Summer Solstice Cruise - 2010

Wherein two Brothers of the Chesapeake Bay cruise the lower Chesapeake Bay in search of a Raftarrancho...

Bui and Susan have been out on Fresh Air for a week; probing rivers and creeks off the lower Potomac. I have been working in Connecticut most of the spring, waiting for this year’s Summer Solstice Cruise and the "Raftarrancho" scheduled for the end of the week.

June and I started scheduling the week of the Summer Solstice as a sailing vacation in 2002, shortly after we purchased Talisman. Then, about four years ago, we met John and Susan during the week, stayed together and have been doing it since then. Last year, a number of the other boats in the Chesapeake Table decided to come along. It seemed we had a quorum and started talking to the Brothers of Solomon’s Island to meet us somewhere in between. That ad hoc plan turned into a first rate, on-the-water party and celebration so, we decided to do it again!


SSC- Day One: The Rendevous:

After an entire day of catch-up (I haven’t been home for two weeks) and preparations on Friday, we rose to get underway on Saturday morning. The dinghy engine overheated (the water pump was not working) spoiling a before noon departure time. Bui had a 15 hp "spare" at his house so we climbed in the truck to fetch it - problem solved. We left Rebel Marina just after noon with a feeble breeze from the SW and not much hoe for improvement.

The wind swung to the NE as we patched Buckroe Beach and started to fill in a bit. There was promise after all. Just north of Grand View, there was a solid wind: the sails went up and the motor was silenced. An hour later, the wind blowing 15 - 20 knots and bending to the east. We had the current and the wind off our starboard quarter and Talisman is averaging 7.5 to 8 knots. It has turned out to be a fine day for sailing!

Talisman arrived at Jackson Creek in record time. We found Fresh Air in the western branch of the creek. Refreshments, a fine meal and a discussion about Day Two’s destination ensued. A hot sultry day for the Bay meant the coolest place was likely to be right in the middle of it; We decided on Tangier Island.

SSC - Day Two: Moving to the Middle:

The weather predictors got this one right: hot, humid and no wind. We started out of Jackson Creek just before the Coast Guard buoy tender cut of the narrow entrance to work on 3R. Talisman’s depth sounder was acting up and she snagged the bottom just after the buoy tender moved the number 10 marker. Hardly into the Bay, we stopped the engines an hour later to cool off with a swim in the Bay. This would happen two more times before making Tangier.

Milt Parks met us at his marina. We inquired about fresh peelers. He said Dan Dise was our man and shouted across the street (the main channel through Tangier). Dan wasn’t in but Milt told us to keep an eye out...Dan was sure to be back but it was Father’s Day Sunday so he probably wouldn’t be there long. Twenty minutes later a man in a Carolina Skiff tied up. June and I took our dinghy to see Dan. Two dozen peelers from the refrigerator, cold and ready to go for $40.

Dinner would be served. But, it was still early and hot. We decided a circumnavigation of Tangier’s lower half was in order with a beach stop on the southern tip. The dinghy’s were deployed for the mission. New to Bui and Susan is a small white, curly poodle named Captain Morgan. "Morgan" was learning to be a boat dog. He was a fast learner. He tore up the beach, got himself wet and took himself for a swim. Not bad for a rescue dog who just learned how to swim the week before!

We zipped across the sand bar that extends down to Tangier Light and up the eastern coast of the island. Back at the marina, the crabs were breaded, fried and consumed by the worn out sailors. The air conditioned boats provided shelter from the humid evening.

SSC - Day Three: The Heat Goes On:

It is the day of the summer solstice: 7:28 AM (EDT). We are not early risers and we are usually the last to leave an anchorage (this works on these oppressively hot days as the hottest portion of the day is spent on the water). We woke mid-morning, headed for town - two blocks away - for supplies, a visit to the Museum and an ice cream cone before making ready to leave in the early afternoon. It was another stinker of a day: hot, humid with a light breeze that didn’t amount to much. It seemed that the mid-summer weather pattern had established itself early this year.

We decided Onancock Creek was to be our next destination. A small jaunt, we were there after a few hours. On the way into the long river, we met up with Lenny and Beth on Jazzy Lady, another boat from Rebel Marina and long time friends of Bui & Susan. We formed a three boat raft in the basin, then decided a dinghy ride (moving air!) down the river to a jellyfish-free beach was in order. We dined slightly after sunset as it was too hot to eat before then. Then we settled in, praying for a breeze to keep the air moving through the night.

SSC - Day Four: Across the Bay

It was a miserable night: the fans in our aft berth kept the air moving but the nighttime temperatures never got low enough to give us any relief from the previous day's heat. The girls wanted to cruise Onancock's small shops so a shore party was formed. When we returned, noon was upon us. We discussed staying in Onancock but I needed relief from the heat be it swimming or air conditioning. I suggested a trip across the Bay to Foxwell's, a small spit of land to the north of Windmill Point, just east of Little Bay (outside the Antipoison River). There is a isolated beach area there which is frequented by boaters. It has protected waters but will allow most winds from the Bay to flow over the boats at anchor there. But, beyond that, there was the prospect of swimming in the Bay on the way across. The Plan was set. We left just after 1 PM.

SSC - Day Five: Westward Ho!

With the wind firmly established at the half way mark between the eastern and western shores of the Bay, all three boats disengaged motors and hoisted sails. While 12 to 14 knots of wind propelled the boats and helped cool us down, it was still hot air that blew.

As we sailed into Little Bay (just south of Fleets Bay), we found that the wind made for a choppy anchoring environment. We pushed on into Antipoison Creek where better shelter was to found. We rafted, ate and relaxed. Just after dark, the wind disappeared thus condemning us to another uncomfortable night with all fans under deck on high.

SSC - Day Six: Beach Day

Jazzy Lady left at dawn, headed for Solomon’s Island. The crews of Fresh Air and Talisman rose later in the morning and decided a beach day was in order. We left Antipoison Creek and headed back to the beach on the west side of Foxwell’s. The day brought a mixture of different of boats and people with one thing in mind - submerging themselves in the water to ease the effects of another sweltering day. Our favorite visitor was the thirty four foot sailboat with two older men and eight teenage boys. It was a week’s cruise for some type of task badge. Anchoring consisted of an approach to the beach concluding with the keel hitting the beach about ten feet from the shore and everyone aboard lurching forward in the process. The anchor was taken to the beach with rode not secured to the boat. That was corrected shortly before the start of the ebb that paralleled the boat with and against the beach. We later found out, from one of the young trainees, that the senior instructor was in possession of a PhD. We never found out what field it was in but we know it was not in seamanship!

We left our beach in the middle of the afternoon and headed up to Ingram’s Bay. One of its smaller tributary’s - Towles Creek - is home to Ingram Bay Marina which occupies the entire south shore of the small creek. The crews of the two boats would have air conditioning this night!

SSC - Day Seven: Stay Where It Is Cool:

The heat continued, unabated. Thursday arrived with heat warnings all along the East Coast (it hit 103 degrees in Richmond later that day). There was no wind so we stayed put, seeking shelter inside our air-conditioned salons. But, Fresh Air was running low on Miller Light and other supplies were needed. With the borrowed work truck from the marina (no air-conditioning!), we formed a provision posse and headed toward the Wal-Mart in Kilmarnock. Now, you normally won’t find me spending much time in a Wal-Mart. But I was more than happy to hang out and shop in the cooler environs of this superstore than anywhere outside. Eventually, we headed back. Captain Billy, the charter fisherman and owner of the marina had just returned from a two day, offshore charter with fresh tuna. A little negotiating secured a number of tuna steaks for supper.

We knew some of our fleet was gathering early for the Raftarracho just a few miles south. We considered leaving to join them but opted, instead, for a second night of air-conditioned rest.

SSC - Day Eight: South To The Raftarrancho

Overnight, a weak cold front moved over the area bringing slightly cooler temperatures along with northerly winds which carried us down the Bay in short order. Our destination was the second (annual?) Raftarrancho in Dymer’s Creek. Both boats arrived and joined the raft which was already in progress.

[Editors Note: The festivities of the Raftarrancho are covered in a separate post...]

Memorial Day Raft Up - 2010

There was a lot going on with the Brothers of the Chesapeake Bay table in late May: Ailing family members, a boat out of water, a damaged limb and other similar impediments or obligations resulted in a small turnout for this year's first warm weather three day holiday weekend. But, that's not necessarily a bad thing.


The crews of Casual Class, Orza (including Brother Boats and Tricia) and Talisman met a School Neck Point in the Severn River (a tributary of Mobjack Bay) on Saturday, May 29th for rest, relaxation & comaraderie. Casual Class was first at the anchorage. Upon arrival, there was an engine problem that the other boats were made aware of as they arrived. A threaded joiner piece of the wet exhaust systems plumbing had sheared just where it entered the mated end. But no one wanted to delve into it on Saturday. After scheduling repairs for Sunday morning, dinner was prepared and served. The crews mellowed as they danced into the night.



The next morning, four brothers assessed the situation and assembled available resources for the repair. A four inch piece of wet duty, high pressure, flexible piping was fitted into place with appropriate sized pipe clamps. The engine was started and exhaust was again ported out of the boat in the normal fashion without leaks. While we toasted our success, we realized it was now approaching noon. We had discussed moving the raft to the East River but after assessing the peaceful anchorage, we decided to stay put. Swimming, dancing, eating, drinking and napping consumed the rest of the day. It was, indeed, a restful day.

On Monday morning, after breakfast, we broke the raft to head home. Casual Class left first, deciding to motorsail against the southwesterly breeze. Later in the day, Casual Class contacted Talisman and ORZA (who - as usual - was the first back to the marina). Their repairs had failed and they needed help getting in from the lower bay area, just outside Ft. Wool. Fuego was dispatched for the tow. But they hadn't calculated on how much fuel they would need for the task. As Fuego approached Fort Wool with Casual Class in tow, they placed a call to Talisman inquiring about fuel. Talisman had five gallons of gasoline on board which would insure Fuego's return, if needed. As Talisman grew closer, she pulled in behind the connected boats as backup. Casual Class was given a temporary berth at Rebel Marina until more durable repairs could be affected. The weekend had been a success!