Wednesday, 21 May
Straining one’s eyes in the bright overcast, it’s possible to barely see or at least imagine the western shore. Ahead, there’s a light blue pencil-thin line just above the horizon that marks the Eastern Shore. Steadfast is just about smack dab in the middle of a barely rippled Chesapeake Bay, the Westerbeke diesel “Little Red” turning at 2,500 revs a minute and moving us along at 5 knots.
There’s no wind. No other boats in sight but Quintan, a quarter mile off. After the months of reading, planning and talking through; of organizing, packing, schlepping and putting-away; of washing, waxing, fixing and painting, yes…Steadfast is underway. Woo-Hoo!
There still was a lot to do Wednesday morning to get things “ship shape”–both in the cottage AND on board–before the announced 1000 departure. That being the case, the crew’s day had started at 0330 (!) with a quiet mopping of the kitchen floor before turning to tasks on Steadfast. For the skipper, consciousness came only after a vain hour-long struggle to keep his thoughts clear of the to-do list that lingered.
Eventually, the final boxes went up the attic steps. Provisions were stowed. Sort of. The Captains Burry motored across the creek on Miss Christine to bid their farewell, horns sounded, dock lines were coiled and cast off, and in tandem with Quintan–she’d arrived the evening before–the cruise northward began.
The 30-mile crossing to Onancock was uneventful, without incident. No wind, no sea, motor all the way. A favorable current kicked in for the final hour or so, pushing speed-over-ground to six-and-a-half knots. Gear worked. The sun came out. The crew napped. Both boats–Quintan is sharing these first two days–tied up smartly at the Town Wharf. As has been noted before, “uneventful” on a sailboat is good.
A stroll through Onancock reveals “picture perfect” gardens gracing the many classic 19th century homes.
In this case, though, can we truly say “uneventful”? Darlene and Willie–dear friends from Belle Haven–drove over to meet us to enjoy a delicious dinner at Mallard’s on the Wharf. A bottle of bubbly made the occasion an event in itself.
But after all that preceded this day–you may have heard something of the months of reading, planning and talking through; of organizing, packing, schlepping and putting-away; of washing, waxing, fixing and painting–there was the little matter of Steadfast getting underway.
And THAT, friends, is an event!
More later.
Steadfast out.
At Sea with Steadfast 
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