134nm in 5 days, some details. Longish

[Will W.]

Hi All
I just completed my first sail longer than an overnight! 5 days and 134 nauticl miles regisered on the GPS. Some things went great, some not so great but it was a terrific adventure.
I was thwarted twice in an effort to make the passage between Drum Point and Point lookout on the Chesapeake both times I took refuge in the only place for over ten miles in any direction that provides any safety; St. Jeromes Creek.
I left my home port at Breezy Point Marina on Tuesday the 4th. My destination was to meet with the Chesapeake Fleet CDSOA cruise on the Potomac River on Wednesday. Tuesday weather was for south to southeast winds at 15 knots, not ideal for haeding south on the bay. Things went pretty well for a long time all the way to south of the Pautuxent River. However by the time I was half way between Cedar Point and Point lookout things had gotten pretty ugly.The wind had picked up to 20 knots and the current and heavy surf were against me. With a fully reefed main and about 75% on the jib and the motor working hard I was barely going forward. I knew then that I was not going to make it around Point Lookout that day. I had been single handing for close to ten hours by then and I had two choices. Turn around and go to Solomon's Island or try to make a few more miles to St. Jeromes Creek just south of Point No Point. I was tired and with ten miles to Solomon's and only two to St. Jeromes I decided to press on. Fortunatly the small inlet calmed down after I got throught the breakers and I navigated the tight S turn into the creek. What a blessing, after hours of taking water over the sides to pull into a perfectly calm refuge. I found a cove and anchored for the night. That night I decided that if the weather was the same; the forecast was similar at the time, I would have to turn back.
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Wednesday fortunatly was a different world. I came out of the channel to find a beautiful day and even though the wind was still SE it was calm so I motored around Point lookout. Destination that day was Herring Creek to meet up with the CDSOA cruise. I got to Herring Creek without event at about 3:00pm. The Creek is very pretty with two marinas. Unfortunatly the fleet did not show. I stayed there that night anyway since I was not sure what happened to the fleet.
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Thursday I headed for Port Kinsale Marina for the Awards Dinner. I wound up talking to a few of the boats on the cruise by radio before we got to the marina and was able to lay to rest my fear that I would miss them again. I got to the marina at around noon and was met by Bud Mencheny and his wife Sandy( the fly lady ) who made me the best cheese sandwich I have ever had as soon as I docked. I met lots of great folks and they all sail georgeous boats. A few CD30s were the smallest boats besides my 25. The Bravermans came, like me for the day, in their Robinhood 36. I was really wowed. I think the 30 is my next step. I got to see Aloha Spirit, Bob Ohler's 30, several times from a distance under sail. She is very pretty and recognizable at a pretty good distance as a Cape Dory.
The awards dinner was terrific and hillarious and the company was excellent. I was awarded the scout award for checking out Herring Creek for the fleet. Next year though, I will be competing for the Nightgown Navigator award which was given to Bill Papian's wife of Eventide.
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Friday saw the return of nasty weather. The fleet was supposed to go to Solomon's Island. With the forecast of 20 knot NE winds and 4 foot seas it did not look good for heading north around Point Lookout. Aloha Spirit left at about 5:30am and I left at around 7:00, The rest of the fleet never left and I can't say I blame them. Heading south on the Potomac was no problem. At times with the current and wind behind me I was making almost 7 knots with accasional pushes over 7. However with about 2 miles to the entrance to the Chesapeake I heard by radio that Aloha Spirit had turned back and the rest of the fleet was staying put for the day. I decided to turn around and then to go on all in a matter of moments. It was not so bad yet and with NE winds I figured I could shoot way out east into the bay and then come back on a starboard tack to the NW and make for St Jeromes Creek again. Once again by the time I reached the creek I was pretty beat up and very very wet. But I was glad I tried because that meant that I would get home on Saturday as planned. Just to give you an Idea of what I was sailing (motor sailing actually)in that day. Later I was listening, on the VHF, to an convoy of larger power boats who decided to make the passage I had tried. At one point one guy asked another in the convoy if he could see him. His response,"Not unless your a whitecap".
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Saturday, once again after paying homage to St Jerome and his creek, I left the channel to find a stunning day. Unfortunatly what little wind there was was in my face so it was 35 miles of almost all motorsailing. I have actually gotten used to the fumes from my outboard. I was joined along the way by other members heading north and it was fun to talk with them on the radio. I was home for dinner.

Obsevations:
Sailing is not for people on a schedule. The weather decides when you go where you want to go.
Have a backup plan in case of bad weather and a backup for your backup.
Refridgeration is important and fresh ice is needed almost daily when it is hot.
I have read before that the CD25 can handle more than the sailor sailing her. I found that to be true. For hours on end Suzi Q, on two occasions, beat into the wind and weather without fail all the while I continued to tire and worry if I would make a mistake.
After spending so much time on board Suzi Q my admiration for her has turned to respect and awe. For 5 days she was my shell that protected me. She was my locomotion. She literally sustained life, my life. It is great to be home but I am happy to say that the experience was a test that I passed. I definatly could spend more time cruising and look forward to more sailing adventures, Something I wanted to know before I really start looking for a bigger boat.
Thanks for listening.

Will Wheatley
Suzi Q
CD25
Sailing from Chesapeake Beach, MD

P.S. After 5 days on the water sailing, driving a car felt really strange at first, be careful.



willwheatley@starpower.net

[Allen Evans]

Will - A fine passage; well-executed! Glad to hear you're home safely. Enjoyed meeting you. We did have a variety of weather on the Potomac Cruise. Spoke to a friend at the marina who had to abandon an attempted DelMarVa circumnavigation in a Tartan 41 because of the heavy weather on Friday. Hope you can make a part of the later cruises this season.

- Allen Evans
Whisper, CD36



adevans@worldnet.att.net

[Jon]

Will,

That is a great account of your adventure! I'm glad SuzyQ has lived up to your expectations. The CD25 is a great boat and worthy of a fine captain such as yourself.

We will lift a glass in your honor at the CD25 rendezvous.

Cheers!
Jon
CD25 Sovereign