Bellum ICW and Bahamas 2024-25: Cruising Chasepeake Bay to Hampton, VA

On Sunday morning, October 19, I tidied up the boat, prepared it somewhat for departure from Annapolis and performed some maintenance.

I filled the water tanks for the first time since we departed on Sept 18. I hosed down the deck to desalinate and readjusted the port shrouds, as a flag halyard was stuck in the shroud toggle, which might have been squeaking.

I returned the club key to Justin at 10:50 and headed south, unsure of my destination.

The wind was in my face. I sailed for about four hours, with three hours of motoring. I got to charge the batteries after four days in Annapolis without any shore power.

It was nice Sailing

Upon arrival at Deale, we found two anchorages - one with a pretty good rating and the other with a very poor one. The latter was also way too shallow.

I got stuck there a couple of times, which made me nervous and frustrated. I started looking for a marina and came across Shipwright Harbour, which I had seen at the boat show.

I called the office, and they offered me a dock at B5. I couldn't find it, but eventually, I did. She discovered a boat behind it and found another dock, but I got stuck in the dark area. I managed to find another free wharf, and she helped me dock it. She didn't know how to tie lines.

While on the phone, I hit a large buoy, which dented my furling foil.

The marina is large and pretty complicated. I tied up and paid $75 for the night. Tomorrow morning is expected to have a weather advisory, with 15 knots of wind and gusts up to 30 knots from the west to east. So I might stay another night.

I borrowed a marina bike and rode around, but all I could find was more marinas and some hole-in-the-wall joints.

I needed a drink, but decided to try some things I bought in Maryland. It was very strong. And I had just 1/2 a dosage.

On Monday, October 14th, I spent the day at the marina.

Shipwright Marina is a nice marina, but with the season coming to an end, it was pretty quiet for a Sunday. Monday was about the same.

I tidied up the boat, did my laundry, and updated my log,

At 1730, I left the marina to anchor in Herring Bay just outside the inner bay. It was less than a mile away.

Wednesday, October 16, marked the one-month anniversary of my departure from Dorval.

I got up early at 7:30 at sunrise, hauled anchor, and filled up with 45 litres of diesel. I had to leave the dock because someone else was coming in. I headed out to the bay and set up the main sail, expecting a run south.

It was a great run with one gybe in 20 knots of wind. It seemed too rolly to try a chicken gybe. But later on, I did two chicken gybes.

Around 1 o'clock, I realized I couldn't get to Deltaville, so I pulled into Reedville about 15 miles earlier. I tried to turn into the wind, but the motor wouldn't start - there was no noise from the panel. I left the channel for deeper waters and tried the Emergency engine start switch for decompression. That worked, and the engine started.

I motored into Reedville, which took about 40 minutes, and anchored in Cockwell Creek.

37 miles and just over an hour on the motor.

I investigated the engine, but I couldn't find anything wrong. I checked the connections for the panel fuse, opened the four Yammar connectors, sprayed them with WD40, and reseated them.

Thursday, Oct 17

It was another cold morning, so we had a late start. We motored out into the channel and put up the jib sail on a run to Deltaville. I went through the Jackson Creek channel, which is dredged and anchored at Jackson Creek about 2:30.

I took the dinghy around the creek and ended up parking at Deltaville Boat Yard. I borrowed a bicycle and rode into town, where I found a hardware store. I also visited West Marine and then checked out the maritime museum, which was closed.

I decided to have supper at the Tap and Raw Bar near the marina and then go back to the boat.