The summer solstice of 2024 on June 20^th was the “early board” day of our Summer Sailstice cruise. Three crews of sailors met at Haven Harbour in Rock Hall, Maryland, to meet our boats and enjoy the long evening together. The very high temperature drove everyone to dinner in air conditioned spaces rather than enjoying typical Rock Hall outdoor dining. Fortunately, the boats had air conditioning too.

At an early skipper’s meeting Friday morning, the predicted overnight weather – some strong southerly wind – had us change our destination from Crab Alley, which is open to the south, to Shaw Bay on the Wye River, a beautiful, well protected anchorage that added another eight or so miles to our day. Given the nearly forty-mile sail, all three boats got away as close to 9:00 a.m. as possible.

The three boats – Luff Out Loud (Beneteau 41, skippered by Bob), Stargazer (Hunter 44DS, skippered by Mia), and Tranquility (Catalina 425, skippered by Gary) began with a favorable southerly breeze, allowing for close-hauled sailing for a while. However, by noon, the winds had died down, forcing some boats to switch to motor-sailing. Later in the afternoon, the wind returned, offering some a pleasant sail up the Eastern Bay and into Shaw Bay.

Beth and Eleanor	Mia and Hank
Eleanor hauls in the jib

Stargazer, with its impressive 300 feet of chain, took the lead to secure the raft-up. Tranquility rafted up to her, and Luff Out Loud anchored for extra security and then rafted on Stargazer’s other side. The warm water and hot sunshine made for a perfect afternoon of swimming and enjoying the beautiful natural scenery. As the sun dipped below the horizon, a friendly hors d'oeuvres competition kicked off. Bob Rainey stole the show with his crowd-pleasing Bloody Mary shrimp.

Luff Out Loud anchoring before rafting	One-third of the appetizer spread in Stargazer’s cockpit
Dana and Marty	Bob, Anne Marie, Kathy, and Mia at Luff Out Loud’s spread

The summer solstice of 2024 (plus 1) was graced by a spectacular sight – a blood-red “Strawberry” moon rising over the woods at 9:00 pm. Many attempted to capture this breathtaking scene on their smartphones. It is called a “Strawberry Moon” not because of the color as it’s viewed through the atmosphere, but because, as the last full moon in June, it comes just as strawberries are ripe.

The predicted southerly gusts did arrive around 3:00 a.m. Most slept through it, although the skippers were aware. The 150 feet of chain Stargazer’s crew had deployed held us in place easily. Saturday dawned bright, and Tranquility set off at 9:30 a.m. for a delightful six-mile sail to St. Michaels. They navigated the scenic curves of the Wye River inlet under sail for most of the journey.

Meanwhile, back in Shaw Bay we watched a pod of dolphins playing around our boats. Some crew jumped back in the water, and Mia was tickled to have a dolphin surface about twenty feet away. As trip leader she accepted thanks from the crews for arranging for the aquatic show. By 11:30 a.m. Luff Out Loud and Stargazer also weighed anchor and departed for the docks at St. Michaels Harbour Inn.

After lunch on board, many gathered for a refreshing dip in the pool at St. Michaels Harbour Inn. Despite the crowd, it was a welcome respite from the scorching heat. Some made their way to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, where seeing all the exhibits can easily fill an entire weekend.

In the afternoon eleven of the group enjoyed an insightful private tour of the Lyon Rum Distillery, led by the passionate founder, Jaime Windon. We explored rooms filled with aging rum barrels, the distillery itself, and the bottling facilities, learning the fascinating story behind the rum we were fortunate enough to sample, and in some cases, purchase.

The group touring Lyon Rum Distillery

Capping off the day, each crew enjoyed a delicious dinner showcasing the culinary delights of St. Michaels. In the cool comfort of our (mostly) air-conditioned boats later that night, we played games, shared stories, and sipped nightcaps. The peaceful evening was punctuated by a sudden boom, followed by a dazzling fireworks display off the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, a delightful surprise to end the day. As trip leader, Mia happily accepted the thanks of Luff Out Loud’s crew for arranging it.

Facing a long, hot 40 miles, Luff Out Loud was first to bid farewell to St. Michaels, and set sail for the return trip to Rock Hall at 6:00 a.m. Sunday. Tranquility and Stargazer followed shortly after, at 7:00 a.m. Sails were promptly raised as we left the harbor, and the southwesterly winds picked up as we made our way north on the Miles River towards Eastern Bay. By the time we entered Eastern Bay, apparent winds had reached 20 knots, prompting Stargazer’s crew to reef both sails. We were all looking forward to a rollicking, fast sail home under sail.

However, the ever-changing nature of the Bay had other plans. The winds dropped considerably as we neared Bloody Point, an abandoned lighthouse, forcing us back to motor-sailing. To ensure a timely arrival at Rock Hall before the fuel dock closed at 4 pm, we continued motor-sailing past Annapolis and under the iconic Bay Bridge.

Reaching Haven Harbor at 3:00 p.m. under a scorching sun (over 90 degrees!), we were all eager to get the boats' air conditioning going. By 5:00 p.m., most of the crew had said their goodbyes and departed for home, bringing a memorable Chesapeake Bay adventure to a close.

Photos Courtesy of Joel Mack and Mia McCroskey