Morning comes with a cold drizzle. Dampness everywhere. And I had forgotten to put the line around the mast to wick away the water running down into SPARTINA. So more water in the boat, just a couple cups of water, but enough to get a corner of the bivy and sleeping bag wet. Put on the drysuit. Tuck away the sleeping gear, I'll have to deal with it later.
10:30 I hear tires crunching down a gravel road, then a voice calling out. "Are you ok?" I look out the back of the boom tent to see a man standing on a dock. He must live in one of the homes up on the cliff. I tell him I am fine, just waiting out the weather. And I thank him.
12:15 I hear another voice shouting out the same question. "Are you ok?" I can't blame them for checking on me, a little boat in a tiny cove for three stormy days. "I am fine, thank you for checking on me."
1:00 something changes. Cool, dry air seeps into the boom tent. Instantly the atmosphere feels different. And just like that, the storm is gone.
I quickly start tucking away gear - the books, the stove, the cup for hot tea - and break down the boom tent. The small craft warning has not expired yet, so I tuck in two reefs just in case.
1:25 sail off anchor, goodbye to Rollins Cove! The boat is messy, and there is mud up forward from the anchor. Not happy about that. And a little swarm of flies arrives. But I am happy just to be sailing. Outside the cove the water is calm, shake out the second reef. Making 2.6 down St. Leonards Creek.
1:50 3.7 with wind over the port quarter.
2:25 slip out onto the Patuxent River, shake out the second reef. A bit of blue sky mixed with the overcast. 2:55 I can pick out the marker at Patience Point as some dark overcast moves back in. 3:15 round Patience Point. Pleased to see the tide is running my way, doing 5.8 with good wind and the helpful tide.
A gusty run to Solomons Island, more and more blue skies showing to the north.
Rounding Sandy Point into the channel to Solomons Island, we turn up into the wind. Make several tacks between the point and the shoal, then one last tack below Ship point into the anchorage.
Anchor down 4:15 Solomons Island. Set up the boom tent, spread out the sleeping gear to dry. Enjoy the first bit of sunshine that I have seen in a few days.
9.6 NM
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