Bellum ICW and Bahamas 2024-25: 2024-10-13

On Sunday morning, October 19, I tidied up the boat somewhat prepared her for departure and did 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 that might have been squeaking.

I returned the club key to Justin at 10:50 and headed down southbound not sure where I wanted to go.

The wind was in my face. I was able to sail for about four hours and three hours of motoring sailing. I got to charge the batteries after four days in Annapolis without any shore power.

Nice Sailing

Upon arrival at Deale, there were supposed to be two anchorages - one is rated pretty good and the other one is very poorly rated the one as well rated was way too shallow.

I got stuck there a couple times and was nervous and frustrated. I started looking for a marina and I saw that the Shipwright Harbor was there and I saw them from the boat show.

I called The office and they offered me a dock at B5. I couldn’t have trouble finding it eventually I found it, but no, I did not find it. She found that there was a boat behind it and found me another dock which I got stuck in while coming into the dark area backed up, I found another free dock and she helped me dock it she didn’t know how to tie lines.

The marina is large is pretty complicated tied up and paid 75 for the night now tomorrow morning is supposed to be a weather advisory 15 knots with gusts up to 30 knots from the west-east I think 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 dosage.

On Monday I spent the day at the marina

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

I tidied up the boat, did my laundry, and updated my log which is now online at

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xqPIeWdWN9923mbt0UejrXDNsdxWpWxWlCRZ3ZItZA/edit

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

Tuesday

Wednesday, Oct 16 One month anniversary since my departure

I got up early 730 at sunrise, hauled anchor and got 45 litres of diesel and had to leave the doc since somebody else is coming in. I ordered out to the bay and put up the main sale 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 decided I could not get a Deltaville so I pulled into Reedville about 15 miles before as I bought to turn into the wind I tried to start the motor and it would not start - no noise from the panel. Talk to sale leave the channel into the deep waters and try the Emergency engine start for use for decompression that worked, and after that, the engine panel worked.

I am motored into Reedville which was about 40 minutes of motoring and anchored in Cockwell Creek.

37 miles and just over an hour on the motor.

Investigate the engine but I could not find anything wrong.

Checked the connections for the panel fuse opened the four Yammar connectors sprayed with WD40 and reseated them

Thursday, Oct 17

It was another cold morning had a late start motor out into the channel put up the jib sale on a run to Deltaville. I went through the Jackson Creek channel, which is dredged anchored at Jackson Creek abou 2:30.

I took the dingy around the creek and ended up parking at Deltaville boat yard and borrowing the bicycle and road into town is it a hardware store and West Marine came back and visited the closed maritime museum.

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