Anyone on the Chesapeake yesterday?

[Windermere]

Was anyone out on the Chesapeake yesterday (Saturday)? It seemed like perfect tug weather. It was 66 degrees with an overcast sky and gentle rain, a very welcome (to me anyway) relief from the D.C. heat and humidity.

 

[dclagett]

I guess you were up the Potomac River. Yesterday on the Chesapeake where we were boating on Thursday the winds were blowing sustained 35 to 40 knots. Not a good day for my 25 to be "on" the bay, I would need a bigger Tug.

 

[Windermere]

Ouch! And my buddy wanted to go sailing! I'm glad I was busy. I was in McLean and at a dog scentwork class in Gainesville where it was nothing like that wind-wise. I've been in those winds in the Caribbean, England, and when we sailed to Maine, but the most I remember experiencing in the Chesapeake was in the 25-30K range.

The conditions here made me really want to be out in one of the tugs, putting around in a warm, dry pilot house.

 

[Lone Star Ranger]

We were out on Friday afternoon. Went from Galesville (South of Annapolis) to Cambridge on the Eastern Shore. It was pretty uneventful, with nothing but rain. Since there was not much of a wind, the waves were about one foot. However, once we arrived (around 6 pm), the rain increased and then the wind and rain really increased that night. 😱 I got an earful from the skipper the next morning because she didn't sleep well due to the flapping burgee waking her up at night due to the strong winds! :roll:

I always tell folks two things about our boats:
1. Our boats will handle the Bay a lot better than the owners!!
2. You always have to monitor the Chesapeake weather, because it can go from "Wow, this is really fun", to "What the he## were we thinking"! :lol:

 

[rpmerrill]

Tred Avon River yesterday (30th). It was worth the wait.... beautiful day! Lunch in Oxford plus Ice Cream with the grandkids.

 

[dclagett]

Bay Ranger,

We keep DreamChaser on the Choptank at the Cambridge Yacht Club. I assume you are somewhere on the Tred Avon River. We'll keep a lookout for you as we travel on the Choptank or go to Oxford. We like the ice cream at The Scottish Highland Creamery also.

Richard

 

[Jim and Jackie]

Spent last week on the boat at our Kent Island slip while working summer camp at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center. We had to go home Saturday. It was rough moving stuff from the boat to the car because of the wind. When we went across the Bay Bridge the Bay was solid white caps with winds in the upper 20s gusting higher. Only saw one sailboat and it was motoring south. I’ve sailed in those conditions, but was glad I wasn’t out there in our tug.

Jim Demerest
Chessie 2010 R29

 

[Boatagain]

We spent Thursday the 27th through yesterday side-tied to the dock at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels. All through the night Friday there were 1-2 foot waves coming at us from abeam, powered by steady 25 mph winds, gusting to 30-35, in Fogg Cove, normally a very placid place. Needless to say, I did not sleep very well and our fenders and lines got one heck of a workout.

Btw, the CBMM is a wonderful place. I learned a ton about the Bay's history and all the different Bay-spawned boats. My wife and daughter can now tie off a cleat and whip out a bowline with the best of 'em. We tonged oysters and caught some crabs and generally had a blast while sloshing about in pouring rain exploring the town and the museum. I highly recommend a visit to the Museum and St. Michael's.

Early Saturday morning I was entertained by a sailboat crashing into the dock across the way as the strong winds blew. There, but for the grace of god, go I...but I will admit that I chuckled a bit on the inside 😳. I also learned that, with the exception of two of the oval portholes that leaked a bit, Gatsby is waterproof! Great weekend with interesting weather.

 

[rpmerrill]

Bay Ranger,

We keep DreamChaser on the Choptank at the Cambridge Yacht Club. I assume you are somewhere on the Tred Avon River. We'll keep a lookout for you as we travel on the Choptank or go to Oxford. We like the ice cream at The Scottish Highland Creamery also.

Richard

We are there all the time. It is our standard dinner cruise to Cappsize and Highland. I also work on the ferry part time
We'll keep our eye out for you.

Rich

 

[Windermere]

We were out on Friday afternoon. Went from Galesville (South of Annapolis) to Cambridge on the Eastern Shore. It was pretty uneventful, with nothing but rain. Since there was not much of a wind, the waves were about one foot. However, once we arrived (around 6 pm), the rain increased and then the wind and rain really increased that night. 😱 I got an earful from the skipper the next morning because she didn't sleep well due to the flapping burgee waking her up at night due to the strong winds! :roll:

I always tell folks two things about our boats:
1. Our boats will handle the Bay a lot better than the owners!!
2. You always have to monitor the Chesapeake weather, because it can go from "Wow, this is really fun", to "What the he## were we thinking"! :lol:

We bagged Friday because of the deluge, but it’s great to hear you guys went out in this weather - that’s one of the advantages I see in a tug! The other is the 90 plus degree days with high humidity which I find increasingly uncomfortable as the years pass. I’m assuming running with the AC going makes this comfortable too. Also, how late in the fall/winder do you guys use your boat?

I hope all these questions are not annoying. We are in Galesville too, at Pirates Cove, where we have been for the past 30 years. How long does it take you guys to get to Cambridge and St Michaels from Galesville?

There is a cute little R21 EC named Liberty Bell in the first slip. I wonder what their day sailing cruising range is at 5 - 6 knots.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Lone Star Ranger]

Bill,

We always monitor NOAA for small craft advisories, believe it or not, there were none on Friday afternoon, and since there was no wind, the ride was pretty smooth. We do love running with the generator and A/C going. It makes the trip a lot more comfortable, especially for the skipper, and I try to keep her happy! 😉 We normally don't winterize our tug until after Thanksgiving. The way we see it, if it's not freezing, we can be boating. Just turn the heater on. Plus, there is no one out in the bay or in the marinas that we want to visit, i.e. St. Michaels.

I don't mind the questions, keep them coming. We are at Hartge Yacht Marina along with another 31. I didn't know you or the 21 were at Pirate's Cove. We'll need to get together at the restaurant one evening, or Thursday's (if you don't mind the loudness). For planning purposes, I use 2 hours to St. Michaels, and 3 to Cambridge going about 12-13 knots, burning about 9 gals an hour. We are planning on being at St. Michaels next weekend (11-12 August), you are more than welcomed to join us, we are staying at Harbor Inn.

Our first tug was a 21. We could go from the Rhode River to Annapolis in about an hour and a half at 6 knots. The fun part was catching the waves coming into the Severen River and actually get to about 12 knots, but then quickly go back to six once the wave went past. :lol:

 

[tjiann]

We did an overnight from the South River (south of Annapolis) up to Rock Hall Sunday and Monday (yesterday) in our new R-23. The weather was awesome. Pretty rough heading up the Bay in the morning Sunday due to a stiff north wind coupled with an incoming tide. Turned the reported 1ft waves into much larger waves and churning conditions. Calmed down once the tide turned. The Bay was like glass all day yesterday. 🙂