Maiden/Shakedown Cruise

Yes!  We finally took Abake out of the slip.  And she loved it!  It goes without saying that we did, too.  We tried leaving on Sunday, but had too many things to take care of, so we left Monday afternoon (July 29).  We had decided to go North in the Chesapeake and explore the Sassafras River, but the forecasts were for wind out of the North.  So we thought we'd still try, because heading South meant a long trip or heading over into Eastern Bay, which we've explored with Namida.  Since we were getting away late in the day, we decided to stop somewhere along the way on Monday night. 

Once we got out and moving (motoring), we thought about Rock Hall, but we've been there, so we anchored in Whitehall Bay instead.  It was a quiet little Bay and only one other boat was anchored there (on a Monday night).  They eventually left and a work boat came in after dark and anchored.  Otherwise we pretty much had the place to ourselves.  We could see the lights and the traffic on the Bay Bridge through a little spit of land (Hackett Point and Goose Pond).  It was peaceful and quiet.

Tuesday morning we headed up to the Sassafras River, again motoring.  Winds were 5-10 and directly out of the North.  Waves were ... well ... let's just say it was a power boating day.  So we had a smooth ride up to the River.  We slowed near Betterton and scoped out the beach and the docks.  Then we decided to head up to Turner Creek and anchored near the entrance.  Again, only one other boat was anchored, and we had a beautiful view of the neighboring cliffs and both directions on the river.  The Sassafras River is fresh water and thus had no sea nettles (jellyfish).  It is bordered on the North by Cecil County (MD) and on the South by Kent County (MD).

We spent the next couple of days anchored there, exploring, by dinghy, Turner Creek and Back Creek.  We also dinghied up toward Georgetown, saw all the marinas and buildings and turned around before we got too close.  We walked around Turner Creek park and learned that it is "dominated by the regionally endangered American lotus, whose 8" flowers are the largest in North America".  http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=64294

Turner Creek landing

Lily pads at Turner Creek park

View of lily pads

We enjoyed our solitude (the other boat had departed, but another had anchored on the other side of the entrance to Turner Creek) and were entertained by activity at one house on the cliff where they were removing a tree and the stump at the edge of the cliff.  (What's wrong with this picture?  Hint:  zoom in to see no climbing gear or safety lines.)

Our view at anchor

Stump removal show -- reality tv

Abake at anchor

The next day we were entertained by their neighbors bailing out their small power cat.  We watched it list farther and farther to port and finally someone on land noticed it and started bailing.  It was reality tv at its best!  We also enjoyed some home cooked meals:  stir fry (with all leftover veggies from our home fridge!) and our first pizza in the new oven:

Stir fry

Homemade pizza

We're not the only ones lazing ...

 

Our trip back to Galesville was quite a bit more fun.  You may not have guessed, but by this time a front had come through during the week and the winds had clocked around 180 degrees.  So, now they're coming out of the South -- again on the nose.  But, the winds were blowing 10-15, so we unanimously agreed to raise the sails and just sail back and forth across the Bay for most of the day.  She handles beautifully, although she doesn't point into the wind very well.  We were able to sail about 45 degrees to the wind and sometimes push it to 40.  This meant tacking, but above the Bay Bridge it is pretty wide, so we could stay on one tack for a while.  We found that the sails are pretty stretched and that we definitely need to tighten the leech line on both.  But they are in good condition.  We also need some ties in the mainsail for reefing, along with a reefing line.  And, Mike said the genoa luff looks to be a little too long, so we'll have to take a look at that, too.  But this is what the shakedown cruise is for!  We wouldn't want to have to deal with this stuff at anchor somewhere or at a marina other than ours for now.

Under sail, as she should be!

So we're quite pleased and fairly comfortable on board.  We are in the process of finishing the watermaker installation, ordering foam and fabric for new dinette cushions, have already ordered and picked up a lifting sling for bringing the dinghy on board when necessary, and are working on other little odds and ends that need to be completed.  Time is ticking and we are trying to keep up with it.