Boating with Sunset Delight: 2021: Hampton VA to Annapolis MD

10 May 2021

Depart: Hampton Yacht Club VA 8:30

Arrive: Guarding Point Anchorage, Wicomico River, VA 5:00

Distance: 58.5 nm

Conditions: Wind & Rain

We looked at the radar first thing in the morning and decided to get underway as soon as possible to try to get ahead of the rain we could see coming our way. When we were ready to go, since we had some time before the rain arrived, we decided to stop for a pump out before heading on our way.

As we approached the dock for the pump out, Clark said, "I hope we fit!" It certainly looked tight! Fortunately, two men came out to help us with our lines. One watched the bow and the other the stern to give us their assessment as to how much space we had to squeeze in. Clark's skill with boat handling is pretty amazing. He shoe-horned us into the space and when done we had only 3 feet of remaining space.

Pump out went quickly and we were on our way north at 8:45! We set our target for tonight's anchorage as Mill Creek about 50 nautical miles away. Given the predicted weather, we had no idea if that choice would be viable or if we would need to bail out somewhere along the way.

To give me a break from traveling every day including Mother's Day, Clark held off on running the boat to test the stabilizer fix until we left today. He completed the fix yesterday and wanted to go out to test it immediately. I requested a break from any boat travel as my Mother's Day present. Amazingly, he complied.

Tunnel work is underway in the Hampton area.

Crane on barge almost looks like a rocket

Another crane and barge

Although most of the waves hit us head on, we did get to check out the stabilizers today on the very rough seas of the Chesapeake Bay. When the rain started, we had reduced visibility. As we traveled the conditions only worsened.

As we headed north, we could see the rain cloud waiting to greet us.

Rain ahead

Storm ahead

As we approached and entered the cold front, the winds picked up and the temperature dropped significantly. Spray crashed over the bow of the boat and reached as high as to cover the upper helm. The boat took on a rocking-horse motion as it worked its way over the 3-to-5 foot waves hitting us head on. Sane people would have bailed out.

Instead, we reduced speed to cut down the impact when the boat dropped off the top of the waves. Finding that action insufficient to ease our ride, Clark slowed down more to a mere 4.5 knots. Even so, we still took spray, so Clark decided to tack to stop taking the waves head on. That action produced more of a rolling motion instead of a rise-and-fall movement.

As we bounced along, we heard a distress call on the VHF radio. The owner of the sailing vessel "Transylvania" had pulled a very wet person from the water. Unfortunately, he could not rescue the person's kayak and personal belonging. He radioed the Coast Guard that a 15', gray kayak with a bag of personal belongings was adrift. Given the awful conditions, I could not help but wonder what nit wit was out in a kayak!!

Off to our port side, we could see another boat traveling north. Looking on Nebo, we could see that this boat "Blue Barnacle" happened to be an AGLCA looper. It surprised me to see someone else tackling the Chesapeake in the current conditions.

Using Nebo, Clark contacted them to say, "How's it going over there?" Eventually they replied that they had been too busy dealing with waves to respond but planned to bail out shortly. Clark told them that conditions would improve soon and later we discovered that they had kept going and chose an anchorage not far from where we ended our day.

As we approached the area where we planned to anchor, the skies brightened and the sun came out. Clark said we should be able to see a rainbow, but we did not find one. Just before 5:00, after 8 hours of being tossed about, we dropped anchor at Guarding Point off the Wicomico River. Clark chose this spot instead of the intended Mill Creek anchorage so he could see the rocket launch if it took place. Given the announcement that they required clear skies all the way to Bermuda, I figured there was zero-to-no chance of a launch. It was scrapped for tonight!

View at the anchorage ... dark clouds are mostly gone!

We managed to get a sunset photo.

Sunset at Guarding Point Anchorage

11 May 2021

Depart: Wicomico River anchorage, VA 8:35

Arrive: West River anchorage, Maryland 5:10

Distance: 75 nm

Conditions: 40s overnight, 60s during day, mostly cloudy

We had a calm night which was good and bad. When we woke in the morning, I thanked my lucky stars that I had no need to go out into the cockpit.

Just a small sample of the bugs
hanging out in our cockpit.

Morning sky at anchorage

After yesterday, we found the Chesapeake to be amazingly calm today. For most of the day we had little to look at to entertain us other than a few other boats and a couple of lighthouses.

Looper boat "Slo Pace" and
Tug pushing a barge

Lighthouse on the Chesapeake -
Wolf Trap Light

One of my pet peeves is seeing balloons floating on the waterways. It is harmful to sea life and bad for the environment. We saw one recently that was three balloons tied together floating along. Today, we saw a pink heart floating by!

As we continued on our way, we saw ...

Cove Point Lighthouse

Very noisy helicopter passing overhead

Later afternoon cloudy skies

The clouds produced a gorgeous sky with light from the sun streaming through.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge and tankers
in the distance

At 4:30 we turned off Chesapeake Bay into the West River to drop anchor for the night.

Osprey Nest on West River

West River Fuel Dock

Marina on West River

As we dropped anchor, we saw several sailboats playing in the area.

I cooked pasta as we traveled this afternoon and had sauce that Dorothy had given me, so I had dinner on the table in record time after we anchored. After dinner, we got to see a magical light show at sunset.