Cruise to the Bohemia Bay – C&D Canal or Bust – 2014

Cruise to the Bohemia Bay – C&D Canal or Bust – 2014

So, the first surprise departure morning was that my son Matthew’s car was blocking the gate needed to get the dinghy out. The car was there, but Matt wasn’t…luckily the keys were in the house after I called and woke him out of a sound sleep, wherever he was. His only comment was: “Sorry…but Happy Father’s Day.” With access, the dinghy made it to the water, Wanderer got stowed and was ready when Mei dropped Mr. Brown and all his gear off.

We were underway under power out of White Marsh Creek about 0700. Proceeded out to Bear Neck Creek with an appropriate wave from Laurie Orme as we passed Blue Water Marina, exiting onto the Rhode River. No wind and a foul current put us on the engine from the start with the sail set only for shade. With Coaches Island visible (it seems to always be) to the southeast, we set our coarse northeasterly and had Thomas Point Lighthouse close aboard to starboard by 0900. Continued until shallow water and crab pots forced us to tack just north of Matapeake on Kent Island at the northernmost boundary of the Annapolis anchorage. Set a starboard tack, but the wind died away, so sheeted the main down and made for the center span of the Bay Bridge, still bucking a foul tide.

At 1230, we passed under the twin span, making up for Baltimore Light. As we moved up along Gibson Island, the wind came up to the south, which allowed us to back off on the engine and run dead downwind with the sail taking over. About 1500, we ran past the Craighill Channel range lights, sighting two gaff sails ahead and Planet out in the shipping channel to starboard as we picked up the green daymarks and buoys into Bodkin Creek. The Sunday afternoon crowd was in full swing, from “go-fast” boats to towed tubers, including a large powerboat on the wrong side of the channel aground. They were all trying to get home, but made the navigation easy for us in some respects.

When last here in 2008, the lead catboat found a place in Back Creek because Main Creek was too crowded. This time, we passed up Back Creek to starboard, doused sail and proceeded up Main Creek under power for a better look. We were joined astern by Sarah K and Dusty, the previously seen two gaff sails. Proceeded past the Cruising Guide’s recommended anchorage between Goose and Jubb Coves, noting the south side was all houses and docks. Continued up the creek but did not see any better spots. On the way back out, the north side between Goose and Jubb Coves was all bulrushes and looked inviting. Had Mr. Brown take Wanderer in between a duck blind and what was left of a marine railway, while I sounded the bottom with the boat hook. Six feet of water all around on a rising tide by then, so we dropped a hook.

The other catboats starting coming in to their own hooks as the weekend crowd thinned. Planet was sighted with a red-hulled folkboat named Violet Jessup, who was under sail, quickly found a shallow spot and stuck. Mr. Brown and I had only just sat down with our Myers and Tonic (in honor of past CCBA Commodore without portfolio – Bill Hoover), so we contemplated the situation as Planet came to the rescue and pulled Violet Jessup off with no help from us. Although we were chastised, we claimed to be back up as all looked in hand from our vantage point. We were to later find out an engine malfunction aboard Violet Jessup was responsible for sailing into the anchorage.

With the show over, we were approached by a gentleman in a whaler named “J.C.” asking for Craig Ligabel, a not yet sighted but expected CCBA cruise participant. J.C. said he was with the “Spinsheet” (a local sailor’s monthly) staff, so we asked him to tie off and brought him aboard to join the happy hour. Craig and crew in Mystic Wind arrived within the hour as did Bubbly and crew. Cocktails proceeded aboard Wanderer as Mr. Brown, without Chinese delights from Mei’s kitchen this year, was boiling corned beef and cabbage. There were six cats and a folkboat in the anchorage. CCBA cruise on.

Monday, 6/16: Destination: Stillpond Creek, Still Pond MD

Quiet night with tolerable bug population. Decided on a light breakfast of cereal while the milk was still fresh. About 0800, made the rounds of the anchorage by dinghy to ascertain all informed on the plan for the day and to answer questions. Found Planet assisting with the Violet Jessup engine problem, suspected to be fuel starvation. Luckily, there was a marina at Graveyard Point, so it was decided Violet Jessup would be assisted there for further diagnosis. Made a close-up exam of the marine railway, retrieved an oak stool intact from the shallows and came back to find Mr. Brown had reason to lean on the yacht ensign flagstaff….crack! A little duct tape temporarily and we were underway under power by 1000 outbound from Main Creek to the bay.