Extreme Low Tide in Annapolis, April 16, 2014

April 16, 2014 will be noteworthy to Annapolis sailors for years to come, and it was certainly not a high water mark.

Extreme low tide

Tides at Annapolis are always pretty minimal, fluctuating about a foot or so from high to low tide. Full moon tides go bigger but the range is still only about 18 inches. For the tidal range to stretch a full 3 feet 9 inches from high tide on the 15^th to low tide on the 16^th created a low tide event that even long time Annapolitans said they'd never seen before.

Normal water level the next day

When I left the boat on the morning of the 16^th, I commented on the low water as it seemed below normal. My dockmate then shocked me when he pointed out that we were experiencing High Tide! The water level in Back Creek was over a foot lower than a normal low tide and was now headed even lower as the normal tide action would drain even more water from the Chesapeake. By a quarter past 4pm, this lowest of the lows went to its minimum height, over 2 feet below the predicted low tide, a foot and 8 inches below chart datum and 3 feet 9 inches below the high tide only 30 hours earlier.

None of the sand or rocks seen here are ever visible,
even at low tide, normally. By S.A.Strickland

The cause of this extremely low water was the very strong and consistent northwest breeze that blew a full gale for two days, pushing the huge volume of water out of the Chesapeake. Although the breeze began to lessen on the afternoon of the 16^th, it wasn't enough to counter the falling tide as the water created its record low tide.

Colorado with Allen IV, Mar 21-26, 2014

With Kelly IV still winterized and safely in her slip at Annapolis Landing Marina, I decide to book a seat on Amtrak and head for the mountains to see my oldest son, Allen IV, in Denver.

The pond viewed from Allen IV's apartment

Allen IV at Lookout Mountain, view behind is looking east

CaptMurph at Lookout Mountain, view behind is looking east

Looking north

View behind Allen IV is looking north

Turtle in pond below Allen IV's apartment

Turtle in pond below Allen IV's apartment

Concert arena at Red Rocks

Information about Red Rocks

Looking south along the ridge at Red Rocks

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

In the mountains near Estes Park, CO

In the mountains near Estes Park, CO

Elk on the road in Estes Park, CO

Elk on the road in Estes Park, CO

Kooser 2014

Unfortunately, this is the only pic from the Kooser ski weekend, 2014.

Lake Tahoe, NV and CA - January 18-27, 2014

Rob posing before the O'Callaghan-Tillman Bridge
over the Colorado River, outside Las Vegas, NV

Rob and I took a few days to celebrate my recent re-retirement.  While I retired from my career in physician office computer sales in 2010, just a couple weeks ago I retired from a two year stint as a yacht broker in Annapolis, MD

Las Vegas, NV sunset

Driving north through the Nevada desert

Rob at the top of Heavenly Ski Area, Nevada in the distance

View from the top of Heavenly including California, 

Lake Tahoe and the Nevada desert 

(FYI the noise from the wind is LOUD)

After driving back to southern California, we visited the Reagan Presidential Museum in Thousand Oaks, CA.

This plane was designated "Air Force 2" when none of her
passengers was the president.  On those flights a friend
of mine from Annapolis (Mike N.) was the radio operator.

This a photo of Mike N. when he was flying AF2, above.

Sails & Suds, Captain Clark's 80th

Capt Clark's Crew Celebrate's Jim Clark's 80th
a few months early

The crews' gift to the captain

Tug of War: Eastport vs Annapolis November 2, 2013

 

The Tug of War begins when volunteers stretch a large rope 1,700 feet long across the Spa Creek.

 

Two Fellow Cruisers Depart on Sailing Adventures, October 18-26, 2013

Kelly IV took part in a Bon Voyage Party for Captain Troy Cain and only a week later bid adieu to Captain Joe Reed and his crew. Each Captain has great plans for their cruise although the adventure each will enjoy will vary widely.

Sail track followed by Bill, Sarah, Guy, Jack, Jim and CaptMurph

Captain Cain is singlehanding “Relentless,” his Irwin 34, the length of the Intracoastal Waterway from the Chesapeake Bay through six states and about 2,000nm. Although he welcomes crew for any leg they care to join him, he expects he'll be singlehanding, if you don't count his full size, shiny black poodle, “HoHo.”

"Relentless", on the hard

October 18-20 Kelly IV hosted the largest crew we recall including Bill & Sarah Paviol, Guy Stewart, Jack VanArsdale, Jim Clark and Maggie, Jim's second dog of that name. It wasn't until the wee hours of Saturday morning that the entire crew was on board. Jack, Bill & Sarah slept aboard one of the charter boats so everyone had room to catch some Zs. The day's coming excitement and sunshine roused the crew earlier than expected so we took a new Leopard 39 out for a brief test.

Captains Clark and VanArsdale Helm the new Leopard Catamaran

Kelly IV enticed the crew back with promises of great food and camaraderie at the party planned for Captain Cain's cruise departure. A short trip to Whitehall Creek and the crew piled into the dinghy taking plenty of food and drink to ensure a terrific party. Don and Donna Hekler

Captain Don Hekler and his beloved EVELYN MARIE

were hosting the event so everyone new it would be well done and wonderfully enjoyed. Due to adverse wind and waves, Captain Cain was delayed, but finally rafted to Kelly IV's port side. With a brand new dinghy, Troy took Jack, HoHo and I ashore to Hekler's. The crowd was in great spirits and Troy's attendance brought the festivities to a new high as gifts were shared and goodbyes offered to our adventurous friend. “Relentless” hosted the Paviols for the night as Kelly IV only has berths for 4 total.

Sunday proved to be a terrific day of sunshine and autumn breezes so the sailing was grand. We sailed under the Bay Bridge and reached all the way back covering the miles quickly, no motor necessary. It was a grand weekend to bid farewell as Troy began his cruising adventure.

In the past, "Relentless" was sometimes a bit cluttered

Captain Cain at the helm of Relentless

Joe Reed his adventure a year ago just as Hurricane Sandy was battering the seas offshore of Virginia, arriving in Hampton on 40 knot winds and 10 foot waves. Then he skippered his crew and J42, “Keep It Simple,” to win both his class and the entire fleet, sailing the Caribbean 1500 to Tortola, BVI.

Today, Joe departed on “Keep It Simple” with crew headed first for Virginia, then the BVI, but this time he doesn't stop cruising until either he is done cruising or circumnavigates the entire planet and ends up where he started!

"Keep It Simple" crew, Captain Reed on right

We'll keep both Captains in our prayers as they press on with their sailing adventures. I only wish Kelly IV could follow in their wakes. Maybe sooner than I know?

I added this last photo of "Keep It Simple" sometime later.  Here she is in Annapolis the previous spring, 2013, on arrival from the Caribbean. Of course, they also arrived safely in the BVI in the autumn of 2013.  That's Captain Reed on the left and Captain Hekler on the right.