Old Friends and Blue Angels, May 19-20, 2014

Whitehall Creek feeds south into Whitehall Bay and is the home of good friends, Don and Donna Hekler. They have befriended many Pittsburgh sailors, thanks to an introduction by Bill Paviol many years ago. Donna fondly refers to us as “her boys.” I was looking forward to this day as I'd be sailing into their waters in Whitehall Creek. It is a well-protected anchorage with lots of room and a beautiful view that looks down the creek, across Whitehall Bay and into the Chesapeake Bay.

And best of all, I get to visit with Don and Donna!

Marshy Creek to Whitehall Bay

There was little wind as Kelly IV and I motored out of Marshy Creek which was fine with me as it made it easy to closely follow the track we made the night before. It was the only way I could be certain of keeping Kelly IV off the bottom in the shallow Marshy Creek. Given the light air, we motor-sailed out of Prospect Bay, but had enough breeze from the north to shut down the engine when Kelly IV turned southwest into Eastern Bay. Although much quieter than the boisterous sail of the previous day, we still enjoyed a magnificent morning sluicing through the flat waters towards Bloody Point.

Sailing on the north wind

As the minimal breeze remained north and tapered to almost nothing, the trusty Yanmar was called back on duty for the balance of the trip north into Whitehall Creek.

Blue Angels sail with Noel from Whitehall Creek to the Severn River and back

On the 20th, Noel Gasparin joined me for a terrific experience witnessing the Navy's Blue Angels as they practiced for the Naval Academy's Commencement Program the following day. As the chartlet shows, Kelly IV merely trekked back and forth across the Severn River as we ogled the roaring jets. The mainsail remained furled and the genoa was sheeted tightly, as if close-hauled. In the light 5-8 knot wafts, this permitted easy control as Kelly IV sailed a leisurely 2-3 knots, pinching up and falling off as needed to avoid the other boats that filled the river, rubbernecking the blue and gold aircraft roaring overhead.

Blue Angel overhead as Kelly IV sails the Severn River

It was a grand spectacle to enjoy as the fighters thundered only a couple hundred feet above us, appearing to be close enough for the pilots to reach out and touch Kelly IV's masthead. Noel captured a number of superb photographs, including this one.

Blue Angels by Noel Gasparin

This is a shot I collected from my phone.  A few videos are posted below.