Chesapeake Bay Sailing

2014

Destination Georgetown – will wait for another day

My next ‘long run’ would be in a new neighborhood. […]

2012

Thawing out: Return to dockside – post Hurricane Sandy

At daybreak, we were preparing to motor 1.5 hours — […]

2012

Hurricane Sandy Aftermath

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 […]

2012

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 […]

2012

Sandy works her way up the East Coast

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 […]

2012

Departure for Wilton Creek…the Hurricane Hole

Still dockside at Deltaville, and by 3AM the winds are […]

2012

Before Hurricane Sandy arrives…

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 […]

2012

Cruisers for a day, or 2, or 3!

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. […]

2012

Soxy rescued after falling into the Bay

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 […]

2012

Cat Maudy bounces back!!

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 […]

2011

Cat Maudy sails da’sewer waters of the Bay

A week after Hurricane Lee drowned nearly every community along […]

2010

Living aboard a catamaran Igloo

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 […]

2010

Tornado rips thru Baltimore

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 […]

2010

Mast Invention

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 […]

2010

The Menhaden Fish Factory

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. […]

2010

Screeching down the Bay

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 […]

2010

Baltimore departure, hon

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 […]

2010

Cat Maudy leaves the dock for Labor Day!

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 […]

2010

Sailing? What’s that?

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 […]

2010

Baltimore…At Last

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 […]

2010

The big blow no show

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 […]

2010

Touchdown into Maryland

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. […]

2010

Takin in time at Norfolk’s waterside

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 […]

2009

The Big Cat House

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 […]

2009

Sassafras River and Chesapeake Bay fog rolls in…

We left Georgetown Yacht Basin in the pre-dawn. As we […]

2009

Life is better….at Betterton!

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 […]

2009

Motor sail to Georgetown MD

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 […]

2009

Cat Maudy comes to life with new sails!

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 […]

2009

Rendezvous with Our White Magic

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 […]

2009

Humpty Dumpty comes alive!

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 […]

2009

Yachtie-Yachtie-YachtAH

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 […]

2009

Celebrating the 4TH – Port of Baltimore Style!

2009

Sails UP for Memorial Day Weekend in Annapolis

Day 1 – Baltimore to AnnapolisWith a full day of […]

2009

What The Frigoboat…

(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 […]

2009

Anchor down…

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 […]

2009

60 MPH sailors

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 […]

2009

Houdini Mechanic of the Day

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 […]

2009

The return to Cat Maudy…afer 3 months on land

(Captain Pat) … that I have spent the winter in […]

2009

New cushions…on a dime

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 […]

2009

Where to start…with window replacement 101

We’re back on-board Cat Maudy after a 9 week stint […]

2009

Rest peacefully…little buddy Earl

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 […]

2008

Blow adieu to 2008

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 […]

2008

Securite Securite Securite…

…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 […]

2008

Life under the Big Blue Tarp

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 […]

2008

Cat Maudy preps for a cold winter in Maryland

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 […]

2008

Snap….Crackle…Pop….the salon windows are busted!

…Cat Maudy’s panoramic port side salon window develops a seismic […]

2008

Caught in a Schooner sailing race

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 […]

2008

Can anyone guess why the fish are dying?

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 […]

2008

Cat Maudy gets a makeover…and fixed steering!

Dockside in Baltimore MD. It would be nice to enjoy […]

2008

Avoiding fishing boats and crabpots: Solomons to Baltimore MD

Solomons to Baltimore MD Chesapeake Bay Barring any mishaps, or […]

2008

Downtime in Deltaville VA, and northbound to Solomons MD

Deltaville VA…and north to Solomons Island MD 4/22-4/23/08Boat Repairs in […]

2008

Diving for crabs – Norfolk and northbound to Deltaville VA

Norfolk VA…and north to Deltaville VA On the Chesapeake Bay […]

2008

Reconnecting with Cat Maudy…

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 […]