CODA BAHAMAS BOUND 2024-2025 (20)

 CODA : High winds in Maryland 

14 October 2024

Army Corps of Engineers Mooring Basin, Chesapeake City,  Maryland 

The mooring basin during the night.

Marc- Today was a day to hunker down as they say.  The forecast below called for 25 knot winds gusting to 30.  The harbor filled with additional boats jammed in when there was a very light breeze.  As soon as the sun came up so did the wind and boats left in droves mostly due to dragging anchors.  Unfortunately a 45 foot Powerboat anchored right ahead of me with about 25 foot clearance.  When the winds picked up he dragged towards me 10 feet and my anchor line started to slip on the windlass.  I had a visitor,s Michael andAnita from California, from a neighboring catamaran visiting at the time and he helped me move to a better spot in the harbor.  The last 4 hours have been a scene of boats coming and going and dragging.  I small sailboat dragged into Michael and Anita's catamaran while and ended up staying rafted up since another sailboat grabbed the spot where the small sailboat had been.  Then a big Beneteau drifted into another boat and reset.  One boat drifted really close to the rocky shore before being solidly anchored.  After the fleet settled into place Michael and Anita picked me up and we went to lunch in the very nice sandwich shop downtown.  While returning in the dinghy from downtown a second sailboat drifted towards the Michael and Anita's catamaran.  His last rescue of the day was finding my hat that blew off during a gust.

The scary forecast.

65 foot schooner to the left of Coda.

Dinghy behind Coda.

Michael and Anita's catamaran with the first drifter alongside.  The sailboat on the right was the second boat to drift over to the catamaran and Michael went aboard to help the solo sailor reset.

A second catamaran that drifted near shore.