Our morning yesterday:
Wake up early
Check wind forecast and see that 20 knot winds with gusts in the high 30’s forecast until 1 pm
Talk about whether to stay two more nights in Solomons or leave
Check wind forecast
Meditate for 10 minutes
Check wind forecast
Talk about whether to stay two more nights in Solomons or leave
Check wind forecast
Eat breakfast
Check wind forecast
Talk about whether to stay two more nights in Solomons or leave
Check wind forecast and see that it has changed, high winds to end at 9 am
Decide to leave (which is what we really wanted to do all along)
Pull up the anchor in calm winds and driving rain
Motor by several other boats not making any moves to leave
The wind and waves increased as we neared the mouth of the Patunxent River. We also had the current against us. The combined effects slowed our speed from what would have been 6.5-7 knots at 2000 rpm down to 4 knots. The rain continued to pour and my new bimini started to leak. Darn. The worst leaking was along the two zippers that connect the back of the bimini to the bimini-arch connector. The water was dripping right through the zippers. There were small leaks in other places and before long the entire cockpit was wet even though we had the enclosure panels up. After a few hours I began to feel seasick. I hadn’t thought to take any medication before we left. George took over at the helm and drove most of he rest of the day. We didn’t raise the sails because there were squalls rolling through and we didn’t want to have the sails up if we got hit with high winds. Once the squalls finally passed in the afternoon we attempted to raise the main sail. It was quite an ordeal because one of the reef lines had become fouled after bouncing around in all of the wind and waves. We had thought we would be sailing so George had prepared the main sail before leaving the anchorage. That meant he pulled the reef lines free of the sail. Normally we raise the sail early on so it isn’t a problem. Yesterday we motored for hours while they were free and bouncing on the deck. In any case, once the line was all sorted out the wind had shifted behind us and was light so the sail didn’t stay filled. We ended up dropping the sail.
We finally pulled into Mill Creek (another one!) off of Ingram Bay at 4:45. We were both exhausted and very happy to be done with that ordeal. We plan to stay here another night to wait out unfavorable S wind today (see, we’re learning!) and then head to Cape Charles tomorrow.
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