Odyssey 2022 Day5&6

 Friday was relatively uneventful. I cruised out from Deltaville.  Had the sails up all day with almost no wind. FInally, I turned westward in the afternoon and looked for a place to tie up. Several marinas were recommended, but either their approach was too shallow or they had no room or gas. I finally decided on Point Lookout Marina on the north side of the Potomac River. What I didn't know, is how far up the Potomac River Point Lookout Marina actually was (7 miles).

I slipped in and tied up around 5:00 p.m. The marina was closed for the night but they were nice enough to leave me the combination to use the marinas's facilities. The best thing about this stop was the very nice well-heated and clean shower and bathroom area. I was disappointed to find out they were closed the next morning and I could not fill up my gas thanks.

Luckily I was able to fill up the boats main tank with all the reserve gas I carried on board which I judged was plenty to get to my next destination.

SUNDAY- WINDY- GALE WARNING IN EFFECT.

After having a nice breakfast of oatmeal made with hot water from my teapot which I was able to use in the lovely heated shower bathroom area. I turned to the task of preparing the boat for the day's journey. After listening to the weather radio I decided I would try to go ahead and push to a better place to wait out the windy weather. Since the wind was coming from the West. I estimated I could make headway even if I had to go slowly. I put away the 150 jib. And reefed the main sail down to the second reef point. This took me about 2 hours. I guess it took me about another 20 minutes to decide how I was going to get away from the pier. I strapped on my harness and life jacket, let go of the mooring lines and motored out. The dog leg channel to get out of the marina was difficult to navigate because of the wind. Most of the time I was at a 45 to 90° angle to where I actually wanted to go, just to stay in the channel. Once I got out into the main part of the Potomac River and headed west, things got exciting. The tide was going out to the West and the wind was also blowing at gale force ftom the West. I surfed along the waves under power and used the tiller mainly just to keep the boat pointed in the right direction because the huge swells wanted to keep turning it sideways. I knew at this point there was no way I could turn around and go back. I had to press on. I figured the water would calm down once I reached the mouth of the Potomac. It only took me an hour to reach the marker at the north side entrance; and as expected the huge swells calmed down as I began to head north. I put up the sail, and motored along the coastline carefully keeping to my plotted route which kept me close to shore and in at least 12 feet of water. As I looked around I saw a huge Cells of clouds to the Southwest directly to my West and to the Northwest. I could see rain happening ahead of me and behind me.

On this day I never felt a single raindrop. I did however, get very cold and very very wet as did all parts (interior and exterior) of the Scarlott Waters. The cause of all this wetness was simply spray from the waves and overwash from diving into them.

Oh! at one point it was hailing which then melted. The hail started just as I was passing the point no point lighthouse.

From this point on, huge supercells would pass me on the North and South, creating spray from the waves and huge extended gusts of 30 knots or more.

No matter which way I turned the boat or what speed I chose, the bow smacked up and down continuously through the chop, burying the prow in wave after wave, scooping the Chesapeake Bay up and tossing it over its head like a bird taking a bath. 

I became so soaked out in the cockpit after several hours of this, that I climbed down into the cabin, only reaching out to adjust the setting on the tiller and make sure the path ahead was clear. Total elapsed time for this day was five and a half hours.

When I pulled into the harbor at Solomon's Island, it was 5:30 p.m. At that exact moment, a huge hail storm begin to rain down pea-sized hail which stung my eyes and caused me to drop the bowline which promptly flowed back in the water and tangled itself in my propeller. With the sail down and the propeller now disabled I watched with dismay as the boat and I were blown by 60 kt gusts away from the place I was about to tie up!

Why me?

 Luckily the place I had chosen for safe haven was a "c" shape of docks and I was able to control my drift to end up beside another dock right in front of a nice restaurant. I tied up temporarily, and was able to free my tangled bow line from the prop by bumping the propeller in and out of forward and reverse a few times. By then there was absolutely no wind and the sun was shining, so I motored  over to my intended berthing to weather out the rest of the wind. 

The Scarlott Waters will stay right where it is until Wednesday of next week. On Wednesday the winds are forecast to be from the south at six knots. SW and I will sail right up to Annapolis no problemo.