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evening on Wolftrap Creek, Manokin River
Afternoon into evening. Sailing up narrow creeks and back out into broad bays. Beautiful sailing in a fresh breeze.
Rafted up for the evening, then anchoring out for the night.
The next morning all head back to Janes Island to haul out and head home.
Up the Manokin River
Spirited run up the Manokin River from Teague Creek. A downwind run in 12-15 knots.
All afternoon the Coast Guard broadcasted alerts of a vessel in distress.
Pete guides Obadiah downwind
From Teague Creek to Wolftrap Creek is a distance of less than 4 miles, but it’s a fun 4 miles. By the end of lunch break the wind has picked up. Herds of white caps are galloping upriver. The wind and the tide are not yet at odds, so instead of choppy and bucking it’s a smooth gallop.
Sailing from Janes Island up the Manokin River. The video above is from the first part of the day.
Doug in his Cornish Shrimper Tidings
Forecasts call for clearing skies and tempering wind overnight. But back at camp the rain has not yet dissipated. In the evening, in the Executive Conference Room, there is some disagreement regarding the direction the company should take in the morning. The destination is not disputed – the Manokin River – just how best to get there. Wind will be out of the North, dead on the nose.
Options are: Continue reading “Manokin River ~ Janes Island to Teague Creek”
Crossing Tangier Sound
Getting out of Smith Island at low tide is proving a surprising challenge. A text comes through from home saying the storm knocked out the power, the same front heading our way. VHF weather says rain and high wind, with gusts to 30+. We dallied longer over lunch than prudent, we realize, and now dark clouds are filling the sky to the southwest.
Everyone ties in reefs and shoves off. We have three miles of sailing within Smith Island just to get out, and all dead into a wind still coming from the southeast. Beyond that it’s another 7 miles to across Tangier Sound. A couple of hours of sailing, at best. That’s a lot of time for wind and waves to build in the Sound.
Continue reading “Camping Out the Storm ~ Chesapeake Float 2015”
We dallied too long over lunch in Ewell. A message from home said the storm knocked out the power, and was coming our way. The radio said it was bringing rain and wind, with gusts to 30+.
Still calm on the way out, in the lee of the island. But the tide was out now, and we kept getting stuck and bumping bottom on the three mile trek out Big Thorofare. Short tacking across the narrow channel delayed us more. By the time we reached the Sound it was blowing pretty good and spitting rain.
Thanks to Kevin Brennan for the clips of Obadiah.
The companion article appears in the July 2015 issue of Small Boats Monthly, a WoodenBoat publication. A month of access to the current issue and the full archive is $2.99. You can cancel a subscription at any time.