It is a long drive from St. Mary's, PA
to the Chesapeake Bay, but Guy Stewart makes the drive at least once
or twice each year to go sailing. This time he did so on very short
notice when his weekend opened up at the last minute and he noticed
that the crew spots on Kelly IV were still open. After a
phone call to confirm the details, he drove to Annapolis, threw his
gear on board and crashed for the night.
Kelly IV departed her slip soon
after the Lady Sarah made room by her own departure for parts
unknown. Although the breeze existed, it was rather mild. Even
flying all three sails,
jib,
main and the 3/4 ounce
drifter,
was not enough to push
Kelly IV to her destination at Rock
Hall, MD several miles northeast of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge at
Annapolis. Almost an hour of my “fiddling” and our speed dropped
to well under 2 knots, so we dropped everything and motor sailed.
 |
| Guy steers Kelly IV past Kent Island |
It was still a gorgeous day with
striking blue skies and even the bay looked blue. Of course there
were a number of boats enjoying the day including what seemed to be a
military exercise north of us and west of Rock Hall. A freighter/supply ship appearing to be 300 feet long in battleship
grey forged out of the Patapsco River from Baltimore, crossed the
bay, then turned north as if to head for the Chesapeake – Delaware
Canal. Then a twin engine plane, also grey in color, began circling
and buzzing the ship. This went on for about half an hour while
Kelly IV motored northeast from the bridge towards the
southern entrance of the channel that leads north to Rock Hall.
Finally the aircraft flew west and out of site while the ship turned
west and retraced her trip from the Patapsco.
 |
| Aircraft buzzing ship off Rock Hall, Maryland |
That evening we dinghied into Rock Hall
for a walk through town, enjoyed a before-dinner ice cream and found
our way to the restaurants by the marinas. We had to walk as Kelly
IV was anchored in Swan Creek north of town and separated from
the harbor by a peninsula.
 |
| Guy in Rock Hall |
The restaurant was the same one we
enjoyed on a trip many years ago with Captain Troy Cain aboard his
Catalina 25, Persistent. The seafood feast didn't stand a chance
when faced with Guy's appetite!
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| Guy's Big Meal Finished |
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| Swan Creek Sunrise |
Sunday was another beautiful, if
windless, experience followed by a terrific sunrise. The motoring
trip back to Annapolis was a quiet, relaxing event that made the
rumbling engine seem almost soothing.
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| Waterman fishes north of Kent Island |
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