almost there

 It was cold and windy today, there is a warning for cold weather tonight and I am tired. So I took today off, sailed just a few miles down the Corsica River, put up the boom tent and relaxed.  With all the wind and weather I have had on this trip, I think I deserved it.

before dawn

With a crescent moon and Venus for company, we raised anchor before dawn to catch an early morning bridge life at Kent Narrows.  A strong south wind carried us wing and wing up Eastern Neck and right into the harbor.  And now a day to clean up, do laundry, resupply, recharge, rest and see friends. 

 

hard sailing

 Hard sailing into the winds and waves to the southern end of Tilghman Island.  

the no-name storm

 

Two types of storms on the east coast - named storms (hurricanes) and no-name storms (nor’easters).  Hurricanes are stronger, nor’easters can linger   This nor’easter is lingering.  More rain and small craft advisories today.

I had a break from the storm yesterday as Kent invited me to visit his house and enjoy the wood burning stove.  It was a chance to get a shower, do laundry, charge batteries.  Plus I enjoyed talking with Kent about his 25,000 NM of sailing and browsing through his sailing logs that are artwork in their own right   How nice!   Thanks for the hospitality, Kent.

If it clears today, I might sail south to Mill Creek.  Will have to see how long the storm lingers.

swirling winds on Rollins Cove

Morning came with almost no rain and just swirling winds.  The nor’easter seems to have slid off the coast to the east. The bottom photo was made by new friend Kent as I arrived here on Friday.  With the cliffs and tall trees, not to mention Kent’s kind off of shelter if needed, I thought it a good place to wait out the weather. 

 

waiting on the storm

A nice downwind run today, 34 NM from near Oxford to Solomons Island.  A good solid wind out of the north.  Top photo is by friend Shawn. We’ve known each other for years, finally met in person at the Tiki Bar this afternoon.  He gave me some good advice on sheltered anchorages for the (possible) coming storm.  I’ll explore a bit tomorrow, then head for shelter on Saturday.  Last image in post is the forecast for Sunday. 

 

Snug Harbor

Back in Snug Harbor rafting up with cruising friends Michael and Sheila.  A front is coming through today and tomorrow, Snug Harbor is a good place to be.  Hope to be heading south Thursday.  

 

time to get back on the water

An enjoyable few days in St. Michaels, it is time to get back to sailing. 

 

arrived St. Michaels

Arrived in St. Michaels after an early morning sail across the Miles River from Leeds Creek.  Will be here for a free days to enjoy the town and the small craft festival.  

Sails are performing well.  Reefed this morning, not that I needed to but just wanted to see how well the new main takes a reef.  It worked well.

Will make some adjust to the outhauls and downhauls today. 

 

tracking, new sails

If you follow my SPOT track, you did not follow it long.  The track ended just a couple miles from where I launched.  Maintenance failure on my part.  Old batteries.  They have been replaced and the track now shows my location.  

The new sail worked very, very well.  Still have adjustments to make, but was very pleased sailing close hauled yesterday. 

Now rafted up with friends.  Almost no wind forecast for today.  Might stay with friends, might motor to be closer to Tilghman Island.   We’ll see.