Do All Rendezvous' Come With A Wind Storm?
In October of 2001 Sam, Sharon, and the 36' Europa Dr. Nick, survived an 8 hour windstorm as we headed north to Solomons Island from the CBGBOA rendezvous at The Tides. The outcome - a vow of NEVER AGAIN! Wrong; the windstorm of October 2003 retested the Nicholsons and the new 42' Dr. Nick.
Because of some maintenance to perform on the boat, a radar/plotter software upgrade and repair to the stern light, we departed Oxford, MD for the trip to the Wye River about 2 hours after the rest of the fleet. As the work progressed we noticed the wind starting to build from the NW and the white caps on the Tred Avon River, but that didn't stop us from completing the tasks and staying longer to enjoy chili cheese hot dogs from the Oxford Market; a big mistake.
Finally, off we went into the small craft warning conditions, ready to dazzle the fleet with our predicted log prowess. Upon turning into the Choptank River we entered our start time on the log sheet and stowed it. The waves and cool wind rapidly started soaking the whole boat with "spray". After about the sixth splashing Sam, the Captain, and Sharon, the Crew, headed for the comforts of the warm cabin with its lower helm station, leaving the predicted log sheet topside. The cabin was secure though the hull was pounding as we proceeded westward. From previous experience in dealing with thin water at Knapps Narrows' west entrance, we decided not to risk running aground in the conditions and thus proceeded around the southern tip of Tilghman Island.
This course caused us to enter the Chesapeake Bay from the Choptank without the protection of any land mass until we would reach the lee of Poplar Island. Even though this transit took less than an hour, it seemed like an afternoon. One series of waves caused the dish cabinet to open and throw its contents randomly about the cabin. Sharon was not happy. Another series knocked the Sharon's kayak off of its mount on the port side bridge deck to become held vertically over the side by one remaining strap. She became even less happy.
An interesting navigational aspect on this portion of the trip was the presence of numerous crab pots and three large fixed fish nets. The positions of these as well as the depth contours served to keep us further west than anticipated and this would have caused the approach to the Poplar Narrows passage to have been made with the uncomfortable seas abeam. Not wanting to dodge another set of flying dishware, we decided to place the seas astern and head east for a short run toward the western shore of Tilghman Island and then turn toward the north with seas on the port bow for the run to the Narrows. This strategy worked and soon we were in the relative calm of the lee of Poplar Island. Sharon manned the helm and sent Sam out to secure the kayak properly. The objective here was to both save the kayak and to rejoin the fleet the kayak looking shipshape, as if nothing had happened.
Upon leaving Poplar Island astern the transit through the Eastern Bay to the Miles River was, while not smooth, a significant improvement in comfort. Once we entered the Wye River all calm was restored and soon we came to the anchorage at Pintail Point. Though the use of the rope rode Danforth anchor was recommended, Sam decided to employ the long trusted CQR Plow and its all chain rode. The result was not marked with any impressive splash, but rather the mumbling of some salty comments by Sam (very much the same as those used in the similar situation in October of 2001) when the plow would not deploy because its chain had become tightly packed in the chain locker. Sharon deftly shifted to the Danforth which kept us all safe and secure. Sam then proceeded to employ a few more salty comments as he went below to untangle the severely compacted chain. Once completed and cleaned up, we went ashore to rejoin our fellow boaters for drinks and a fine dinner at the beautiful Manor House.
Oh, about that predicted log sheet; it remained incomplete but dry in the teak locker on the otherwise soaked flying bridge.
NEVER AGAIN? Not! There are lots more Chesapeake Bay rendezvous to enjoy…