Plain Jane Plain Talk
Journals from the road, trails and at sea
Category: Chesapeake Bay Sailing
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My next ‘long run’ would be in a new neighborhood. A new city. On the Eastern Shore of Maryland and I was looking forward to running in new territory. But first, we had to ‘get there’. OK. It wasn’t the best weather day for a 35 mile sail from Baltimore to Georgetown Maryland. We were…
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At daybreak, we were preparing to motor 1.5 hours — to return back to dockside. Back to “juice”. Which translates to heat. It can’t happen soon enough. It has been 41 degrees in our cabin since Monday night – Hurricane Sandy’s landfall. While at anchor – the port side engine ignition switch disintegrated. Just like…
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The eerie sounds of Hurricane Sandy along with the sensation of a levitating boat at anchor is haunting. At 40-60 knot winds we weren’t even experiencing the full brunt of what Sandy had to offer. Thanks to our hurricane hole on Wilton Creek. By 5AM, the sounds of Sandy winds changed and bands of winds…
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Sunday evening through Monday morning was spent sleepless.twirling at anchor. When it gets dark and the winds howl muting conversation, the rains resemble waterfalls, and boat groan sounds like the anchor has failed – it’s easy to doubt your sanity. But so far so good here at anchor. I don’t want to jinx anything by…
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The winds are blowing steady from the North – as Hurricane Sandy works her way up the East Coast. Even though she is still out to sea, we are feeling her wide reach. The navigation buoys 15 miles east of us record the wind speeds – and show the winds are registering 40+ knots.…
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Still dockside at Deltaville, and by 3AM the winds are starting to howl. Not steady howling, but enough to wake up Soxy…who in turn makes sure we are listening to the winds. Getting up at 4AM has it’s advantages. We can: – recheck the latest hurricane tracking for the umteenth time, – charge up…
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Thursday 10/25/2012 We had PLANNED to do some sailing – and when we departed for Deltaville VA – this little blip in the news called Sandy was just some storm in the Caribbean. Nothing for us to worry about here in the South Chesapeake Bay. But no. Suddenly Sandy is predicted to take on the…
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After a few days of Deltaville day sailing, we were finally getting our sailing chops back. Well, maybe not completely back – but enough to venture further than 10 miles. It was time to take a cruise. Even if it was only a mini-cruise….we had this need to be cruisers again. Time is limited.…
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By 9PM, all is dark, a cold front with tornado warnings has come and gone, and it’s time to fade into sweet dreams. But first, sounds of Soxy crying for help are heard and Paddy leaps from the salon in a panic. I run to the starboard hull, and we can hear her pleas to…
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After 10 months living on the high-n-dry – Cat Maudy takes to the southern Chesapeake Bay with 2 days of sailing winds – leftover remnants from Hurricane Issac. Cat Maudy and her Captains worked out the kinks on day ‘one’ with 10-15 knot winds…. Hmmm…tacking, furling, unfurling, maneuvering the daggerboard…so many details have gotten rusty.…
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A week after Hurricane Lee drowned nearly every community along the Susquehanna River – we decided it was time to explore the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. We discovered…a sewer…debris large enough to puncture recreational boats, submerged huge blue barrels of questionable contents…and the water took on a shade of chocolate brown. Despite the downsides…Cat…
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For months, Captain Paddy informs me “it’s coming”. He is referring to our least favorite time of year — called winter. I know what you’re thinking. Paddy has amazing insights ’bout the coming of the “seasons”. The nuances of weather are amplified when you are engaged in an extended camping trip – on a catamaran.…
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It was 1:34 AM, inside a deep sleep when Soxy and I bolted to a wide-eyed upright position. The noise was deafening and I shook Paddy to wake him. Paddy sleeps thru any weather condition, and I didn’t want him to miss out. It sounded like a freight train. The same sound we’ve experienced before…
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Here are ideas for Cat Maudy’s mast re-design. Problem: How to modify the design of the top of our mast, so that Cat Maudy can easily navigate under 65′ bridges on the ICW without having to hoist one of the captains 63 feet above the water to remove “gear” that adds 2 or more feet…
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In the sleepy town of Reedville VA, located near the southern end of the mouth of the Potomac River the main industry is the Menhaden fish factory. During processing-hours (i.e. all day long) it smells like dead fish irregardless of which way the wind is blowin’. The locals say you get used to it, but…
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Winds 15-20 from the NW, with gusts to 25 is Captain Paddy’s ideal world. Only one foil heading our way…rains and gale force winds to kick and could we sail to Reedville VA before the weather intensifies? Departing Annapolis harbor by 8AM, and we wasted no time raising the main sail, and turning off the…
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After a failed departure attempt on Friday…Saturday’s departure from Baltimore proved more successful. The winds have subsided from gale force – and we will have a leisurely, no hurry sail south to Annapolis. Leisurely it is. Highest speeds are 6 knots…and by the time we reached the Chesapeake Bay Bridge…we had slowed to 1.5 knots.…
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After 60 days of scorching temperatures over 90 degrees in the mid-Atlantic, a typical shortage of summer winds (which would have been too hot anyway), an exercise regimen that included 5 sprint triathlons and a host of other excuses (oh yeah – WORK!) – Labor day weekend changed all of that. Temperatures plunged into the…
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It’s been a month since we last sailed. Many days passed with lighter than normal winds, higher than normal temperatures, and a swelter factor that was beginning to feel like mid-August. Add an infusion of triathlon training and working for a living…and we were beginning to think that sailing was a thing of the past.…
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Bundled in cold weather gear, we left our mooring in Annapolis in hopes of a slow sail into B’more. But alas, NO wind at all. Not even a smidge. It’s all good. We motored the last 30 miles of Our Big Adventure – back into familiar territory. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the Magothy River, Bodkins…
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Rest days. Yeah right. You think you need a day of rest from a big sailing adventure, cuz you’re a tad weary, and wake up the next day to discover that the winds are favorable. It would be a sin to waste favorable winds…on rest. Time to prep the boat — for sailing. We departed…
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After 700 miles of offshore sailing during our “return to the north”, it’s hard to imagine that our most robust sail of the journey (to date) occurs on home territory. The Chesapeake Bay. We departed downtown Norfolk at 6:15AM, and spent the next two hours motoring to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. We had…
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The Waterside Marina is located in the heart of “tourist trap” downtown Norfolk. We love being tourists – and this is becoming one of our favorite layover stops. There is no shortage of restaurants, easy access to grocery and the weekends are filled with free concerts, wine tasting festivals and art vendors. It doesn’t seem…
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Rich from Georgetown Yacht Basin, Galena MD worked on Cat Maudy’s saildrive problem. He had the drives out of the boat a couple of hours after we were blocked on the hard.Rich found that in addition to the rubber diaphrams we needed prop shaft seals and damper plates on both drives. So while Rich was…
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We left Georgetown Yacht Basin in the pre-dawn. As we motored through the twists and turns of the Sassafras River area of dense fog were sculpted by a light NE breeze. This of spit of land provided a very nice photo op and then I made kinda B & W. We moved along at idle.…
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As I scanned google maps looking for the ideal bike route, Betterton, MD – with a whopping 6 streets and a public beach at the mouth of the Sassafras River stood out. Betterton. Yes, I liked the sound of this. I imagined that life was tranquil, slow to be precise – and that would be…
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Is traveling to Georgetown like time traveling into the past? It is and it ain’t.. Georgetown Yacht Basin is the only yard able to haul very beamy cats. So in the mid-Atlantic region GYB is THE destination for big cats.
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Jane and I departed the dock at 1300 hrs. we had a very good 10-15kts from 045. close hauled we were making 7 and 8 until we reached the bay and the wind increased. We were nearly at the eastern shore and the weather was looking a little nazty so we turned back. This course…
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Wed 8/26/2009 The winds were light – but it didn’t matter. We simply HAD to get away from the dock. With new sails installed, sika fully cured, and my triathlon now OVER — we headed out of the Patapsco River. Our destination would be Hart Miller Island for an overnight rendezvous with fellow CAT travel…
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What started out as a minor “CLEW” repair, morphed into needing new sails. The clew, is the end of the main sail, that attaches to the stern end of the boom. It looked like the attachment had worn out…but apparently the entire sail had no life left in her. So, while Cat Maudy was down…
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Tidewater Marina is located in a quiet industrial section of Baltimore – where the landmark highlights appear to be a cruise line pier, the Baltimore Sun, Walmart and Nicks Fish House. With our salon window redesign underway by repairman Clifton at Tidewater – molds of the new window hatches, grinding and fiberglass dust all added…
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Day 1 – Baltimore to AnnapolisWith a full day of scrubbing the inside port hull (mold removal) and stocking up on fruit and salad fixin’s – we were ready to depart for a 3-day sailing weekend with daughter unit Emma and newbie-sailor Mike. This trip would be Mike’s first time out on the water, and…
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(Captain Pat) Back in the day… …Cruisers had many little tricks for preserving fresh food on board the cruising boat. None of those tricks included a Frigoboat keel cooler refrigeration unit. You can probably google preserving fresh eggs and find that eggs can be kept for a very long time without refrigeration. Ok…we’ll save that…
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The windlass install is complete. In this shot the chain, solenoid, motor, and gearbox are visible. This project was complete on 5/10. We decided to replace the old windlass on 4/19 and started the project with 4 days of dis-assembly. The old windlass was a Diport AG with a much larger footprint and easily twice…
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Last December while in Sea School working on my USCG Captain’s license…I met “Captain” Jane. What are the odds in a predominantly male merchant marines – that I would meet another femme with the ‘jane name’. We instantly became friends, and shared sailing stories during class breaks. At least I thought we were sharing sailing…
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After a winter in Baltimore, or for no other apparent reason, our automatic anchor windlass has decided to act up. The windlass is a motor that turns the chain holding the anchor…allowing either the anchor to get dropped into the water….or to bring it back on deck. Our best guess, is that the bearings are…
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(Captain Pat) … that I have spent the winter in a dark corner of the basement sucking my thumb while in the fetal position due to this window nightmare. Well… almost. While gas prices were “lower”, we took a road trip out west – a real Lewis and Clarke adventure. This provided a wonderful distraction…
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Cat Maudy gets new cockpit boat cushions on the cheap… * discounted Microfiber upholstery fabric from G Street Fabrics @ $7/yard * reuse existing cushion material * use velcro to fasten ends* use the existing foam to cut new materials * spend a 7 hour rainy day with good friend Husqvarna Viking sewing machine and…
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We’re back on-board Cat Maudy after a 9 week stint on land. So, what’s changed?– the seagulls (along with all of their friends and relatives) have invaded our dock– the city of Baltimore has installed a shed with a solar powered conveyor belt to help capture storm runoff pollution.– our windows are still broken. Yes,…
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Earl Grey…our Cat Maudy CAT companion, and buddy of 17 years….had to move on to the after life. Earl was an amazing lilac point siamese and shared with us his knowledge on life: – No fear. Earl had no issues standing on the bow of Cat Maudy…at the very edge. – Always lending a hand.…
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When the local weather forecast began predicting 60 mph winds for the last day of 2008, I was somewhat skeptical. The weather weasels were mostly wrong about their forecasts. Whenever the forecasts were for severe winds, we might get 15 knot wind gusts at best. Alternately, when the forecasts call for calm skies — it…
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…all stations….this is Cat Maudy with a mariner alert on Channel 16 for the Chesapeake Bay….there’s a new captain in town….OVER Since we wouldn’t be traveling south on Cat Maudy this winter, it was time to fill up my “free” time with Plan B activities. Captain Pat thought it might be a good idea if…
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Bracing for high winds, cold temperatures and rain, topped off with a cracked salon window, meant we needed to protect the salon from the weather. We purchased the largest blue tarp sold by Home Depot, “Big Blu”, and spent the afternoon trying to tie it down. Big challenge. Our first big test was just hours…
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The weather has begun to change. We’re seeing more and more days of 40 knot winds out of the north. Temperatures are getting down into the 30’s at night, and 50s and 60s during the day. Daylight hours are less. The jellyfish are disappearing, and those few that remain seem to float without purpose. Hot,…
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…Cat Maudy’s panoramic port side salon window develops a seismic crack. We love to meet people, work with them, solve their business and technology problems and walk away at the end of the day knowing that my clients are satisfied. Designing software business solutions is what we do for a living, and there is nothing…
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Departed the Baltimore Harbor at 9AM along with a fleet of Schooner Sailors – who were en route to the start of the annual Schooner Race, just south of the Bay Bridge on the Chesapeake Bay. We were accompanied by our friends salty sailor Dan, and professional photographer Randy Santos. The winds were light and…
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On a bright sunny day, the Patapsco river (a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay) glistens and begs you for a swim. But don’t be tempted, as the polluted waters in and around the Baltimore Harbor are filled with poisons and other dangers. Oh my! Every 6 months, we hire divers to dip below Cat Maudy’s…
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Dockside in Baltimore MD. It would be nice to enjoy some downtime after 30 days of cruising. But no. Since arrival into the port of Baltimore:Day 1: Skate 25 milesDay 2: Can’t move. Realize I was too outta shape to skate 25 miles on Day 1Day 3: Still recovering from Day 1…tho my new PINK…
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Solomons to Baltimore MD Chesapeake Bay Barring any mishaps, or significant changes to weather (like GALE force northerly winds) – we should be able to make it back to Cat Maudy’s home port of Baltimore today. We motored north up the Chesapeake bay to mostly calm seas – and a light northerly breeze. It must…
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Deltaville VA…and north to Solomons Island MD 4/22-4/23/08Boat Repairs in Deltaville VA We couldn’t have picked a better spot to have some down-time, while waiting for southerly winds. I can’t say this with any certainty, but Deltaville appeared to be the kind of place, where everyone knew everyone else in town. You could leave your…
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Norfolk VA…and north to Deltaville VA On the Chesapeake Bay 4/20-4/21/08 Sunday 4/20/08 Norfolk VA The lower Chesapeake Bay weather forecast was predicting east winds for Sunday 4/20 (which would be good for us). Unfortunately, the forecast was also calling for severe thunderstorms and even tornado warnings. Not sure I really needed to write another…
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Back and forth between Charleston SC and Silver Spring, MD — I packed as efficiently as possible, and still managed to have 3 large & heavy bags of stuff along with my tennis rackets. A suitcase filled primarily with Trader Joes food and specialty items only found at the local Asian food stores (gotta have…
Plain Jane Plain Talk 