Trip Report
Rock Hall, MD/Annapolis
July 19-20, 2003

Trip Leader – Cecile McKenzie
Asst. Trip Leader – Tilly Jo Emerson
4 boats, 24 people

This was the second two day trip of this season. We had ordered sunny skies and 15 knot winds – and we got some of that. Three of our 4 boats were Island Packets, out of one of our favorite small marinas – Spring Cove Marina in Rock Hall. The 4^th was a Beneteau out of Haven Charters, just across the water from Spring Cove.

Most of us arrived in time to gather together for a jovial dinner at Waterman’s, very crowded and upbeat that night. Saturday morning dawned as ordered – sunny skies but with only “some” wind. As most first mornings on a trip go, it took time to get the boats checked out, last minute chores done and crews briefed, but we were finally ready to leave around 10:30…at least most of us. Larry thought he was, only to discover, about 30 feet out of his slip that he had no gear shift. Luckily he was able to “drift” the boat into a slip directly across from his. Repairs took several hours and it wasn’t until around 1 when he and Steve Krakauer’s boat (he had stayed behind to wait with Larry) were able to head down the Bay.

Prior to the trip, Tilly Jo’s fine web search had led us to contact Mears Marina on Back Creek in Annapolis. It had everything we wanted for a warm July evening in the Chesapeake – overnight accommodations, a pool, a covered pavilion and grills for our intended Saturday night cookout, a breakfast bar on Sunday morning…and a quick walk to downtown Annapolis. However, because they could not guarantee slips for us until that day (as they don’t necessarily know how many of their members will be taking boats out on a given weekend), we were still uncertain on Saturday when we left Spring Cove where we would be that night. The biggest event on the sail down to Annapolis, then, was the call from Mears that they had just cleared enough slips for us. As it had gotten warmer and the wind had become squirrely and light, this was most welcome news.

We arrived there around 4, with the two “late” boats and Don Gilmore’s boat joining us as a “friend of the club” boat, arriving shortly after. It wasn’t long before the beer had been broken out, many were in the pool, and some even decided to walk into town.

After this refreshing interlude, we brought our dinner fixings to the pavilion, the grills were started, thanks to Jeff’s quick-lite charcoal, and the real cooks on the trip had a chance to shine. Dessert was incredible, plentiful and….unrestrained!

Sunday morning was sunny and peaceful, with some up early for a walk to town, others sleeping late…and then a lovely “continental” breakfast back at the pavilion. There had only been a light breeze that morning, which was the case on most of the trip back, until, of course, around 3 when the wind picked up. Most of us were already back at Spring Cove by then, having motored most of the way back. Steve’s boat, however, was still out and they had a bit of a good sail for a while.

After unloading and cleaning the boats, the pool at Spring Cove beckoned to several of us, as we waited for our carpooling partners to be ready. That was a great way to bridge that sometimes uncomfortable gap between being on being on vacation, albeit a short one…and having to return to real life.

Thanks to all who participated on this trip and a special thanks to Tilly Jo, who handled so many of the logistics for the trip.

Cecile McKenzie

Trip Leader

Some Photos