In the USA, Memorial Day weekend (Last 3 day weekend in May) has become the official start of summer.  Most all work stops for 3 days and people flock to the beach by the car load. It is also the start of the real summer sailing season on The Chesapeake Bay.

With a new boat my wife and I had planned a first overnight on Aeolus II, our first.  I spent weeks going over charts and reading cruising guides.  But in the end I decided we would be more conservative, just in case.  We got up early (5:30am) on Saturday but by the time we loaded and had breakfast and made a stop by the cemetery (hey it is memorial day) it was just after noon on Saturday.  So we made a quick decision to stay close to home.  We opted for sailing to the next river, South River.  We had planned on staying at harness Creek but when looking at the charts I had a hankering for the next creek West, Crab Creek.  So Crab Creek it was to be.  South River is big on big power boats, and with those go monster wakes.  The winds were light but we sailed most all the way (about 10 miles) and averaged about 3.5 knots.  When we sailed past Harness Creek I couldn't help but noticed that it was over crowded with power boats.  Crab Creek had just a few boats and they were all sailboats.  We sailed in the tricky entrance and anchored about half way back.  Closest to us was a small raft with a catamaran.  We had grilled salmon and corn.  It was great.  As night fell we put in the bug netting and were not bothered at all.  But it was hot and humid.  We turned in early, nineish and tossed and turned until about midnight.  We learned we need another fan and I learned that the port bunk is not for me, I later moved to the starboard quarter birth and slept well.  The wife did not have as good a night.

We awoke about 7:30 but lounged in bed until almost nine!  We got up and I prepared to slip the anchor and get under way while Mary fixed breakfast, Bagels Lox and Cream Cheese and grapefruit juice.  We motored out of the tricky creek and headed for the Bay.  After passing the second mark the wind arrived and we cut the motor and sailed out the remainder of the river and across the Bay.  Just as we approached Thomas Point we crossed paths with a 30-32 foot boat, Jactar, and the two of us informally raced for the next hour.  We stayed anywhere from 150 yards to about 30 yards.  While I didn't beat him I didn't embarrass myself either.  It was a good hour or so.  But when I approached the Eastern Shore I gibed and set course toward West River.  When I looked over my shoulder there was Jactar.  So again we sailed, this time I led, for another hour or so and again the distance varied 30-150 yards.  And again, I felt good about my boat speed.

We decided to anchor in Rhode River, an old friend.  So, in the early afternoon we dropped hook in the anchorage area just past the green #7.  It was a nice afternoon watching the parade of boats come in.  Then we again grilled dinner, this time we had steaks.  After dinner I turned on the radio to learn that a big line of thunder storms was approaching. I thought we were not in the best place for possible 60 knots of wind as they said was possible.  I thought we might be better if we moved. So I hoisted anchor and powered out of the Rhode and out to West River.  Looking up to the sky I realized we would not make the slip so I went to a secluded area that would offer some degree of protection and anchored.  The storm passed through a few minutes later, the wind didn't seem as bad as predicted but I was glad to securely hooked to the bottom.  While we were anchored we listened to the marine VHF and watched the GPS show us swing back and forth.  On the VHF the CG said a 35' boat capsized 3 rivers North.  We were safe.

About 9:30 we decided to head to the slip, so we motored in.  We were tired and it was buggy so we decided to spend the night in a hotel.  Oh that shower was a god send.  In the morning we had a quick breakfast and went back and cleaned up the boat in a windless morning. 

While some might think the end of the weekend was a bust, we had a good time and that's what counts.  Tomorrow I am taking my good friend Joe Goodman out for the afternoon.

Joe McCary

Aeolus II

West River, MD USA

The Chesapeake Bay