April 21
With new sails bent on I headed south along the East River below Mathews. My friend Eddie and the folks from the Old Bay chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association had organized a rally at Eddie's house on Mobjack Bay. Passing by I noticed tents on the lawn and being early, not much movement ashore. Continuing on into the bay with sail shakedown first priority.
The jib and mizzen set beautifully. The mail needed a bit of adjustment at the lacings, parrels and position where the halyard is belt to the yard. Experimented with reefing the main and found it to set well.
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| Setting up double reef |
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| Balanced and self-steering with bungees to tiller |
Returning that afternoon I discovered a concealed creek with a number of small craft that lay at anchor. A friend Harris ferried me to shore in his Whitehall and we spent the evening catching up by the fire with a large group of small boat sailors.
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| Harris's 'ferry' |
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| Gaff-rigged Eel |
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| Protected anchorage |
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| Jim on his Herreshoff Coquina |
That evening I anchored out away from the lights and came in early to pick up my friend Steve Peck who had come down for a sail. The group had planned to meet on the beach at New Point Comfort lighthouse. Leaving before the flotilla we reached the beach along with the Coquina. The rest of the boats turned back early and we snacked with Jim on the snow-white sand in the late cool, sunny morning.
Steve and I sailed the bay and made our way back in the afternoon as the sun dropped low. Just before we reached the East River mouth there was a weight shift and I caught myself with my right hand on the deck and cut the pad of my hand on a small shackle. Pretty deep cut. We taped it up tight and I opted to forego stitches. We agreed that it would be better to haul out with help for I was in no shape to pull lines. So back up the East River, out at the ramp, over to Gwynns Island to put Annie away and drive around to Eddie's to Steve's car. Not the original plan but a good alternative.
A sailor party was underway on our return with another shared meal highlighted with a large pot of Frogmore Stew... a low country boil of sausage, corn on the cob, potatoes, shrimp and Old Bay seasoning. Delicious to say the least.
April 28
Knowing that I would be returning to work in Georgia followed by an extended trip to New Mexico and Colorado, getting back out on the water seemed like the thing to do. Annie slid off the trailer at the Gwynns Island ramp early Saturday morning and we tacked in a SE wind toward Hole in the Wall. After an anchored snack break I decided to run back, request a bridge opening and continue into the Piankatank below the Middle Peninsula. The wind had freshened so a reefed main and jig were in order. Passing Fishing Bay I we continued west working up the Piankatank, looking for a anchorage that would be protected by both the south chop as well as a cold front that was forecasted to pass through around midnight.
I found a small island, Berkley, on the chart that appeared to be the inner remnant of an oxbow formation in the winding river. It gave us the protection we needed. I awoke in the early morning to a strong breeze from the NW that was mitigated by a few trees on shore. Back to sleep.
As dawn broke I went out into the cold morning and found the deck festooned with pollen and oak catkins that had been stripped from the trees. That cleanup was followed by a lengthy stripping of slimy grass off the entire length of Annie's rode. The extra scope made it that much more fun.
After granola and fruit breakfast I set off back down river well reefed in a brisk, cold northerly. Probably still in the 40s... surely with the wind chill.. it was 'no cleat ' reach. The gusts were ferocious and the main sheet was fully released often. Passing Fishing Bay and Stove Point it really picked up. I'm not clear on the nuances of the Beaufort Scale but there was white caps on every wave top. The destination, Jackson Creek and then Mill Creek to the Deltaville Maritime Museum was in view. The hard beat began with many quick tacks. Each time Annie crossed over she would plow in and white water would cover the bow and shoot over the dodger. I prefer to stand at the helm so there was a lot of ducking down.
Once the creek was made I wound around to the museum and tied up to the floating dock. Onshore I found John England preparing for the pre-dedication of the new boatbuilding shop.
Larry Chowning, a noted historian and author of books on deadrise and buyboats was due at 3. I stayed on, saw old friends and went out to eat. That night I opted to stay at the dock. It was quiet with a full moon shining through the port light.
Monday morning brought tempered winds and a great sail where the Piankatank meets the Chesapeake. I noted additional modifications to the sail rig and after putting Annie back on land, headed to Richmond to sort out them out. A two-weekend shakedown... success.
