green marker "13" shows we are catching the last of the flood (helping) tide and I am glad to have the extra nudge to get up to Core Sound. A huge flock of white ibis flying in a "V" formation head south overhead to Cape Lookout.
7:50 pass red marker "28" with Harkers Island to the northwest. 8:00 see a distant marker ahead on Core Sound. There should be more markers between us that that faraway marker, but the are long gone.
Cool and grey, calmer water in the lee of Harker's Island. Spray coming aboard, round up to put on bibs and boots. 8:45 warmer, and overcast beginning to break up. 9:00 3.0 to northeast. 9:30 a little more wind with the town of Davis off the port bow.
10:00 dark clouds to the west and they seem to be coming our way. Round up to put on the dry suit and tuck two reefs into the main. As I am tying in the reefs, I see the car ferry out of David coming our way. I call the captain on the vhf to thank him altering his course to pass to the north. "Everything is good," he replies.
10:25 glad to see green marker "33" in place, but he next marker is missing, and the next one after that. 10:30 hear some thunder. Dark clouds sliding to the north.
10:45 Salters Creek Bridge in sight to the north, making 3.8. 11:10 enter Nelson Bay. Sky clearing to the north and it is getting hot. Strip off the dry suit. Motor sailing in light winds. More wind and back to sailing at 11:35. 11:50 sails down and under power.
A local fisherman is coming from the creek. I flag him down, shout across the water asking about the shallow entrance to the canal. He throws his engine into reverse, backs up along side SPARTINA. He asks about my draft, then gives me instructions. "First of all, ignore the navigation markers. They are worthless. Entering the creek you'll see a group of pvc pipes, keep them all to your port. Once past those markers, look ahead and you'll see another batch of pipes. Pass through the middle of those pipes and you'll be good." I thank him for the advice.
12:05 in the creek and under the bridge. Past the boat ramp we enter the beautiful tree-lined canal. It is just a great run up the canal, and I text my friend Chris Farr, thanking him for recommending the passage.
12:55 leaving the canal, 1:05 full sail with a north wind, close-hauled tacking up Long Bay. About eight tacks, making 4.6 under blue skies. Great sailing.
Round the point and fall off for an easy run down Old Canal. Turn south on Turnagain Bay, tuck up into the little creek on the east side. Anchor down 3:05.
Boom tent up and relaxing from a great and varied day of sailing. A motion to stern catches my eye. I turn around to see Dave in his Capri 18. We had been tied up near each other a few days earlier in Oriental. He had tried to sail Core Sound, going from north to south starting at Thorofare Bay. Not enough markers, too many shoals, he gave up and came back to Turnagain Bay. We talk for a few minutes, then he heads up Turnagain Bay to anchor for the night.
Evening. I get a message from CLARA. Yes, that was the woman who had sailed with me off Chestertown a year and a half earlier. And she reminded me of a detail I had forgotten.
It was an early morning of Downrigging Weekend. Tacking back and forth on the river, I passed by CLARA's bow and there was the woman perched up on the bow sprit. We exchanged greetings. She mentioned that she and her husband had stopped by my boat at the docks the day before. So many people there, I had no memory of them. We talked a bit as I sailed nearby, and I asked if she would like to come on board for a short sail. She began to say yes, then hesitated. "But I'm wearing my pajamas!" I tell her "that's ok." And she joined me for a brief and pleasant sail.
She told me in her message that at Cape Lookout she subconsciously recognized me and the boat, but could not recall why she might have known me, or from where. It was only when I messaged her about Chestertown that she remembered.
I am disappointed that neither of us made the connection in the bight.
31.15 NM
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