SSCA Annapolis “Gam,” September 27-29, 2013

The weather was beautiful, if windless. Perfect for this gathering of cruisers and those planning to go cruising. Kelly IV and I motored to and from the Gam {gam (găm) n. : A social visit or friendly interchange, especially between sailors or seafarers. Per the SSCA}.

The Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) is a great group for those who take their small boats along the coasts and across the world's oceans. It has similarities to the Great Lakes Cruising Club (GLCC) of which I am also a member. Both provide a number of excellent benefits including “local knowledge*” and local support (SSCA: Port Guides and Cruising Stations; GLCC: Harbor Reports and Port Captains) and online seminars (SSCA: Seven Seas University; GLCC: GLCCSchool) with great topics and instructors. As the two names suggest, SSCA covers salt water venues while the GLCC addresses the sweetwater seas of the Great Lakes.

I met sailors and trawler owners who are just starting out and others who have crossed several oceans. All were friendly and eager to share and learn from each other. We enjoyed seminars covering sail trim, rigging, SSB radios, travelling frugally on the ICW, towing and salvage, mail forwarding, NOAA weather forecasting, and a truly inspiring talk presented with wonderful photos by world cruiser and author, Beth Leonard. She is a friendly, easy going and highly skilled sailor with globe circling experience that includes the arctic and Southern Oceans as well as the tropics.

And like a few other trips this year and earlier (one, two, three, four), Kelly IV was nearly involved in a bit of a scrape. Upon returning to Kelly IV by dinghy on Friday night, I discovered that the catamaran anchored ahead of me seemed much closer than when I had left in the morning. As I rigged my anchor light I noticed the catamaran was in fact dragging so I hopped in the trusty pudgy and banged on the cat's hull as she dragged past Kelly IV. It was lucky that they missed Kelly IV when they dragged by as the cat was easily twice the weight/displacement of Kelly IV. Having a yacht that large bump into petite, little Kelly IV would have been ugly. The skipper ran to his helm station immediately and re-anchored so all was well in just a few minutes.

*local knowledge. First hand familiarity with a body of water that goes beyond what may be found on a nautical chart; as in: When arriving at a small, unknown harbor they hailed a local fishing vessel for local knowledge on how to negotiate the channel.   

Brian and Heather Sunset Sail, September 20, 2013

With sunset coming a bit earlier every night, we departed Annapolis Landing Marina as soon as we all could break away from our work. Kelly IV settled into her groove as Brian manned the helm.

It was a beautiful evening with a comfortable breeze in the low 70s. We had the sails drawing within a few minutes of exiting the creek and with the 12 knot southerly, Kelly IV settled into her groove as Brian manned the helm.

Brian and Heather Rosenkoetter

About halfway across the bay, Heather was ready to steer so Brian coached her on a few nuances and Heather took control. Kelly IV was sailing so smoothly and the moderate air was so relaxing that we all just settled in an enjoyed the beautiful day slipping through the water with only the gurgle of the waves burbling past the hull and the breath of the breeze wisping over the boat.

Our “adventure” for the evening was when we noticed a large freighter approaching the bridge from the north. As the southbound ships usually do, this one snuck up on us, we didn't see her until she was only a few miles away. Kelly IV was already in the main shipping channel and we had the time, just, to cross the channel and be out of the freighter's path. Just to be certain, we fired up the trusty Yanmar and motor sailed the next 5 minutes and few hundred yards until clear of the channel. The freighter passed astern with plenty of room, well over a mile away.

He missed us by a mile!

The balance of the evening's sail was spent on a beam reach literally sailing into the sunset, it was especially exciting when we spied the oversize full moon rising over the bay behind us. Sunset ahead and moonrise behind. A perfect end to a grand sail.

Greenbury Point Towers at Sunset

Guy Revisits Crab Feast at Rock Hall, September 6–8, 2013

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!

Guy's Big Meal Finished

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.

Waterman fishes north of Kent Island

Battle of Lake Erie - September 2, 2013

While I missed this epic re-creation, fellow Lake Erie sailor and GLCC member, Mark Gagyi sailed his boat into the gorgeous waters of western Lake Erie to film the re-enactment.  His photos are terrific:

Pride of Baltimore II

Pride of Baltimore II