West River to Oxford, MD

With fenders deployed, Plover’s ready to welcome Steadfast.

Monday, 22 September

Making their way back into the Bay this weekend were across-the-creek neighbors Chris and Bill (and Flaco the Boat Dog) aboard their Dickerson 41 Plover. They left home nearly a month after Steadfast, sailed twice as far (all the way to Newfoundland and beyond), and still will be home ahead of us. Go figga. But if wind, tide or fatigue don’t deter, it’s hoped the two vessels may visit for breakfast in the morning.

Steadfast motors out of St. Michael’s Harbor shortly after 1100, heads down Eastern Bay, then northwest to cross the Chesapeake and into the West River, another new-to-us anchorage roughly 25 NM away.

A crabber works his line along the West River bank.

Like the South River, the West is entered just below Thomas Point. The approach is littered with crab floats, close enough to each other to make piloting a challenge at times. But once anchored in 9’ at South Creek, any trouble earlier is forgotten.

Marinas stand on both shores up here and close to two dozen boats lie at anchor between them. A pier party on the south bank provides entertainment, island music floating across the river for a time. When the sun goes down, the wind goes with it and the West is wonderfully quiet.

A hearty seamen’s breakfast at Plover’s helm.

Plover arrives sometime during the night, wisely choosing to drop the hook well away from the fleet that assembled earlier. Once her ketch rig is spotted, Steadfast ties off alongside and hugs, greetings and stories are shared over mugs of coffee and plates of raisin bread French toast and fresh fruit. There’ve been a lot of miles under the keel since last being together and no one wants to see the visit end. So let’s not end it!

Plover slides under the bascule bridge spanning Knapps Narrows.

It’s decided instead to cross—motoring, since wind is lacking—in tandem to the Eastern Shore, through Knapps Narrows to Harris Creek, off the Choptank River, and spend the night in Dun Cove, not quite a 20 mile day. Negotiating the skinny water of Knapps Narrows is always interesting but Plover leads the way and—since she draws 5-plus-feet—provides a level of confidence aboard Steadfast that wasn’t there when she transited alone in May.

Two skipjacks under sail provide a sight seldom seen anymore.

Likewise, there’d been other visits to Dun Cove but not nearly as far in as Plover chooses to go. This spot, rimmed on three sides by a tall stand of trees, would provide perfect shelter for the northerly that promises to pick up overnight. Again, once rafted together, stories ensue and a delightful evening ends all too soon.

Windy enough on the Choptank a big schooner rig beats to windward flying just her Genny.

After a cup of Joe and a light breakfast, Steadfast casts off and sails southward down Harris Creek under double-reefed main. That northerly, though, proves to be more than advertised so, while Plover continues down the Bay, Steadfast sails east to spend the night in Oxford, just less than 13 miles away up the Choptank into the Tred Avon River. Home beckons but the blustery wind, upper teens gusting to the 20s, makes the choice easy. She’ll sail south tomorrow.

Maybe.

Steadfast out.