Captains Log: 9-26-2024
Its always a bit of a bummer to fall asleep to rain, knowing the rain is still going to be there in the morning when you are scheduled to depart. But sometimes the timeline can be pushed around a little bit to make things a bit more enjoyable. Monday morning started with some new faces in the guest crew department, but a few odds and ends needing to be taken care of before leaving Baltimore. Fueling up for the fall season, finishing some rig tension work as well as the customary filling of freshwater and bringing as much trash ashore as possible. Pushing our “scheduled” departure time back a bit, past the mornings spotty rain and mizzle to a somewhat drier departure.
With a building easterly breeze forecast through the day as well as rain forecast in the upper bay, getting underway late morning meant a couple hours of pushing ahead with engines until we had a favorable slant to pile on the canvas on a port tack. With the four lowers up and square foretopsail we quickly picked up to over 6 knots of boat speed, headed down the bay and away from the rain clouds just barely coming into view. Towards the afternoon the breeze began to fill in even more, PRIDE now reaching comfortable 7 and 8 knot speeds, a bit of heel on and sailing as close to the wind as possible.
Late afternoon saw a shift in the breeze to East South East, making the fight to go to windward even more acute. The breeze began to moderate a bit, but occasional puffs kept the over all speed up. With some lucky lifts and some good helming we were able to eek out around cove point to then be able to bear away and head up the Patuxent to our anchorage for the night. All the while watching the rain clouds pass to the he north of us. The sun set as we made our approach. Taking in sail until we were able to round up and drop the hook for the night. Once again falling asleep to the rain pattering on the deck overhead.
The next days start was a late morning start as well. With the rain steady through the morning, we got underway at the tail end of the wet moving through. Hauling back and pushing across the bay until we could once again fall off on a port tack and sail our way down toward St. Marys. With gusts in the 20’s the fore, staysl and foretop was adequate to move us along at a comfortable pace, sailing down to the Potomac and up the St. Mary’s River until we could round up and drop the hook again for the night. The next morning was an easy affair to haul back and come alongside the Maryland Dove dock where we will be open for deck tours this weekend.
And before you comment, real sailors aren’t afraid of the rain, or the wind! You are right. It is not something we are afraid of. But, experienced sailors know the discomfort of constantly wet foulies and socks, not to mention the atrocity that is watered down coffee or cold tea for those of us who don’t have lids on our mugs.
Signed,
Capt. Crosby
