Did an early morning paddle with my daughter - me in a SUP and she in a kayak. This time we headed down down Davis Creek. It was an easy paddle to start - with both the wind and waves pushing us nicely… but it was a nightmare coming back! Couldn’t stop to rest or even grab a drink as the wind and waves would turn you completely around and you would give up all the ground you made! Since I knew the wind and wave direction, and was carefully looking at the water, I was able to get myself to a calm area blocked by trees… hoping my daughter would follow, but she didn’t and really struggled. Took us longer than our normal morning paddle, but was a nice workout!
Century Club: Tom Dean
Monday, July 10, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Two friends came down for a sail - both are Band Directors, one I worked with at Mount Pleasant High School and one that I know through him. Not a whole lot of wind, but we were moving pretty good. Sailed up the Chester past Conquest Beach before turning back around. Lost some wind about 2:30, but it picked up again and we were able to sail all the way back up Langford creek to the marina. I pretty much manned the lines and let them take turns at the helm. Nice day sailing with experienced sailors and sharing stories and ideas!
Sunday, July 9, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Started off the day with a wonderful early morning paddle from the marina out and around cacaway island with my daughter then went for a morning sail with first mate, daughter, her husband and my grandson. Sailed out of the marina, down Langford creek to the Chester river. Daughter helped raised the sails, and had the full crew working the lines while I manned the helm. Son in law had a fishing line off the back, but no luck with that. Had to come back in for nap time, but a lovely morning to early afternoon sail!
Saturday, July 8, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Well, there was some wind today - several friends went out, but I had some family obligations, so my daughter and I got up early and went out paddling around Davis Creek at 6am before heading off to visit family. Upon our return, I went out again and paddled out Davis Creek into Langford Creek along the western shore for a while.... just to relax and wind down. Hopefully tomorrow there will be wind!!
Friday, July 7, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Went for an early morning kayak ride with my daughter. Wanted to do SUP, but the paddle was missing, so I got out the second kayak. Before taking off, we searched the marina - and found the paddle! Then we took off for Cacaway Island. Had to dodge a few crabbers, but really had very still water - very little rain, but a bit of fog (7:30 am) that eventually burned off. Had a lovely, albeit, warm paddle - saw a beautiful blue heron and a bunch of black ducks. Glad we did this early as it was a rather hot and humid day!
Thursday, July 6, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Not much wind in the forecast - 5 knots or less out of the south.... and a rather steamy day, so my daughter and i paddled (I SUP and she kayak) all the way to the head of Davis creek. Was a lovely paddle, saw a bunch of wildlife. Had to dodge a few boats, but really a nice time out on the water!
Monday, July 3, 2023 to Wednesday, July 5, 2023
Number of days:
3 days
The daughter decided that she wanted to see multiple fireworks - so we decided Rock Hall on the 3rd and Chestertown on the 4th. Headed out early - 9am on the 3rd for Swan Creek. Sunny 78 - 86 degrees. Winds were out of the south - so we motored down to Kent Island and when we made the turn towards love point, we raised the sail - although everything died soon thereafter. Arrived in Swan Creek about 3PM and picked up a mooring ball at Haven Harbour. Family joined us - dinghied in to get them - and we headed out after dinner to watch the fireworks from around the mouth of Swan Creek ... MISTAKE!! By the time we got out there - the wind was really kicking up - probably 2 to 3 foot swells. Got the anchor down and secure in about 10 feet of water.... watched the fireworks and then had a hell of a time getting that anchor back up! Finally got it up, mototored back to our mooring ball - took the family back to the dock and finally got to sleep about 1 am.
The next morning - the 4th - up early - left Swan Creek about 9:30 with a temperature of 78 and barometer at 29.8. Winds were light out of the west - but several storms came up - and we took advantage of the aftermath of the storms to raise the sails for a whil, before things dropped off again. Made Chestertown by 4 - and anchored near the cable crossing. Evidently, a catamaran took offense to us anchoring too close and pulled up and moved down a bit- yelling at us that we were too close (I left three boat lengths between us!). I was ticketed to see all of the small boats anchoring right next to them for the fireworks - especially happy that some were setting off fireworks in their direction!! Fireworks were wonderful (again, used dinghy to pick up family and ferry them back)
The morning of the 5th, we pulled anchor at 9 am for the journey back to the marina. Winds were almost non-existentent for the entire journey - but we did manage to get the sails up right past conquest beach. Warm day - 78 - 86, Got back to slip a little after noon! Fun fireworks journey!
Sunday, July 2, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Well, not a whole lot of wind, but enough to get the genoa out and sail a bit. We then stopped at Cacaway Island and told the dinghy over - but the DNR police came by and kicked us off (private island). We sailed down Langford Creek a ways, dropped some fishing lines and had some fun trolling and then anchoring to fish. Son in law caught a spot!
Friday, June 30, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Headed out early - winds were out of the south - 5-10 and sunny with warm temperatures (forgot to record that and the barometer). Got the Gennaker up and lazily sailed down the creek for a while before we ended up at Cacaway Island (Billy's Island as we call it) where we stopped and played and fished before heading back to meet up with Gigi. A very fun day!
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Got to the marina early for I had a few chores that had to be done... hanging curtains, sanding and painting some spots on the deck, oiling some teak - but got those jobs done fairly quickly so was ready to head out. The forecast was for Winds out of the west 5-10 knots and looking at the flags, that seemed rather accurate, but the winds also seemed to be falling off. Temperature was mid 70's - Mostly Sunny with the barometer 29.86.
As I was getting ready to depart, my dock neighbor came in and warned me that the winds were not was was predicted. He said he was barely moving and finally decided to motor. I headed out anyway - followed the sailing school out and got the main up fairly quickly (after ducking all the fishermen anchored in the channel!). Winds weren't terrific at first - sometimes as low as 3 knots - but was able to keep moving. Caught a couple nice breezes and moved across the Chester River basin between Langford and Reed creeks. Was thinking that it might be good to get the gennaker ready to fly back to the marina with the light winds - so I put the snap blocks out and got the asymmetrical on deck and ready.
Suddenly, I noticed the wind picking up - substantially. Winds well over 10 knots and a shift in the direction from West to North West. Checked the radar app to see if any storms were approaching - which there was none - but also noticed a special weather statement issued just 5 minutes earlier... with the alert about the wind shift and gusting winds - 10 to 15 with gusts to 20!. Needless to say, the gennaker wasn't going up! I decided to reef the headsail - so I moved the jib cars up, reefed in the headsail and things got very comfortable again. After a few more tacks, decided to head on back to the marina - as I needed to stop at the fuel dock and get some diesel before putting Bubbles away.
All in all, an enjoyable 4+ hour sail