Chesapeake Cruise 2012 - Wayfarer Style
by Tom Goldsmith

For years prior to leading this annual cruise, Dick Harrington had followed his own dreams by exploring the fascinating bays and rivers of the Chesapeake Bay. This year once again, Dick invited Association members to share with him the experience of dinghy cruising on one of his water trails. This cruise took us on a journey from Oxford to Tilghman Island to the Little Choptank River, Slaughter Creek and James Island. Being with a small group on a dinghy cruise on the largest estuary in the U.S. and making our way through the open waters and into the shallows, it was easy to fantasize just a little to see the marshy islands and abundant wild life through the eyes of European explorer, Captain John Smith, back in 1608.

I took a break from my job and had the opportunity to crew for Uncle Al on Shades. We were with Fran and Jeff Kirk in their CL16 Liberty and Jane Korver and Dick Harrington in Blue Mist. For me, the time spent is a precious memory because I was among friends, I was able to learn much from Dick and Uncle Al,l and I encountered nature.

At the public launch in Oxford, midday Sunday, boats went into the water and we sailed a short distance to the dock at Campbell's Town Creek Marina. After shuffling cars around so that two cars were parked at our end destination, we dined that evening at Palm Beach Willie's Restaurant located at Slaughter Creek Marina. My vacation began with sharing a meal and dining on local seafood. I recall the kitchen ran out of cream of crab soup before they could fill a bowl for Jeff and we shared. That evening at Campbell's Marina I got my first experience attempting to sleep under a boom tent. Next morning a few of us made a short car-run to the local Oxford Market where we picked up good breakfast sandwiches and homemade muffins plus average coffee.

Following the morning skippers' meeting, we headed out to make the six-mile cruise over to Tilghman Island. Getting through the drawbridge at Knapp's Narrows under sail was very cool for me. I will remember three things from this first leg of our cruise: A nervous skipper of a large sailboat with sails down and under motor yelled "Get out of the channel!" as Dick skillfully sailed Blue Mist under the small open drawbridge; Uncle Al said to me as he took over the helm before docking Shades in a stiff breeze, "Keep in mind we are not here to provide entertainment for the on-lookers." Kip, the marina manager seemed favorably impressed by our sailing capabilities.

We enjoyed a relaxing afternoon by the pool and Kip very kindly lent us the marina's vehicle to make the eight-mile drive to the Chesapeake Landing Restaurant. Before we shared stories of the day's activity over plates of food with fabulous crab topping and homemade cornbread, our waitress - having been coached about last night's restaurant shortfall, played a prank on Jeff saying, "Sorry, the kitchen ran out of cream of crab soup before they could fill your bowl." That night, Uncle Al and I shared an air-conditioned room with comfortable beds while our friends remained true to the plan by sleeping under boom tents.

Tuesday, we sailed the twenty-mile trip from Tilghman Island, beating into a steady 18 to 20 MPH south wind towards the Little Choptank River and Slaughter Creek Marina with me at the helm most of the way. As you probably know, Uncle Al generously shares his wealth of technical sailing / racing knowledge and has more stories to tell than there are miles to sail. On this day, he put on lots of vang and then had me ease the main until we had a nice comfortable bit of heel and minimal weather helm. I remember during the trip, Uncle Al said more than once, "Don't' be afraid. You're spilling a little too much wind." I remember us heaving to several times to take pictures, program the GPS, check the chart and, purposely slow down.

As luck would have it, Slaughter Creek Marina (SCM) has a fully outfitted clean comfortable trailer that sleeps eight. Together, all of us made the trailer our home for the remaining three days. The price was right, and Bob the proprietor of SCM was a gracious host, even more so when each morning we shared our bacon and eggs with Bob. Not a fancy schmancy place, SCM gave us a wonderful glimpse into the life of the true Bay Waterman.

Upon returning after dining Wednesday evening at the Island Grill, the local hot spot just down the road on Taylor Island, Dick spotted a Skipjack tied up with the other work-boats. Dick gave us the history, functions and features of this working oyster dredger: The Skipjack arose near the end of the 19th century. Due to state laws this boat with no motor can legally dredge for oysters and, sloop-rigged with an extremely long boom, a long bowsprit, low freeboard, wide beam, and centerboard, it has the power needed to pull the dredge.

Our trailer home had a spacious living / dining area giving us the opportunity to gather. Late one evening the conversation got really lively when Fran, Jeff and Uncle Al got on the topic of their favorite book titles and authors. I sat there amazed by the fun they were having.

On Wednesday afternoon winds were light and as I was crewing for Dick on Blue Mist, he generously took the time to explain and demonstrate his techniques on handling windy conditions: reefing the mainsail, putting up a storm jib, balancing sail area, and putting up a trysail. Out in the channel we were among water birds: osprey, bald eagle, great blue heron, egret, and mallard. All of a sudden about fifty yards off the port bow a bald eagle swooped down on its prey to claw a fish near the water surface. The eagle's movement was classic, talons reaching out to grab the fish, then once caught, the weight of the fish rocked the bird's forward motion, then the eagle proceeded to display big wing air pumps for altitude by pointing feathers high over head to well below the body. What a beautiful sight.

On Thursday morning southwest winds were steady at 12 knots when in Blue Mist, Jeff, Dick and I beat four miles under full sail over to James Island. As we approached this uninhabited island, our focus was on two eagle nests sitting high atop barren trees as an eagle flew out of one nest. Dick took over the helm and found us a nice little cove in which to beach Blue Mist. The feeling was wonderful as I walked waist deep in warm water over a sand bottom, occasionally stepping over dead tree limbs decorated with gray pinecones above the water surface and occasionally glancing up at the eagle nests.

That afternoon on the return sail to Slaughter Creek, seas were calm, the wind was at our backs and the sun was in our faces. Sounds like the Irish prayer. May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, And the rains fall soft upon your fields, And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. To my friends, Jane, Dick, Fran, Jeff and Uncle Al, thanks, for making this a memorable cruise, and thank you, Wayfarer Association.