20 May, 2021. Chesapeake gave final slap across Serenity’s bow!

58 SM; 8.0 hours

Planned final day cruising the Chesapeake where the wind gods have been kind for nearly a week.  At least the forecast for today called for NE 5-10 with a late afternoon shift to the east.  Planned an early go to beat the afternoon sea breezes observed the past couple of days.Annapolis mooring. We released our lines from the mooring ball pendant at 0650 and observed the no-wake zone as we exited Annapolis and headed across the bay.

Beautiful early morning on the bay

Dodging crap pots until deeper water, it remained pretty calm for the first couple of hours.  We were northeast bound into a ebb tide with a one mile current against us.  Easy pass under the bay bridge.

Bay bridge to eastern shore

Mid day the tide reversed, flood increasing velocity into a increasing NE breeze.  Made for a choppy ride with 1-2 foot chop on the bow.  Winds shifted more ENE earlier than forecast but we also began to get shielding from the eastern shore and not nearly so much fetch.  However, between the wind chop and wind, Serenity got a pretty good washing from the bay waters one last time. Entering the Elk river at the upper reaches of the bay, we bid farewell to the Chesapeake and anticipated reaching the Chesapeake & Delaware  C & D Canal .  On the chart plotter the AIS was giving a warning and it was something big getting ready to exit the western end of the canal.  We moved over to the edge of the channel and gave plenty of room to the big guy.

Very big ship

All clear we entered the canal on a max flood tide, gaining over 2 mph increase in our ground speed.  Only a few miles east, we exited south and have anchored in a small basin at Chesapeake City.  We set the anchor in 13 feet at 1415.  Chesapeake city⚓️  A long day, rough and choppy the last couple of miles, but the Bay is behind us.  After a rough start and turn-around a week ago in Hampton, it has been very safe, smooth and enjoyable 200+ miles with great anchorages and towns visited.  There are so many places missed in this gigantic estuary, but a small boat has to take advantage of the good weather.  Another time perhaps.  Chesapeake City, MD anchorage

Tomorrow, will ride the tide down the 14 miles of the C&D to the junction of the upper Delaware Bay.  We will go a bit north on the Delaware river to a marina for the night.  We need boat maintenance, fuel and the dock master provides a nightly weather, tide and guidelines for safely cruising the Delaware Bay to Cape May, NJ.  Another large body of water with fierce tidal currents and a snotty reputation.

3771 SM traveled; 1694.2 hours hobb