Decided to go to the Upper Chesapeake Sailing Facebook group meetup on Saturday October 28 at the Maryland Marina in the Middle River. Checked out the weather and decided to head out on Wednesday and try to make either swan creek or Fairlee creek (Fairlee preferred) for the first leg, stay for a day and then venture over to the middle river on Friday.
Wednesday the 25th - Left Lankford Bay marina a bit later than I wanted - got out of the slip, after provisioning, at 11:30. Temp was 62-75, Barometer was 30.30 and falling. Winds were out of the west at 5-10. Motor sailed down the Chester and saw a bunch of ships heading up to Chestertown for the Sultana Downrigging. Took pictures and shared them. Got the sails up around Kent island for almost the rest of the trip up to fairlee creek. Turned on the engine again about 5 - as the wind had petered out (of course, as soon as the engine came on and sails were down... the wind came back up!) because I wanted to make the anchorage before sunset. Got in - only two other boats in the anchorage. Had a lovely evening and a fun sail.
Thursday the 26th. Spent the day at the anchorage, doing some work on the boat - but also taking the time to kayak around fairlee creek a couple of times. Did both a morning kayak and an afternoon kayak... both for an hour or so. Prepped the boat for the next day sail.
Friday the 27th. Had the engine on at 9:45. Barometer was 30.14 and falling. Temperatures ranged from 65 - 78. Winds out of the southwest at 5-10 under partly to mostly cloudy skies. Headed out of Fairlee at a little after high tide and headed across the bay. Had never been to the middle river or on the other side of pooles island or anywhere near Hartt-Miller island - so this was all new. Not many boats out - but some fishing around pooles island. Lots of crab pots still out!! The wind died out right around the entrance to the Middle River... but I saw another Pearson 35 - a yawl model right at the mouth and we had a nice conversation (no wind). Managed to slowly make my way up the middle river to Frog Mortar creek, where I turned on the engine to get up to the marina and into the slip. Arrived at 2pm and checked in. First mate arrived that evening.
Saturday the 28th. Spent the time prior to the meet up on the boat and kayaking around the creek. The meet-up started at 3 and was a lot of fun. Got a Upper Chesapeake Sailing burgee which I promptly put up. Nice group of people!
Sunday the 29th. The first mate departed after breakfast to drive back home. I left the dock at about 9:30 under cloudy skies. Temp was 62-70... so a bit cooler with the Barometer at 30.04 and falling. Winds were out fo the NW at 10+ knots. Got the sails up right as I got out of From Mortor Creek and had a fantastic sail all the way back to Lankford Bay Marina. Was on a Port tack all the way down to right outside of Kent Narrows. Wind died off a little bit there, but came on strong again once I was around Eastern Neck island. Sailed all the way up the Chester and into Langford creek before dropping the sails and into the slip at about 5pm. Great sail - great weekend!