Getting ready for my longest trip, any advice

[glennd3]

I am leaving for a 300 mile round trip from Baltimore to Norfolk in a week. I am going with a life long friend, 1st grade, who is flying in from Nashville for the trip. I have the boat ready in terms of my systems have been repaired, replaced or added over the 4 years I have owned the boat. We are leaving the wives behind so it is just the 2 of us. I have not set a schedule for where or when we need to be on any day on purpose. We will basically be marina hopping every day. I do have a basic itinerary on our route down the Chesapeake. We will be eating breakfast and lunch on the boat, dinner off. Through the years I have done many week long cruises on the bay but once we are past day 4 we will be in new to me locations. I am looking for any advice you may have for me that could help me during the trip. Not in terms of where to sail on the bay but things I may not be taking into account on a trip like this. 

[scgunner]

Glenn,

A very important piece of advice.....HAVE FUN!

[Stu Jackson]

I think you're prepared already.

We'd been sailing our boat since 1998, in San Francisco Bay, up to The Delta for summer vacations, outside The Gate up to Drakes Bay and south to Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz and Monterey, as well as a trip around the Faralone Islands, 25 nm out.

Then we moved to Canada in 2016.  I went back and got the boat and with my son sailed it up here, 1,650 nm.

The short answer:  you take it a day at a time.

Longer:  do your preventative maintenance before you leave and bring spares (so you won't need them! ), and know your boat.

Sounds like you got those done already.

I agree, just go have fun.

[Ron Hill]

Glenn :  Look at the Bay charts and when you set destinations have a shorter alternate (anchorage) just in case "something" (mechanical/weather) happens!!!!

Having sailed the Chesapeake for over 35 years (up and down) here are some marina destinations you might want to try for.  I'm trying not to have you sail too far up into rivers!! There are a ZILLION anchorages in the rivers off the Bay!!!
 
Day 1  Baltimore to Herrington Harbor South (Alt.  Annapolis moorings)  Day 2  Herrington South to Solomon's Island (Alt. Big Choptank Rvr)
Day 3  Solomon's to Great Wicomico Rvr. (alt. Coan Rvr )  Day 4  Great W. to Deltaville.   Day 5  to York Rvr or Salt Ponds.  Day 6  Old Ft. Monroe or Hampton Rvr.   
Day 7  Riverside Norfolk !!

I'm sure that others might give you some other idea, but I'm just giving you ideas for your chart study!! 

A few thoughts

[lazybone]

If it's a friend you haven't seen in a while talk to his wife and find out the quirks he's developed.

Food, drink, porn?

[glennd3]

Funny you said this I have just started working with her on his food needs!

If it's a friend you haven't seen in a while talk to his wife and find out the quirks he's developed.

Food, drink, porn?

[Stu Jackson]

Funny you said this I have just started working with her on his food needs!

Could you not have simply asked him?

[Kyle Ewing]

I second what was written:  HAVE FUN and take one day at a time.  Accept that unexpected things will happen then be pleasantly surprised when everything goes without a problem!  Take care of preventative maintenance (filters, impellers, anything else that might cause anxiety) and have spares.

Does your friend have sailing experience?  If so consider an overnight leg if night sailing is safe on the Chesapeake. 

I'm in the middle of a two week sailing trip myself, part by myself, part with family and part with a close friend.  Here are some random things I've done or thought about to prepare for my trip.
* Downloaded music for when out of cell coverage (ask your friend to do the same or have playlists with music he likes).
* Did NOT over pack food.  I'd rather stop at markets on the way than have food go bad.
* Any festivals/events to visit/avoid?
* Downloaded electronic versions of documentation for when outside of cell coverage.
* Packed mask/snorkel (recreation and underwater inspection if needed).
* Confirmed towing insurance (peace of mind).
* Declutter boat by removing things I won't need and clean.
* Practice using new equipment.
* Researched destinations on ActiveCaptain.com (I only recently found it).
* Fill propane tank (I ran out on a previous cruise, was a pain to get filled)
* Bought double burner stove top griddle (much easier to cook pancakes)
* Kept a "boat list" handy at all times so I wouldn't forget anything

[glennd3]

Yea you would think it would be that easy! 

Funny you said this I have just started working with her on his food needs!

Could you not have simply asked him?

[wingman]

You will have a blast, did a similar trip in 2019. Take your time and enjoy each day and each new port. If you haven't already, buy one of the cruising guides, really comes in handy with local knowledge.

I like to leave early each morning (breakfast underway), plan on comfortable 25-30nm leg each day, and arrive at destination mid afternoon to give myself time to take care of chores but also relax and explore. Early schedule also allows you to avoid some of the late afternoon squalls this time of year.

Highly recommend Tangier or Smith Island, maybe on the way back North. I don't know what their situation is re Covid, you probably want to check it out ahead of time, but those two islands are beautiful and other worldly. Plan on two nights.

The only marina on Tangier is Parks, slips are perpendicular to main channel, so wind and strong tidal currents through channel can make arrival and departure interesting. Time for slack tide if possible.

Herrington South is a well-run resort marina with good restaurant on marina property, Ketch22, with outdoor deck and often live music, small beach for swimming, free use of kayaks and SUPs, pool, etc. Also convenient fueling/pump out going in or coming out.

Solomons takes quite a while to get into and out of, but worth the trip with lots of marinas and restaurants.

Look for the Hannibal Target in the middle of the Bay opposite Pt Lookout, sometimes active Navy bombing area.

Spend some nights on the hook if you really want to get into cruising mode (second anchor is good insurance).

[Jim Hardesty]

We will basically be marina hopping every day.

You have a lot of good advice from sailors with Chesapeake cruising experience that I don't have.  My only thought is to be prepared to anchor for an overnight or two.  It may be necessary.  If not necessary you may find, as I do, being on the hook does have advantages to marina hopping.  Consider trying it.
Have fun.
Jim

[wingman]

We will basically be marina hopping every day.

you may find, as I do, being on the hook does have advantages to marina hopping.  Consider trying it.
Have fun.
Jim

second Jim's advice on anchoring, good way to experience the Chesapeake

[PaulJacobs]

Glenn,
I agree with much of the advice given in response to your question.  I would just add one thing.  Stay FLEXIBLE! 

Nancy and I have taken literally dozens of 300 nm to 700 nm cruises.  What we have learned is that while weather forecasts are surely helpful, they are far from perfect, especially 7-10 days into the future.  Thus, you may encounter dead calms when 7-10 knot winds were forecast, or, a major blow when none was forecast.  The former will require extended, perhaps boring powering, the latter much reefing. 

Part of the satisfaction achieved from extended cruising, in addition to seeing new places, comes from dealing with whatever Mother Nature happens to send your way.

Finally, as others have noted, "deadlines" often cause more problems than anything else when cruising!  The dreaded "we HAVE to be back home by Sunday" has caused many a sailor to abandon prudence and find deep trouble.  Enjoy every moment. A hundred years from now we will all be pushing up daisies, and just before you go I can almost guarantee that the last thing you will say will NOT be: "we made it back on Sunday".

Dr. Paul F. Jacobs
Pleiades
1990 Mk. 1.5 #1068
TR/FK
Wickford, RI

[Kyle Ewing]

I agree with avoiding "we HAVE to be back home by Sunday" mentality.  For me it's "I'd like to be home Saturday morning to clean the boat, I should be home by Sunday afternoon to get a good night's sleep before work and I don't have to be anywhere until Monday morning."  Although with remote work, I don't really have to be home Monday morning, just near an internet connection.

[Ron Hill]

Glenn : Just don't try to OVER plan!!  You are out to have fun and see the BAY.  My 1st Mate and I would take off for 6 weeks in the spring (May-mid lune) and the fall (Sept.- mid Oct).  We did this for over 20? years.  We would sail to where the wind took us!! 

You however, are going south so you have a destination.  Just don't let the "destination" ruin your trip.  So keep, "what if you arrive a day or two late - so what!" in your minds!!   

A few thoughts