No maintenance

[M. R. Bober]

I thought a post without any mention of maintenance would be a pleasant change of course. Of course it would be, so allow me to tell you about last week's mini-cruise. We had the promise of superb sailing conditions here on the southern Chesapeake Bay and being retired I went sailing. It was the week with the scheduled rocket launch (Wallops Island, VA).

Making ready for departure was fairly straight forward: just added groceries and released the dock lines. Since I was single handing, every thing else was as I like it.

The winds were predicted to be out of the south (more or less) and then shifting to mostly northerly, later in the week. Perfect conditions to head east, and return west. So I headed to Tabbs Creek, where I was the only boat anchored. Most of the snowbirds wait in the Bay until November before heading further south (insurance companies and hurricane coverage), but none were in Tabbs. Soon after the hook was set a Duffy (http://www.duffyboats.com/) electric boat came past and welcomed me to their creek and advised me of that night's scheduled rocket launch. Nice folks.

The evening was clear and very still. The Bay was a mill pond. About an hour before the scheduled launch small boats--loaded with very casual crews--started heading out to view the space shot. I suppose there were a dozen or so. My vantage was perfect, there wasn't anything blocking my view. Wallops Island was approximately 50 miles to the east. The scheduled time came and went. None of the boats headed back in to the creek. My neck was getting sore, but we all still faced east.

About an hour after the scheduled launch, I received an e-mail (2 actually) advising that the launch had been scrubbed. The small boats began returning. Most were not displaying running lights.

The next morning I sailed east to Onancock, VA. CDSOA has had many fine gatherings in their protected harbor. I emailed Jim McGowan. who lives in town and arranged to meet at one of his pals' dock. Booming sail across the Bay--beam to broad reach in 12-18 knots from the south--with beam seas that built as the day progressed. The entrance to Onancock is about 6 miles of serpentine well marked channel.

I arrived in town in mid-afternoon and secured at John's dock. He came out to assist me. We, John, Jim & I, were sitting in the cockpit socializing and awaiting the rescheduled launch. Onancock is probably 25 miles from Wallops Island. There we were with an unobstructed view in the direction of the launch site--having drinks and snacks--when the sky turned yellow/orange/pink/rose as the rocket failed to launch and was destroyed.

The weather turned bad with heavy rain so I stayed an extra day. Onancock is a great walking around town with lovely well kept homes and several restaurants. So I stretched my legs and found lunch.

Headed out early the next morning with winds from the north mostly 12-20 knots. Beam to broad reach back to the western shore. Spent the next night anchored in Urbanna, VA (Oyster Festival is this weekend). Peaceful night, but getting cold.

Short sail home on Friday. Weather turned really cold Friday night. High winds for most of the weekend (gale winds, Richmond reported 50mph gusts).

There is it. Nice sail. No maintenance tales. Thanks Jim & John!

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster, (Such a peaceful place) VA

[M. R. Bober]

Dup

[Rebinva]

Hey Mitch:

Nice post! Hope to see ya'll before too long.

T.