(Report received October 4th)

Last Saturday night we attended an 1812 War "Tavern" event with some friends.  It was a lot of fun. People were dresses in period costumes singing songs with that era, crab cakes, and beer. This week has really been good for sailing, the best day was Tuesday where after we sailed from the Patuxent River, we crossed the Chesapeake Bay to the east side and returned.  Yesterday they were talking T-storms (like today) but the wind was good, especially when sailing to the dark cloud. I don't believe I ever mentioned that across the river is the Patuxent Naval Air Station, so every day it's like an air show.  The Blue Angels practice here at certain times of the year. Well this week has been busy with practice bombing runs on the bay east of the Potomac River.  It's fun to listen to channel #16 as the Navy and Coast Guard are attempting to keep the area clear of pleasure boaters, they want a 3 mile safety area from the target area.  Some people are amazing and they don't want to move out of the area. They'd only have to tell me once. Have a good weekend. John

(Report received Septermber 20th)

(These reports received September 13th)

THE WICKETT'S DEPART Havre de Grace  - Journal from John & Reen Wickett:

Really not too much to update.  We sailed from Havre de Grace (after leaving the 5 mile channel) to the Sassafras River and anchored for a night.  Saturday we sailed (or attempted to sail) to Rock Hall, Md. but the wind and the tide were working against us, so we ended up motoring the final leg.  At Rock Hall and more rain so we're sitting here for a few nights, then off to Annapolis. Take care and have fun! John & Reen

Hello all.  We left Rock Hall and sailed to Annapolis and anchored in Weens Creek off of the Severn River.  Then we went up the South River for one night and decided to go to Solomons Island.  Our first plan was to go St. Michael's (we were there in 2006, very nice small town), but the only marina wanted $3.50/ft. (length of boat) plus $15/night for electric.  Know sailors are known for being frugal or cheap, and you are right I was not going to pay that to dock my boat so check St. Michael's off my list.

We are at Spring Cove Marina off of the Patuxent River (www.springcovemarina.com) and life is good! We have sailed in the morning and early afternoon and when it gets too hot we spend the afternoon by the pool.  The marina provides a shuttle (5 passenger golf cart) to store and places to eat which is good when we need groceries.  Reen is enjoying watching the jelly fish swim behind out boat at the dock.  I'll attach a few pictures. Take care. John & Reen PS - we should be home by mid-October

(Received on September 11th)

Well, we finally left Cape May near high tide and my antenna rubbed against the underside of the 55 ft bridge. This was not a fun boating moment! The next time I'll wait until low tide as I have done twice before in the past.

We sailed for about 30 NM going northwest on the Delaware Bay, mostly the water is 12 - 18 ft. deep outside of the shipping lane and 40 ft in the shipping lane. When the wind stopped we motored the rest of the way to Chesapeake City, Md. which is on the C&D Canal. My cousin Jim and his wife Donna came to visit us on Wed. for drinks and dinner at the Chesapeake Inn. 

Thursday we finally arrived in the Chesapeake Bay and we're currently at Havre de Grace, Md. at the north end of the bay.  From now on we'll base our travels on where we can "sail" to versus where we "have to motor to".  But I think either Georgetown or Rockhall will be next on our list.

I'm at a library computer so I cannot attach any photographs, maybe next time.

Take care.

John & Reen

(We received on or about August 30th)

THE WICKETT'S DODGE IRENE!  - Journal from John & Reen Wickett
I now have a few minutes to recap our trip to Cape May.  Yesterday (Friday) was crazy leaving the boat, driving away from Cape May with probably thousands of others, only to find the normally very busy traffic on our way to Wilmington. DE.

We left Waterford for Catskill, NY where we had the mast put back up and reassembled the boat for sailing.  We spend the first day going to Poughkeepsie Yacht Club (PYC), we timed our travel to move when the tide is going out to pick up about 1.5 to 2 knots. From there we went to Haverstraw Bay (Haverstraw Marina), very nice place with about 800 boats.  Spent the afternoon in their pool overlooking the Hudson.  So far very little boat traffic on the river.

On Saturday once under the George Washington Bridge my insurance changed from inland waters to coastal cruising, the rates about doubled (and I now know why!). The boat traffic in NYC harbor was nuts; commercial traffic, ferries, tour boats, and pleasure boats. Once we went under the Verrazano Bridge we were back to normal traffic on our way to Sandy Hook, NJ.

The first night we anchored out under a beautiful sky plus seeing the night lights of NYC. The next day (Sunday) we went to Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club and picked up a mooring. This was a special day, I met up with a Navy friend (George O.) who I last saw at our wedding 41 years ago.  George is also a grandfather so he brought his grandson Thomas for the afternoon. After two nights at AHYC, we left for Atlantic City. I thought, great we can sail for 80 miles, well no wind at all.  Then there was some wind but it was right on our nose so we motored all the way. 

Stayed at Farley State Marine at the Golden Nudget casino.  Reen and I each lost a dollar at the slots, that was enough.  Now for our next day to sail, a repeat of the prior day, no sailing just motored to Cape May.  The marina that we planned to stay at was full so we spent the first night at Schooners Island Marina which required us to clear a lift bridge and go about 2 miles north on the NJ ICW.  They also had a pool for the afternoon, that was when we really heard that Irene was headed this way with force.  Up until now all we heard that it would hit NC and be no big deal for us.  Our options were to run but to where?  Or stay.  So the next day we moved to Utsch's Marina which is well protected.  At the marina a man that helped us said that in the mid 80's they had winds at 105 mph without any damage to boats in the marina, we only hope that's true Sunday AM when Irene knocks on the marina's door. That brings us up to Saturday morning at Reen cousin's house, and still no rain......

The Rest of the Story - Update!
We are both OK and there was no damage at all to our boat, maybe a little cleaner after all the rain.  The marina had 80-85 mph winds and rain but no surge which causes damage. Today we'll reassemble the canvas and shop to be on our way north on Delaware Bay on Tuesday.  We should finally be in the Chesapeake Bay in a few days.

Take care.
John & Reen

(Received August 16th, 2011)

For those SBYC members not aware, Reen and I had the mast stepped at the end of July so that we could transit the Erie Canal on our way to the Chesapeake Bay.  Our overall plan is to haul the boat out of the water in late October or so in Solomoms Island, MD on the west side of the bay.  We'll then re launch her in April 2012 to begin our slow journey north back home by June sometime.

We left Sodus Bay on Thursday August 4th motoring to Oswego and through a few locks on the Oswego Canal.  It's 30 locks from Lake Ontario to the Hudson River at Waterford, NY.  First you keep going up to about 420 ft. above sea and then a slow decline to the Hudson River.  The last five locks lower you about 170 ft. through the Flight of Locks.  Places that we stopped were Minetto, Sylvan Beach, Little Falls, Amsterdam, Schenectady, and Waterford.

We are now at Waterford, NY waiting for better weather so we can travel through one more lock on the Hudson River to Catskill, NY to have our mast raised at Hop-O-Nose Marina. We'll write again as we continue to the Chesapeake Bay.

John & Reen Wickett.