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104E - Norfolk to Rock Hall - June 19 to 24

Captain Yvonne Brandt

Everyone arrived at 9. We had the sweet couple Carol and Jacques who own their own Island packet and were interested in honing their skills to make some longer passages. Carol was a whiz at nav and Jacques was a whiz at the understated comment that would make us all crack up. Jeff, also a boat owner, had quite a bit of previous training and was very helpful with getting our 4th student, Bob, ready for his 104 exam. Bob, who had his previous 101 and 103 with MSS the previous summer, was eager to achieve the next 104 certification. Bob also was the only crew needing to test. It was tag team event, as the whole group was very helpful in getting Bob ready. We started the day with getting everyone’s gear onboard and then became familiar with the below decks of Navigator. We took a lunch break and then took Navigator over to the fuel dock for a pump-out and to fuel up. We had a light wind on the nose for both getting on and off both docks so we used a standing turn to the right for departure for both docks. Next up was planning our route to Godfrey Bay in Deltaville. Students identified waypoints, latitude, longitude, light list number, weekly updates to the light list, local notice to mariners and the coast pilot. That always takes a while but finished up around 6pm and then made our way to the popular and walkable seaside restaurant Stoneys for dinner. All were up at by 7am and were getting the boat ready by 8. One last trip to the onshore facilities and we were off to Deltaville. It was very light wind and had to keep the first reef in on the main (due to a needed repair that would have to wait until we returned to Rock Hall). Consequently, we needed to motor sail quite a bit to maintain a boat speed of 5kts. Loads of sports fishermen were out in the southern bay again this year. I assume a fishing tournament of some sort. As the wind shifted around to the south, the whisker pole would have been fun to set up but sadly we were thwarted by the same workaround on the mast that prevented us from using the full main. Not to worry though because with the preventer on heading down to run, the clew of the Genoa seemed to stay outboard fairly easily without the whisker pole. After a few hourly checks of the bilge we discovered we were taking on water. I had a look around and discovered water coming in the rudder post. That discovery was a little alarming but I checked in with Frank and it turns out that will happen on a slow downwind leg when the stern sits low and flat. Sure enough when the wind changed and we were on more of a reach, the water stopped coming in via the rudder post. We got in to Deltaville, got the anchor down, set, snubber on and finally got to celebrate with Happy hour that included sparkling water, carrots and hummus. Then, we made an easy dinner of spaghetti and salad. We split forces by half cooking and the other half planned the next day. Up at 0700 and off by 0900. Fishing Bay at Deltaville is sort of a masters class in navigating a shoaly river entrance. Shoals are everywhere and markers seem oddly placed. Also, watch out for the Piankatank River Light 10 whose shoal extends way past the marker. Luckily Jeff was keeping a close eye on the depth sounder and saved us just in time. A little farther out we tried a visual fix using Stingray point and Windmill Point just outside the Piankatank. Taking bearings went well as everyone got comfortable using the hand held compass. Wind was on the nose most of the day and very light so didn’t get the sails out until after lunch. It was a shorter passage so we stopped at the entrance on the Great Wicomico to do our Crew overboard drills. We practiced furling the staysail and blowing the main halyard as the boat came up into and thru the wind. Then, under power, the boat was maneuvered so that we put the crew overboard on the lee side of the boat. After 4 excellent COBs, we made our way into the Great Wicomico and were greeted by an enormous pod of Dolphins! It’s always the best to watch these beautiful, playful creatures. We went right in to an easy anchorage and Jeff made a chicken and tortellini soup and Carol lead the planning for the passage to Solomon’s. Great Wicomico to Solomon’s Spring cove marina today. We got up at 6 and left just after 8. We decided on an early start due to an afternoon weather system we wanted to avoid. After we rounded the east most marker coming out of the Great Wicomico, we headed north. We had a stiff southerly breeze that gusted time to time to 26kts. It allowed us to go wing and wing most of the day. (We already had a reef in the main due to work around with the track on the mast) so just furled in the Genoa as the wind built. Everyone steered with precision and we learned how careful one has to steer in rolly seas to prevent an accidental jibe. We had a preventer on the main so if we got too far off the wind we had a safety. We made it to Spring Cove Marina with about 2 hours to spare before the storm so we had time to go the pool, review knots, shower and off to dinner. By then though, the storm was almost upon us. 3 of us we hoping for a walk to dinner which was just over a mile. We checked the radar and power walked it to the Lighthouse restaurant. We made it there with 5 min to spare and then it came down in buckets. Phew. Not so lucky with wind and rain today. 20 plus knots out of the north and ebb current most of the day. Slow going. We left just after 0900 and got into Annapolis around 2000. Squalls, gloomy sky, wet and bumpy in short. But, about 2 hours south of Annapolis, the sky started to clear so at least the last part was ok. Also, as we came into the mooring field, half of the mooring balls were covered with signs emblazoned with DO NOT USE. We found one that wasn’t labeled luckily and we were in. Next morning, our other 104 boat (also on a class) came by and said they had been kicked off the same ball the evening before. Guess we got in so late no one was around to make us seek another ball. In the morning there was an enormous barge working on the moorings next to us. I think they were waiting for us to leave and I’m sure annoyed we were there. Guess we got away with murder. A thousand pardons Tom and Frank. Last day. We were so tired we left the last day of planning for the morning. Bob led this as he had to take the 104 test later in the day. Everyone else, got the boat ready and we were off the ball a little after 9 and on our way to Lankford Bay Marina in Rock Hall. We reviewed for the test and sailed a little on the way back. Tried to pump out at LBM but pump-out was broken. Got back in the slip, got Bob started on the test and the rest cleaned up boat. Bob passed with flying colors and I passed out certificates. It was a fun trip and hope all felt like they learned a little something. Yvonne Brandt USCG Licensed Master

Everyone arrived at 9. We had the sweet couple Carol and Jacques who own their own Island packet and were interested in honing their skills to make some longer passages. Carol was a whiz at nav and Jacques was a whiz at the understated comment that would make us all crack up. Jeff, also a boat owner, had quite a bit of previous training and was very helpful with getting our 4th student, Bob, ready for his 104 exam. Bob, who had his previous 101 and 103 with MSS the previous summer, was eager to achieve the next 104 certification. Bob also was the only crew needing to test. It was tag team event, as the whole group was very helpful in getting Bob ready.

We started the day with getting everyone’s gear onboard and then became familiar with the below decks of Navigator. We took a lunch break and then took Navigator over to the fuel dock for a pump-out and to fuel up. We had a light wind on the nose for both getting on and off both docks so we used a standing turn to the right for departure for both docks.

Next up was planning our route to Godfrey Bay in Deltaville. Students identified waypoints, latitude, longitude, light list number, weekly updates to the light list, local notice to mariners and the coast pilot. That always takes a while but finished up around 6pm and then made our way to the popular and walkable seaside restaurant Stoneys for dinner.

All were up at by 7am and were getting the boat ready by 8. One last trip to the onshore facilities and we were off to Deltaville. It was very light wind and had to keep the first reef in on the main (due to a needed repair that would have to wait until we returned to Rock Hall). Consequently, we needed to motor sail quite a bit to maintain a boat speed of 5kts. Loads of sports fishermen were out in the southern bay again this year. I assume a fishing tournament of some sort.

As the wind shifted around to the south, the whisker pole would have been fun to set up but sadly we were thwarted by the same workaround on the mast that prevented us from using the full main. Not to worry though because with the preventer on heading down to run, the clew of the Genoa seemed to stay outboard fairly easily without the whisker pole.

After a few hourly checks of the bilge we discovered we were taking on water. I had a look around and discovered water coming in the rudder post. That discovery was a little alarming but I checked in with Frank and it turns out that will happen on a slow downwind leg when the stern sits low and flat. Sure enough when the wind changed and we were on more of a reach, the water stopped coming in via the rudder post. We got in to Deltaville, got the anchor down, set, snubber on and finally got to celebrate with Happy hour that included sparkling water, carrots and hummus. Then, we made an easy dinner of spaghetti and salad. We split forces by half cooking and the other half planned the next day.

Up at 0700 and off by 0900. Fishing Bay at Deltaville is sort of a masters class in navigating a shoaly river entrance. Shoals are everywhere and markers seem oddly placed. Also, watch out for the Piankatank River Light 10 whose shoal extends way past the marker. Luckily Jeff was keeping a close eye on the depth sounder and saved us just in time. A little farther out we tried a visual fix using Stingray point and Windmill Point just outside the Piankatank. Taking bearings went well as everyone got comfortable using the hand held compass. Wind was on the nose most of the day and very light so didn’t get the sails out until after lunch. It was a shorter passage so we stopped at the entrance on the Great Wicomico to do our Crew overboard drills. We practiced furling the staysail and blowing the main halyard as the boat came up into and thru the wind. Then, under power, the boat was maneuvered so that we put the crew overboard on the lee side of the boat. After 4 excellent COBs, we made our way into the Great Wicomico and were greeted by an enormous pod of Dolphins! It’s always the best to watch these beautiful, playful creatures. We went right in to an easy anchorage and Jeff made a chicken and tortellini soup and Carol lead the planning for the passage to Solomon’s.

Great Wicomico to Solomon’s Spring cove marina today. We got up at 6 and left just after 8. We decided on an early start due to an afternoon weather system we wanted to avoid. After we rounded the east most marker coming out of the Great Wicomico, we headed north. We had a stiff southerly breeze that gusted time to time to 26kts. It allowed us to go wing and wing most of the day. (We already had a reef in the main due to work around with the track on the mast) so just furled in the Genoa as the wind built. Everyone steered with precision and we learned how careful one has to steer in rolly seas to prevent an accidental jibe. We had a preventer on the main so if we got too far off the wind we had a safety. We made it to Spring Cove Marina with about 2 hours to spare before the storm so we had time to go the pool, review knots, shower and off to dinner. By then though, the storm was almost upon us. 3 of us we hoping for a walk to dinner which was just over a mile. We checked the radar and power walked it to the Lighthouse restaurant. We made it there with 5 min to spare and then it came down in buckets. Phew.

Not so lucky with wind and rain today. 20 plus knots out of the north and ebb current most of the day. Slow going. We left just after 0900 and got into Annapolis around 2000. Squalls, gloomy sky, wet and bumpy in short. But, about 2 hours south of Annapolis, the sky started to clear so at least the last part was ok. Also, as we came into the mooring field, half of the mooring balls were covered with signs emblazoned with DO NOT USE. We found one that wasn’t labeled luckily and we were in. Next morning, our other 104 boat (also on a class) came by and said they had been kicked off the same ball the evening before. Guess we got in so late no one was around to make us seek another ball. In the morning there was an enormous barge working on the moorings next to us. I think they were waiting for us to leave and I’m sure annoyed we were there. Guess we got away with murder. A thousand pardons Tom and Frank.

Last day. We were so tired we left the last day of planning for the morning. Bob led this as he had to take the 104 test later in the day. Everyone else, got the boat ready and we were off the ball a little after 9 and on our way to Lankford Bay Marina in Rock Hall. We reviewed for the test and sailed a little on the way back. Tried to pump out at LBM but pump-out was broken. Got back in the slip, got Bob started on the test and the rest cleaned up boat. Bob passed with flying colors and I passed out certificates. It was a fun trip and hope all felt like they learned a little something.

Yvonne Brandt
USCG Licensed Master

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