We had an incredible sail yesterday with an outstanding crew. Dan, Caliste, Nick, Chloe, Sami, Bijon, Terri H., and Jeff P. were all fantastic. Our outing was beautifully catered by everyone, featuring a delightful spread of charcuterie, boiled shrimp, cookies, and watermelon, complemented by a few adult beverages.
Dan expertly helmed us through the Chesapeake Bay on Memorial Day weekend. Although we didn’t have any challenges and the weather was perfect. There were plenty of boats, but it wasn’t overly congested once we left Annapolis harbor. We heard a few incidents on the VHF radio, typical of weekend warriors, but thankfully, none were life-threatening.
We motored towards Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse and hoisted the jib, taking advantage of the outgoing tide. Despite light winds, we sailed across the Chesapeake almost to the Eastern Shore. As we turned back towards Annapolis, the wind picked up, giving us a brisk and exciting sail into Back Creek, ESCAPE’s home base, aided by the incoming tide.
Our marina, Port Annapolis Marina, is quite full, and docking was a bit challenging with two other catamarans in a tight spot. However, the crew’s nautical skills shone through. Chloe, hailing from Florida, expertly secured us with her cleat hitches. We also had a tangled mainsail halyard, but Nick skillfully climbed the mainsail and used a long boathook to untangle it. All was well in the end.
Check out the photos below to get a sense of the trip. Thanks to everyone for a fantastic experience.
