Sea Scout Ship 7916's flag flies from der PeLiKan for the first time.
The marina carts are handy for toting gear and provisions down the dock to the boat. "A helpful scout is a happy scout." - Skipper Shay
A "bucket brigade" is the best way to bring things aboard.
Aaron lifts a fresh propane tank aboard so we have fuel for cooking.
There are many steps in preparing to sail, including engine check (oil, belts, water, battery fluid), dipping the water tanks to check their levels, inspecting the bladders on the heads (toilets), making sure everything is properly stowed, and taking covers off the sails.
Docking and leaving the dock can be tricky sometimes, especially since der PeLiKan is unwieldy in reverse.
Fortunately, Captain Nichols is highly experienced, knows his vessel very well, and is able to convey to the crews--even our very green one--each step in the process, so we can meet success.
Gus at the bowline.
Caitlin at the stern.
Aaron was first to pilot.
Here and there, Gus found a few minutes to dance...
...and so did Daniel.
Whoops! It's not what you may think...just pancake batter.
First watch for Gus was at the lookout. David was Bo's'n of the day, and the rest of the scouts were either on galley duty or rotated through 1-hour watches at the helm, as navigator, and as lookout. This was repeated each day, with each scout having the opportunity to be Bo's'n.
Captain Nichols guides the scouts in plotting their course.
Rebecca's navigation notes.
Caitlin is happy to help at lookout.
David raises the mizzen with help from Rob.
"Aaah, we're finally sailing!" says the happy scout at the mizzen.
Heading under the Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Gus at the helm.
Gus, like each of the other members of our crew, had his turn as navigator.
Caitlin takes notes so she can post on our blog about the trip afterward.
There is often time for reading, and Daniel cracked open "Eragon."
Even under way there is time for socializing.
The Genoa is on a roller, seen here starting to unroll.
There it is full of wind.
Rob adjusts the Genoa jib.
A pleasing sight up the main mast.
Caitlin and David furl the roller jib.
Quiet harbor in Comegey's Bight on the Chester River. A bight is a protected cove from which one can sail in any direction--a valuable resource. Rebecca and the skipper took a refreshing swim despite the presence of a few jellyfish.
Sunset at Comegey's Bight.
Retiring the colors for the night. Every scout had the opportunity to work all of the stations as we rotated duties through the week.
Evening is for social time in the cockpit...
...and we are laid back. "Oh yeah, well my two rabbits are slightly more interesting than all of you combined." - Gus
Captain Nichols shows Aaron how to check the engine before starting.
David, Gus and Dan raise the anchor.
Caitlin finishes cleaning the sticky marine clay off of the anchor and deck.
Gus on galley duty, preparing a breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausages. The scouts planned the menu, each having a day during which they prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner, which included determining quantities and purchasing food.
The officer on deck yelled, "Captain! Iceburg dead ahead!" Fortunately, it was an inflatable iceburg--part of an aquatic obstacle course for a summer camp along the Chester River.
Aaron was "cool" on the chilly morning.
Taking a look at the schooner "Sultana." Our Yeoman found the information and made arrangements for us to have a special tour of the vessel, which is docked in Chestertown.
A nicer view of the "Sultana." "I have a question. When do we sail?" - Skipper Shay on the Sultana tour
Our dockside greeting party consisted of...ducks. Ducks, Daniel, ducks!
David checks out the tiller assist tackle on "Sultana."
Rebecca does, too...
...while Aaron felt like testing the comfort of the bunks.
The stern of the schooner is interesting.
Rebecca outside the Blue Heron Cafe in Chestertown. We are the Blue Herons!
Most days included a period of learning that Capt. Nichols calls the School of the Ship. Our scouts planned their program to meet advancement requirements for Ordinary rank. Here, David teaches knots. Other topics included flags, radio communications, 24-hour time system and ship's bells.
Caitlin helps Gus understand how to tie a knot that is unfamiliar to him. "Tie an overhand knot around something." -David "Ok." (Caitlín pretends to do it around David's neck.) -Caitlín
Rebecca is one of our scouts most well versed in knot tying. "Geez, we shouldn't talk around her." - Daniel
Which one is on watch? The one fore the mast. "We're trying to make sure we don't crash into anything." - David
Preparing the dinghy for use included turning it over...
...and painting the registration numbers on it.
Annapolis harbor is a very busy place, and some risky boaters like to show off by zooming through the moorings, testing fate.
The Skipper's reward for being an early riser was a few moments of peace in the youngest minutes of the day, while everyone else slept on.
Hey, Captain, I never saw anyone eat day-old doughnuts with a knife and fork! (And, thanks, Gus, for the doughnuts!)
Hanging out before heading to shore in the Zodiac dinghy at Annapolis in order to visit the Naval Academy visitor center and buy provisions. Unfortunately, Aaron pulled some muscles in his arm during a display of gymnastics on shore the previous evening. This left him unable to participate in handling the boat or walking on deck for the remainder of the cruise, so he had to leave our company.
The Naval Academy visitor's center has some interesting displays, and promotes the Navy as a career.
See?
Captain Nichols gives a talk. "You were starved for a sailing experience." - Captain Nichols
Skipper made a joke about the scouts being given the task of cleaning the grunge off of der PeLiKan's hull, and the Captain liked the idea. So did the scouts.
The adult leaders noted there was a lot of splashing and laughter as the crew spent a couple of hours scrubbing and rinsing.
Captain noticed a Boston Whaler loaded with Sea Scouts in uniform, which resulted in their skipper, Ken, coming for a visit aboard der PeLiKan, and an invitation to join his crew of 14 aboard one of their charter boats for a "campfire."
Ship 37 is a very new unit from New York, and they were also on their first long cruise, although this was their last evening. The two groups sang silly camp songs together and laughed a lot!
David even regaled us with a rendition of "The Irish Rover," which brought him enthusiastic applause. That's rachel with the long hair. Her dad, Ken, is the Skipper of Ship 37.
Skipper Ken led clapping "songs."
Then the "crackerbarrel" (eats) below. The two Sea Scout crews compared and contrasted their ships (units), vying for designation of the weirdest members, and the most long suffering (daughters of the two skippers). The scouts had fun, exchanged email addresses, and hope to see each other again soon.
Watermelon was the snack of the night....
...and one of the gifts of leftover food given us by Ship 37 the following morning. Before they headed home, both vessels passed us and salutes of recognition and respect were exchanged between our vessels.
Captain Nichols explains engine parts and operation...
...and pours some diesel fuel into the new fuel filter he just installed with help from the Skipper.
The captain familiarized us with the knot meter, letting us inspect and spin it. Then Skipper Shay sprayed some silicone lubricant on it, and the Captain pulled out the plug that keeps water from coming in, and put in the knot meter. See the water spouting from the open hole? "I've spent more time in the engine room than in the cockpit." - Captain Nichols
Once we anchored in St. Michaels, the scouts wanted to complete their rowing requirement, which included demonstrating that they can row a boat. A Zodiac dinghy is not designed for rowing, however, and was a bit of a challenge for some of our crew...
...but, they found relief in being allowed to try a homemade yellow dory owned by the family living in the boat anchored next to us. Rebecca and Daniel give it a try while Rheannon--from the family that owns the dory--offers tips from the bow.
Go, Rebecca!
"Frienemies" in the dinghy. "Amazingly, David and I agree on something." - Caitlín
David looks just a little too happy being rowed around by a girl.
David braved the jellyfish at St. Michaels, receiving a few minor stings. "I hope they scar," he exclaimed.
Three members of the Lyons family: Nicholas, Rheannon, and Debbie. They built their 39' boat at a cost of 4,000 hours and $40,000, put in at Milwaukee, and took 9 months to cruise to where we met them on the Bay. Learning this, the Skipper struck up a conversation with Debbie about homeschooling, and was able to soothe the other mom's worries over Maryland homeschool law, as well as to give her connections to homeschoolers in the state who would be excellent resources.
Their boat, the Terrapin, is unique, with Chinese- style lug sails (like a Chinese junk), and many custom features, as well as beautiful crafting in figured wood. We were lucky to be invited aboard.
We saw many types of vessels during our long cruise...
...including the humongous...
...the old fashioned (a skipjack, an oyster boat)...
...the working (a crab boat running its trot line early Saturday morning)...
...and the massive (Navy ships across the river from our dock).
In St. Michaels, one evening task was to sand the old varnish off the aft hatch cover. The work was made ligher by good natured joking.
Hmmm...that looks like it could take a while.
Daniel on dish detail. The Skipper assured him that dishpan hands are a fine feature for any young man. Some of our scouts were not mindful that, unlike on shore, water is not in seemingly infinite supply. We used a full tank--80 gallons--in the first two days or so. Once they understood that we can't squander resources on a boat, the scouts were much more careful with water, and during the remaining 4 days we didn't deplete the second 80 gallons.
The navigation crew plots our course from St. Michaels to Annapolis for the following day, figuring a good 8-hours underway. "My eyes are 3.2 nautical miles apart." - David "Mine are 3.1 nautical miles." - Caitlín (about her eyes)
Sunrise at St. Michaels.
Most of our crew slept on deck at least a few nights during the cruise.
Only Gus could be comfortable in this position.
A little chilly at night.
Uh, Gus?
Der PeLiKan and Terrapin as seen from the dock at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
Daniel was sometimes a bit crabby.
Caitlin hooked a fine rockfish! "There's always a bigger fish." - Gus
A skipjack, seen from the lighthouse at the museum.
The Fresnel lens in the lighthouse. Captain Nichols explained how the keeper would have to haul oil up to the lamp, keep the wick trimmed, and clean soot from each of those facets on the lens every day.
A boat railway at the museum.
David, are you dreaming of speed?
What a lot of funky looking outboard engines.
Aren't they sweet?
And they?
Cool yacht club dudes with their winnings.
The girls didn't feel quite so impressive in the suit jackets.
An oyster skipjack in the museum.
Some of the crew wanted to see how it would be to hang out on another type of boat.
Gus, why are you so happy? "I sometimes wish I was a girl." - Gus
An oyster dredge aboard the skipjack on display.
Captain Nichols explains that cotton canvas is subject to mildew and rot.
Gus piloted der PeLiKan through the Kent Narrows drawbridge.
The bridge goes up to let us pass.
Going through.
We tanked up with diesel at the dock on the other side of the drawbridge, paying $4.24 per gallon. Yes, the pump says $190.90. Ow! Since we were not able to sail as much as we had liked, and ended up motoring for about 24 hours during the week, we split the cost of the fill up, and Skipper gave a $95 check to the Captain.
Daniel was on pumpout duty. Apparently, the marina didn't charge us for the pumping, but surely they made up for it in the price of fuel, which was around $.25 more than in St. Michaels. "This is not going to be something we will enjoy." - Daniel
Daniel on lookout watch during our last evening on der PeLiKan as we headed back to port in Baltimore.
What can one say? It's Gus!
"Master and Commander" was the movie of the evening on Saturday, though the scouts mostly played Mad Libs in the cockpit. Caitlin thinks the movie a bore, and here, Dan shows how interesting he finds it. Zzzzzzzz!
Map of our journey. Red indicates the first leg, blue is the second, green is third, and purple shows the final.
David, who was lucky enough to be Bo's'n of the day on Sunday--thus being exempt from cleaning the head, scrubbing grese from the galley, and more--hoses down the deck after his crew scrubbed it with brushes.
Daniel, why aren't you working? "I'm a little evil, but not that evil." - Daniel
Ah, there he goes, keeping in step with Caitlin.
Our final task was to put the dinghy back aboard der PeLiKan.
This is the last shot, because the photographer had to put away her camera and help hoist the dinghy. "So next time you have a long cruise, the scouts will be in charge of everything. The adults will just sit here and watch." - Skipper Shay
