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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Sailed across the Chesapeake!

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Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/03/2006 : 12:14:58

I finally sailed across the bay. Much thanks to Dave (member Bubba) for all the help yesterday! It was a beautiful day out on the Chesapeake, 60-70F, sunny and clear blue skies. The only thing missing was some more wind. We unfurled the genoa several times, but we rarely got over 3 knots under wind alone. It was just so calm out. We motored probably about 70% of the trip. For a time when we had the wind coming directly from the stern, we put my spinnaker pole to use and used it to hold out the headsail as we went wing on wing (is that what it’s called?).

I tried to get a different view of my boat and the water in this shot:

Here’s a photo from laying down on the bow and looking at the beautiful sky and sails. That’s my new Cruising Direct (North Sails) 135% genoa.

Here is our course plotted on a chart from using Dave’s GPS. I think it was around 27-30 nautical miles, I forgot the exact number.

Since my younger brother who was being our shuttle decided to drive all the way to Ocean City, MD, we beat him to the other side of the bay. Since we had some time to kill, we sailed down the West River to explore and then headed to my new marina off Cadle Creek. It was a total of 6.5 hours of motoring/sailing. Before we left, I filled up my fuel tanks (6 gal and 3.5 gal) and I was surprised that I used probably only about 2 gallons. The Honda 4 stroke 15hp outboard worked great during the trip. It doesn’t take much throttle to get up to 5 knots, pretty much just turned to the “start” setting of the throttle. I still need to look into the wiring because the electric starter didn’t work, but I think it wasn’t connected to the good battery. I plan to look into it this weekend.

One question I have is, does anyone know the depth of the rudder? My slip is shallow and my depth meter read 3.5’. Low tide was supposed to be around 5:39 pm and we arrived around 6:45pm. I’m a little concerned about my rudder. I know Catalina says my swing keel draft is 2’ 8”, but I thought the rudder actually protrudes a little further. The marina said there was about 4’ of water there and I should be fine, but I hope it doesn’t get much less than 3.5’.

I can’t wait until this coming weekend to go out on my boat again. Thanks again Dave for all the help.

Justin
Previous Owner of Sapphire Breeze - 1982 Catalina 25 SK/SR
My sail blog site: https://reveriesailing.com/

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3502 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2006 : 12:51:00

Justin,

I was out yesterday as well. I am a bit too far from the Chesapeake, sailing in the north Potomac River area. I was out from about 1030am till 600pm. Winds were fine during the morning but then we had to go against the tide and wind which was then light similar to your conditions. I eventually put the motor on around 4pm or so and motore dthe rest of the way back to the marina.

great snapshots ! Like the chart and showing your route ! You had a nice trip yesterday and sort of on the high seas.

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2006 : 20:47:00

Congratulations, Justin. I hope this is the first of many crossings. If you come south to the Rappahannock, give me a shout.

Yes, the keel is a few inches lower than the raised keel. Since most of the Chesapeake bottom is mud, the rudder is a good early warning signal for running aground. On the other hand, you can keep your keel down a few cranks and have a better warning -- if you run aground, then you crank up and head a different direction. Trust me -- I speak from experience!

Brooke

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cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2006 : 21:11:16

Those photos really make me want to get back out on the water. We may have to take the C250 out for one more sail. Our Pearson is still on the hard in Annapolis, but is scheduled to launch the week of 4/24. I can't wait!

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2006 : 22:09:34

That area is where I might have been sailing now if my wife were still alive--we were seriously thinking about retiring to the Easton/Oxford/St. Michaels area, which might have happened about now. Well, things changed... I still have a special feeling for that place, and will miss sailing on the Big Peake. They say if you're 40, you could anchor in a different harbor, river, or creek off the Chesapeake every day for the rest of your life!

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2006 : 07:00:34

Well, Dave, Mystic is hardly Purgatory. Our sailing seasons are longer than yours, but your water is deeper and summers cooler. If you want to visit and borrow "Even Chance," let me know. I think the Rappahannock is the prettiest river on the Bay, and that's saying something. St. Mike's is getting pretty trendy and crowded -- Urbanna, where my boat is now, is a lot like St. Mikes was thirty years ago (but, sadly, about to change because of a big development on the edge of town). Our family farm (since 1674) is about 15 miles SE of Easton.

Brooke

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2006 : 13:59:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Brooke Willson
 Well, Dave, Mystic is hardly Purgatory. Our sailing seasons are longer than yours, but your water is deeper and summers cooler.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
...and the ocean breezes blow across Fisher's Island Sound all summer, unlike the doldrums in western Long Island Sound where I moved from... Thanks for your offer, but I might be afraid of your gudgeons letting go (from the occasional rudder-dragging you mentioned).

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2006 : 14:56:05

Well, if you're going to insult my gudgeons, forget it! The nerve . . .

Brooke

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2006 : 15:21:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Brooke Willson
 Well, if you're going to insult my gudgeons, forget it! The nerve . . .

Brooke
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yeah, you should leave his mother in law out of it!

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 07:39:17

My mother-in-law is WAY too big to be a gudgeon.

But I've been tempted over the years to use her for an anchor.

Brooke

Edited by - Brooke Willson on 04/06/2006 07:43:22

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 08:41:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Brooke Willson
 ...I think the Rappahannock is the prettiest river on the Bay,...Brooke<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My first born arrived on the banks of the Rappahannock (Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg) and we lived for a few years in King George. We almost settled in Westmoreland County, but a sea change blew me back to Michigan...Sometimes I wish I would have stayed on the banks of the Rappahannock.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 12:57:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Brooke Willson
 Well, if you're going to insult my gudgeons, forget it! The nerve . . .
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I wasn't trying to insult your gudgeons...

Touch, touchy...

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/06/2006 12:59:44

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 15:36:31

Well, Don, come on back. MW Hospital is about 5 times the size it used to be, and Fredericksburg is now suburban DC, with accompanying housing prices and traffic congestion. That inflation is creeping its way down both the Northern and Middle Necks. But the Rivah is still gorgeous.

Dave, I KNOW you weren't insulting my boat: you can insult my children, wife, and even dog, but you just don't make fun of a man's truck or his boat. So, if you were insulting my sailing . . . well, that's probably appropriate.

Brooke

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.