Point No Point Light just north of the Potomac River As September drew to a close, we began prepping Orion for her first cruise in a couple of years, finally dropping the dock lines on a warm October Friday with our friend Steve aboard. It had been a busy couple of weeks getting her ready and finishing some sewing projects, but we felt ready to get underway. Although the weather moved from summer to fall and from no wind to gale force, we managed to make the most of our week long trip.
Orion under sail up the bay Taking Her Out
The sun was shining and both sails were completely unfurled, pulling Orion north up the bay from Hampton. This trip was long overdue, Orion's 2012 trip having been sidelined by the engine rebuild. It was also the first long trip on the newly rebuilt engine. So, it felt a little like a shakedown cruise, since we had almost taken root in our slip in Joy's Marina in Hampton over the past 2 years. Dave had remounted the secondary anchor and rode on the bow, the generator in its box on the aft deck, 2 jerry cans full of diesel on the stern rail and extra fenders just in case. However, it was Steve's dinghy we were towing on his bridle, with his outboard and grill mounted on the stern rail, replacing some essential supplies of ours that were currently stowed on Orion Jr in LaBelle. With Orion fully provisioned for the week with food and water, we were ready to enjoy a week or two of exploring the Bay.
The sun was shining and both sails were completely unfurled, pulling Orion north up the bay from Hampton. This trip was long overdue, Orion's 2012 trip having been sidelined by the engine rebuild. It was also the first long trip on the newly rebuilt engine. So, it felt a little like a shakedown cruise, since we had almost taken root in our slip in Joy's Marina in Hampton over the past 2 years. Dave had remounted the secondary anchor and rode on the bow, the generator in its box on the aft deck, 2 jerry cans full of diesel on the stern rail and extra fenders just in case. However, it was Steve's dinghy we were towing on his bridle, with his outboard and grill mounted on the stern rail, replacing some essential supplies of ours that were currently stowed on Orion Jr in LaBelle. With Orion fully provisioned for the week with food and water, we were ready to enjoy a week or two of exploring the Bay.
Crewmember Steve studies the weather Those southerly breezes that filled the sails on Friday morning as we rounded Old Point Comfort evaporated by noon, causing us to furl the sails. And there they would stay for a while. The weekend was unseasonably warm, and the winds almost non-existent as we anchored off Sandy Point in the Great Wicomico. Having studied the weather for the next week (a job assigned to crew member Steve), we opted to skip the Annapolis Sailboat Show, since the weather was going to turn nasty, forcing us to race up there and miss time in Solomons, where we wanted to connect with family. The light winds of Friday and Saturday were going to literally be the calm before the storm as the winds were forecasted to build into a Sunday night to Monday storm. So, we decided to abandon Annapolis and instead take a leisurely trip south from Solomons after the storm and our visit, using what we could of the forecasted light north winds to visit various anchorages and ports in the southern bay. Perfect!
Steve stands watch over the grill at Sandy Point As the sun set over Sandy Point that first night, Steve and Dave finished grilling supper and we enjoyed the warm evening by watching the nautical Master and Commander movie in the cockpit. As the sun rose the next day, we were under way in flat calm conditions that followed us across the Potomac, turning this mighty river into a placid lake. Since Dave's cousins weren't available until Sunday afternoon, we motored past Solomons up the Patuxent to beautiful St. Leonard's Creek. Despite the weekend boat traffic to and from Vera's Beach Resort just up the creek, there was plenty of room to anchor without feeling crowded by the others who were enjoying their weekend here. With the temperatures in the upper 80's, Cathy needed little convincing to go in the water to check the prop. Having been cleaned by our friend Sue only 17 days earlier, it was dismaying to see the growth that had developed in the interim. After a few dives, it was clean again and the zinc was still looking new. Cathy took a tour around the waterline to clean a little growth, but confirmed that most of the bottom looked good. After swim platform showers, we grilled some hamburgers and enjoyed another nautical theme movie, Captain Ron. Hopefully, our neighbors weren't disturbed by our laughter.
At the Tiki Bar With only a five mile trip to Solomons on the plate, we had a late start Sunday morning after exploring St. Leonard's Creek by dinghy. By noon, we were on a mooring at Zahniser's. After much anticipated hot showers on shore, we were joined by Don, Cindy and the kids, the latter having grown so much it reminded us that we had been away too long. We spent the late afternoon at an outdoor table at Solomon's famous Tiki Bar, catching up on the intervening two years. After supper, we said our goodbyes, thinking (naively), that we we would be heading out Tuesday for points south.
Dave and Steve walk under gray skies at Solomons But by Monday morning, the forecast was becoming more dire for the coming week. There was going to be rain – lots of it. And those light north winds? There were no longer light. By Tuesday's forecast, gale force winds were in the forecast for parts of the bay. (Gale?!) So, Tuesday's departure slipped to Thursday. Then Friday. Then Saturday. No, maybe Monday. Well, maybe Friday again. Maybe Steve should just rent a car and drive home so he could make it back in time to get back to work on Tuesday. We dodged rain showers to go to shore for walks and showers. It was not going to be the week we planned. But they rarely are, are they?
North winds produced following seas for our trip down the bay. After waking to rain pouring on the deck on Friday morning, Cathy figured it was literally a washout, so she stayed snuggled into bed. However, Dave was not deterred and studied the weather more closely. The showers were supposed to pass and the forecast was for 15 to 20 knots from the North with 3 to 4 ft seas. That was a forecast we would avoid with Jr, but should be no problem for Orion. The gale force winds were gone and, if we stayed, the conditions north of the Potomac were going to get worse before they got better. So, we made a quick trip to shore and headed out. The conditions were a little better than forecasted. As we rounded Drum Point, we motorsailed on a furled headsail past the Navy targets, crossing the Potomac. Although it was no longer the flat lake that we crossed on the way north, it wasn't a raging fury either. We surfed down the following seas, making good enough progress that we made for Fishing Bay on the Piankatank for the night. If all went well, we could top off the fuel tanks in the morning at the marina before leaving. By 6pm, we were anchored with only 2 other boats in this huge anchorage. The winds had settled and it was a calm night. But Saturday had us leaving in the rain again. Although we pulled up to the fuel dock, it was soon clear we weren't going to get a break in the weather and we didn't want to risk fueling in the rain. With the winds blowing 20 out of the northeast, we slogged our way out of the Piankatank, rarely even making 4 knots until we turned south to make our way down the bay. By then we made up for lost time, seeing 8 and 9 knots occasionally, again motorsailing on a furled headsail.
Just after 3pm, we made our way up the Hampton River, having averaged 6 knots over the trip. We had managed to see a hazy sun during the afternoon, but as we took a detour down to Sunset Creek Marina to pump-out, the rain began again. Also, we were arriving at high tide, which meant that the docks at Joys were underwater when we pulled back into our slip. (The strong northeast winds and spring tides can make this a more routine occurrence.) At any rate, it was good to be back. Steve even claimed to have enjoyed the trip. Also, the engine performed like a dream. So, Orion's as good as she ever was.
Powerboat enclosure on a friend's boat Boat Stuff
Our “shakedown” cruise revealed a few things that needed attention, but luckily not too many. The deck washdown hose had to be replaced. Although Cathy re-stitched the bimini before departing, she didn't anticipate that a bimini strap would break. She was able to repair it underway and the repair held. One of the main saloon portlights dripped, meaning it needs to be sealed again. (Of course it has to stop raining to do that.) In general, things looked good.
Also, before leaving Dave had installed a new automatic charging relay, which combines the 2 battery banks for charging purposes and separates them when no charging source is present. Since we were “off the grid” during our trip north, we got to try out this capability and it worked as planned.
And the sewing work for other people continued. Cathy made a rear enclosure for a friend's powerboat and a windshield cover for another boat. We tested out Steve's stackpack during a couple of sails on the bay, and with a few tweaks of the lazy jacks, it seems to be working well. It's all been a learning experience, but the results seem to look pretty good.
Our “shakedown” cruise revealed a few things that needed attention, but luckily not too many. The deck washdown hose had to be replaced. Although Cathy re-stitched the bimini before departing, she didn't anticipate that a bimini strap would break. She was able to repair it underway and the repair held. One of the main saloon portlights dripped, meaning it needs to be sealed again. (Of course it has to stop raining to do that.) In general, things looked good.
Also, before leaving Dave had installed a new automatic charging relay, which combines the 2 battery banks for charging purposes and separates them when no charging source is present. Since we were “off the grid” during our trip north, we got to try out this capability and it worked as planned.
And the sewing work for other people continued. Cathy made a rear enclosure for a friend's powerboat and a windshield cover for another boat. We tested out Steve's stackpack during a couple of sails on the bay, and with a few tweaks of the lazy jacks, it seems to be working well. It's all been a learning experience, but the results seem to look pretty good.
Doug follows Dave's routes down the East Coast Friends and Family
In addition to connecting with Dave's cousins, we made a road trip to visit Cathy's family in NC. One highlight of that trip was taking in a movie under the stars with Cathy's sister and brother-in-law at their church in Winston-Salem. It was a beautiful weekend for a visit with Cathy's mom and sisters, and, as always, good to spend time with them.
Back in Hampton and during our trip north, we enjoyed spending time with our friends on the dock and meeting new ones. There was another cruising couple, Doug and Lisa on Carefree, who spent the summer at Joy's, and have since headed south for the winter ahead of the fall rush. Dave spent an afternoon suggesting some routes and places to stay on the trip south to Florida. Another couple, Judy and Bob and Cringle, joined us in the rain in Solomons while we were both on Zahniser's mooring balls. They were equally anxious to get underway for points south. It won't be long before we will be moving further south as well.
In addition to connecting with Dave's cousins, we made a road trip to visit Cathy's family in NC. One highlight of that trip was taking in a movie under the stars with Cathy's sister and brother-in-law at their church in Winston-Salem. It was a beautiful weekend for a visit with Cathy's mom and sisters, and, as always, good to spend time with them.
Back in Hampton and during our trip north, we enjoyed spending time with our friends on the dock and meeting new ones. There was another cruising couple, Doug and Lisa on Carefree, who spent the summer at Joy's, and have since headed south for the winter ahead of the fall rush. Dave spent an afternoon suggesting some routes and places to stay on the trip south to Florida. Another couple, Judy and Bob and Cringle, joined us in the rain in Solomons while we were both on Zahniser's mooring balls. They were equally anxious to get underway for points south. It won't be long before we will be moving further south as well.
