Sail off anchor 7:30, not a cloud in the sky. Cold, strong north wind. Borderline sailing with gusts out of the north at 24. I can sail cross wind or down wind up to 28, but 24 into the wind? Not sure. Full sail, wearing dry suit with a wool sweater underneath.
7:40 jibe on to the Little Choptank, making 5.0 with wind on the beam. 7:30 round up off of Brooks Creek, tuck in the first reef.
8:15 tack, 8:25 tack, making 3.8 somewhat in the lee of Hills Point. 8:40 tack. 8:55 tack.
8:55 tack, leaving the lee of Hills Point, making 4.5 getting full force of the wind and waves. 9:10 tack. Getting lots of spray on board and see water accumulating forward on the bunk flat and in the cockpit.
9:45 tack and pass Hills Point. 10:00 tack, 10:30 tack. I can and do bail out the cockpit while sailing. I cannot leave the tiller to bail out the bunk flat. With each tack, water sloshes from one side to the other. The water lifts the watertight duffels off the deck, and whatever I have tucked behind the duffels - normally secure there - slides out with the water. Dock lines, water bottles, sponges, the fish cleaning board swash port to starboard and back as I come about. Even that orange that I had tucked away for a mid-morning snack.
11:00 tack, 4.4. 11:20 tack, pick out a green marker at the mouth of Black Walnut Harbor. 11:40 tack. 11:55, tack, less wind. 12:15 a final tack towards the harbor.
12:50 main and jib down, under power. I motor up the narrow channel and a branch to turns to the west. Too shallow and too many pilings. Must have been crab shanties or maybe docks here back in the day. Turn back east and then north on the main channel.
Anchor down 1:15. Spend the afternoon drying out and re-organizing all the gear up on the bunk flat. Put up the boom tent and relax in the evening.
24.04 NM
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