This is a travelogue for those interested in sailing the lower
Patuxent River in Maryland. It is long-winded but I hope some
of you will find it interesting.
On June 25th my wife and I left at noon on a vacation trip to
Solomons Island, Maryland towing #626 (she and I have got to
agree on a name for this boat!). The plan was to sail if
there was ENOUGH wind, visit the museum and eat seafood if
there wasn't wind and NOT to have any strick schedule NOR do
anything either of us wasn't in the mood for. We did some
last minute shopping on the way and took our time.
Stayed at the Holiday Inn Select during our stay, more than
adequate.
Arriving at dinner time, we found a place to stow the boat and
trailer (roads in Solomons itself are very constricted) and
went in search of a seafood dinner. (Good seafood is hard to
find in the beautiful mountains of Virginia, so we are always
ready for seafood). Dined at the Captain's Table. The name
suggests good seafood and service and we were not
disappointed. Five star restuarant in our opinion.
Saturday noon we put the boat in the water at the Navy
Recreation Facility (available to Military, retired Military
and DOD civilians only. HOWEVER there is a state run ramp
about 1/2 mile away, arrive early in the day as trailer
parking fills up.
Just to put things in the right frame, I am still a novice
and have limited experience in winds above 15 mph.
Helen is a newbie "passenger" and unfortunately the times she
has gone with me there has been a distinct LACK of wind.
"Ghosting along" was her best "heavy wind" experience. She
doesn't like to touch the tiller if I am not within reach.
She does NOT go forward. She doesn't like me "scampering all
over the boat". Anything over about 10 degrees heel makes her
nervous. Pitching or rolling are not her most favorite
activities. I have been wanting Helen to have a "great
sailing experience" so she will want to go, not say "NO!"
So, Saturday noon there were forecast 10 mph winds and sunny.
We got things rigged, and motored the short distance out
of the inlet where the ramp is located. I raised the mainsail
while Helen reluctantly handled the tiller. I of course had
mis-rigged the mainsheet and that really helped the situation,
and the topping lift was tangled with the mainsheet. I won't
relate all of the details, but the wind IMMEDIATELY picked up
to an estimated 15 with strong random gusts which caused too
much heel for me to be comfortable when I was clambering
around the mast and Helen was steering. Helen was definitely
not inspired by the situation. The wind was up river and we
were trying to go downriver to clear Point Patience to our
starboard and go under the bridge on our port without hitting
anything (piers, other boats, etc). Anyway too make a long
story short, Helen was scared, I wasn't comfortable and we
dropped sail and scurried for the inlet. I corrected my
rigging error. The small daysailers were having a blast, and
I wish I had one of them as crew or Captain for the day. As
soon as we had the boat back on the trailer the wind died down
and we debated going back out. Marine radio (which is
available outside 24 hours at the Visitors center said 18 mph
with gusts to 25. I am however sure we just hit the river at
the wrong time and were not ready for what we found. Helen
left it up to me, but I decided that was enough for the day.
So, we went sightseeing, spent the night an hour away with
Helen's mother and returned Sunday afternoon.
Sunday's forecast was near 90 deg 10 to 15 mph winds, gusting
to 20 mph, but with widespread thunderstorms and periods of
heavy rain. This was vacation, so we went to the Maritime
Museum instead. Fantastic museum. Flora and fauna of the
Chesapeake and boats and boating. Capped by a complete tour
of every nook and crany of the Drum Point Light House which is
retired and has been moved a couple of miles from Drum Pt to
the Museum Grounds. This museum alone was worth the trip.
Had a disappointing meal that evening, although the service
was good and the view of the harbor was beautiful and
peaceful.
Monday we put the boat in and I made sure everything was
rigged properly and ALL lines were clear of each other and we
shoved off. SUCCESS. Forecast was 10 to 15 with widespread
heavy thunderstorms in the evening. We left the inlet at 1215
with mainsail reefed and jib up. Winds were out of the south
about 10 to 12 mph. We sailed west across the Patuxent River
to get around Point Patience (Point Patience evidently got
it's name because it is difficult to weather with adverse
winds). We had no problem because the wind was from the south
and fairly flew the 1 mile to the west side of the river. I
considered raising the main to full, but decided to wait and
see what the wind was like after the point. Then tacked and
sailed about 1 3/4 miles to the northeast, passing Pt
Patience. The winds picked up to about 15 with strong gusts,
so I chose to remain under reefed main and jib. We tacked and
sailed about 1 1/2 miles northwest. We had decided not to
anchor out for the night due to the thunderstorms, so decided
we had better head back since we would have head winds. I had
taken us about 1 + 30 to reach that point. Helen was having a
great time, and so was I. We headed back and even with my
inexperience and not the best techniques were able to retrace
out steps to the north side of the point in 4 tacks. Wind at
this point I estimated to be 12 gusting to 18(?). Three more
tacks put us half way around the point. Helen was still
having fun although we occassionally took a good heel when
bigger gusts came thru. Then Helen noticed a sailboat,
probably a 25 to 30 footer try to round the point, do a 360
and head back for the public ramp. Wind had picked up to high
teens with gusts above 20. (Wx underground history said 15mph
G 21.9 mph at 4 PM). Another tack and I decided we might make
it around but a thunderstorm appeared to be building so we
dropped sail and motored back to the inlet. Haven't modified
my sail for CDI yet, so haven't installed it. Didn't rig a
jib downhaul but will soon if I don't get that CDI installed.
I got Helen to steer while I loosened the jibsheet, but she
did't want me to go forward while she steered, so she pulled
the jib down from the forward hatch and placed the small
anchor on it on the vberth. Shortly later while motoring the
wind increased and the jib threw the anchor off, so I went
forward and took it down.
All in all a GREAT sail. About 9 mile trip as the river
flows, somewhat more counting tacks, and sailed all but the
last 1 1/4 miles. Good training for me, confidence building
for both of us and a beautiful day on the water. The Potter
19 is a very comfortable boat when you have things under
control. Getting off on the right foot makes a big difference.
Had dinner on the Solomons Pier, I would recommend the Stuffed
Rockfish. Rockfish with crabmeat stuffing (NO filler). Great
service, another 5 star experience.
Helen wanted to go out again Tuesday morning (probably just
for me), and so did I, but I didn't want to spend half the day
sailing, then load the boat, then drive 6 hours home because I
knew Wednesday would be busy doing some chores I needed to do
before going back to work Thursday.
Lessons learned:
-recheck preparations before leaving the pier
-rig a jib down-haul (I know, I know it's been said 100
million times!)
-sailing is a blast
-Solomons is great-interesting museum-great seafood-great
sailing
-rent a slip for a few days, making it easier to get on the
water quicker
If you have the opportunity, visit Solomons Island, it is a
great place.
--Solomons weather:
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=Prince+Frederick%2C+md
--Chart: ADC Central Chesapeake Bay Chart
--Calvert County and Solomons info:
http://www.chesbaynet.com/calvert.htm
Ted Duke
WWPs19 #626
Mountains of Virginia