We had planned to stay in Shaw Bay another day, but looking at the forecast for Friday, we wanted to have more northerly protection and be in a position to head directly south Friday morning. We moved up to Crab Alley in Kent Island. I have never been here before and it is pretty quiet and protected. We expected rain but by mid-afternoon, it was still dry.
Friday predicts strong 20 knot winds out of the north. We hope to ride those down the bay back to Solomons.
From West River, we headed over to St. Michaels to meet some friends for lunch. We anchored outside the harbor and dinghied into St. Michaels. After lunch we hoisted the anchor and headed up the Wye River and anchored in Shaw Bay. This is a very pretty anchorage with bald eagles, owls, kingfishers, great blue herons, and more. Definitely will come back. We anchored close up on the western shore.
While in Annapolis, we investigated buying new sails. After making our decision, we arranged to meet the sailmaker in Spa Creek to get some measurements. In the morning the wind was too stronge to reasonable drop and raise the sails, so we took advantage of the wind to sail on down to West River via long broad reaches. We had a beautiful sail right into the river. Austin Powers, of North Sails, met us there and I picked him up in the dinghy.
We dropped both sails while on anchor and he took all the measurements that he needed. Productive day.
NOTE: We anchored just passed Pirates Cove Marina. The anchored is great, but the bottom is VERY muddy.
This morning we pulled up anchor and sailed out from behind Gibson Island and sailed a ways up the Magothy. Eventually, we turned around and sail back out and started south in the Bay. The wind as out of the N with significant swell, so we took two long broad reaches (one across the Bay heading east and the other heading SW through the bridge and into the Severn. Eventually, we had to turn on the motor as we headed further up the Severn. We anchored in Round Bay.
AFter a minor emergency trip to Patient First via Uber, we headed up to the Magothy River and anchored behind Gibson Island. The anchorage was a little croweded when we arrived, but we found a good spot. Most of the boats left before dark. One of our favorite spots.
Today, we moved over to Spa Creek so we could more easily pick up my niece Angie and her husband Stuart. We took a mooring and picked them up with the dinghy. We left the dinghy on the mooring while we went sailing. We have a fun sail and everyone had a good time. We returned and picked up our original mooring.
Took an midday sail from Back Creek out in to the Bay for a daysail while we had good wind. Wind was blowing about 15 knots. Beautiful sail. Came back and took a slip at Bert Jabins.
I wanted to meet some vendors in Annapolis, so we crossed the bay to Annapolis and took a mooring in Back Creek.
After leaving the Little Choptank, we headed up San Domingo Creek, which is on the south side of St. Michaels. We anchored here two nights and dinghied ashore for groceries.
From Solomons, we headed out in about 15-20 knots out of the north. When we turned north up the Bay, we tacked about 2 hours before running out of energy. We could barely get passed Cove POint. We dropped the sails and started motoring toward the Choptank. I noticed some friends from the Bahamas on AIS and we agreed to anchored near each other in the Little Choptank. Another beautiful anchorage and opportunity to catch up.
We stayed on anchor here for two nights.