The title is befitting of the day.
We left Deltaville on Sunday and made a nice run to a place on the Great Wicomico River named Sandy Point. Wind was right and we flew all 4 sails, jib, staysail, main, & mizzen. What a pleasure! We'd love to get a picture but that's something you just can't take of yourself underway... Sandy Point is a great place, nothing there but a few homes, 17 foot depth throughout the cove, and good protection with a good breeze. What more could you want for a stopover spot?!
We were up before the sun and got underway when we had enough light to see the numerous fish traps scattered about. It was blowing 15-20 and a slight chop on the Wicomico River. But...when we hit the Chesapeake Bay proper, boy did things ever get lively. We had 4-5 foot waves on the beam and nothing we could do about it because we had to get out past the numerous fish stakes and pound nets. The Chesapeake Bay does not swell like the ocean...no, it pounds you. It gives you the feeling you just hopped into a Maytag & are on something between agitate and spin cycle.
I had gotten some lubricant out of a compartment before leaving and in my ealry morning pre-coffee haze, I did not lock the cabinet. Now, there is a very good reason why every locker and cabinet on a boat has locks. They should be used accordingly. Heather was down below making me a cup of coffee (such a sweetheart) and I had just finished putting up the staysail and mizzen (we had great winds for it) and suddenly we got the sensation of being a flea on a wet dog. Everything was topsy-turvy...and remember that locker I left unlocked? Well, the insides began exploring the outside. Things were going everywhere...and as she tells it, this was the precise moment Heather was pouring the hot water into the french press. Poor Takara, the little cat, was on her way up the stairs to take a peek outside when we began undulating. All I heard was the sorriest, most pitiful meow you can imagine. The tomatoes and mangos were getting frisky in the fruit hammock...the were doing some sort of suspended hokey-pokey and they hokeyed too far one direction, didn't pokey at the right time and they were trying to form a new fruit, the tomango.
Now, mind you, this all lasted maybe 15 minutes. Maybe at most 15. But nonetheless, it was a dramatic few moments. While all this was happening, I noticed the Delta anchor was a slight bit wobbly so it was my responsibility to go forward and take care of said problem...55lbs swaying on the bow roller in those conditions is undesirable to say the least. Let me paint the picture for you...we've all seen pictures of the rock geysers where the water rushes in and SHOOTS through a hole in the top in a fantastic spray. Well, this is the effect that the water had when it interacted with the bowsprit this morning. I was sitting forward taking care of the problem when SWOOSH! Heather said she laughed when I disappeared amidst the spray and foam. I came back dripping, got into foulies (looked like a giant yellow condom) and retired to the helm where I tried to drink my coffee.
That 15 minutes being done, we changed course when we were free from navigational hazards, put up the mainsail and jib, flowed along at 6.5 to 7+ knots (which for us is screamin'!) The rest of the trip to Solomons, MD was fairly uneventful, peaceful, and great fun flying all sail possible.
By the way, it's our first time in Maryland. Neither of us has been to this state before. If you've been to Solomons and recommend anything specific, let us know. We'll stay here for a few days. |
