MacGregorSailors.com

For those who have said they are going, you need to call Cap Charles Town Harbor to reserve Sunday 9/6. Several of us have called and there are now only 6 slips available. There is no money required to reserve, just a call if you are not going to show. $1.25/ft $5-30A power. They would not let me call in for everyone.

I sent an email also to those who have responded. Looks like 6 Macs and 1 Chrysler so far.

Mailing Address:
Cape Charles Harbor
2 Plum Street
Cape Charles, VA, 23310

Telephone: 757-331-2357
Fax: 757-331-4820

Based on ROAD Soldier inputs I believe most would like to sail toward Gwynn Island area, then to Cape Charles and return home.

Should be fun, weather permitting!

Victor

It was an overall a fun and adventurous 90 mile trip.

Saturday Ron and Debbie (ROAD Solider/First Step) joined our group of 3 Macs and 1 Chrysler at Black River Reef on the way to Gwynn Island (41 miles). We had to motor straight into a North headwind with 1'-2' seas. The Chrysler had to diver to Cape Charles due the headwinds and not enough motor/gas. At Gwynn Island we had a potluck dinner and just hung out.

Sunday our crew (Compromise) stayed behind to visit with my wife's relatives while the others headed off for Cape Charles. Predicted conditions of 10-20 knots with 2'-3' seas held true. The NNE wind was perfect for a single tack to Cape Charles. First Step headed straight for Cape Charles while XX and Knot Shore took turns trying to knock down the Wolf Trap Lighthouse (http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=441). We eventually somewhat caught up and abandoned helping XX and Knot Shore in their quest due to our motor quitting and not restarting. We ended up taking a straight tack into Cape Charles. As we approached Cape Charles the wind really picked up and started changing directions. With sails relaxed we hit 7.2 mph for short bursts. Great 22 mi sail.

We had dinner/drinks, chatted and watched the local watermen bring in their catches.

Monday was a BIG weather change. After breakfast made by the Knot Shore crew, we sailed/motored into the remnants of a tropical storm with up to 5’ seas (E winds with tide running out). Fortunately everyone made it back safely. Five boat set sail that day for a 3 hour cruise but the winds and waves started getting rough and the tiny ships were tossed….

Victor

A picture on day 2.

I have X envy. I felt very alone during the Jax get together. C'mon local X owners lets get motivated! I saw two X's either on lifts or in driveways that weekend . Looks like a great trip guys...

John

Crewed for my brother on his live aboard Beneteau 423 "Breezing Up" out of Inner Harbor, Baltimore Harbor MD.

Sept 5 U/W for Whitehall Bay in light winds. Had problem setting Delta anchor in sandy bottom. Put out 60 feet of rode and anchor buddy (kettle) in 8 feet of water.

Sept 6 U/W for Herring Bay in strong N - NE winds. Herring Bay provides no shelter from NE wind. Elected to rent transit slip at Herrington Marina South near the entrance to Herring Bay. BTW there is a Herrington Marina North, so make sure which one you are talking to when requesting a slip, they don't always provide that ID information when contacted.

Sept 7 U/W for Solomon Island in continued N-NE strong winds. Elected to take a mooring float in the back creek area as Skipper had to go into work the next day. Aux. engine making chatter noise upon motoring into Solomon Island. Suspect caught crab trap line and trap. Skipper dove to check, and found prop and shaft clear.

Sept 8 Remained at mooring while skipper returned to work in his preposition second vehicle taken to Solomon on Sept 4.

Sept 9 U/W for Little Choptank River and Hudson Creek. Winds continuing strong from N-NE. Need to get in before dark to see unlighted channel markers.

Sept 10 U/W for Choptank River and San Domingo Creek. Anchored in 8 feet of water. Winds continue from N-NE. Swung at anchor all night. Had 50 feet of rode out with anchor buddy and Delta anchor in muddy bottom. San Domingo Creek is the "back door" to St. Michael's and the area that James Micherner home was when he wrote "Chesapeake".

Sept 12 U/W for Annapolis. Sailing in light NW breeze. Motor sail with engine only able to be at slowest speed to avoid chatter. Anchored off the USNA athletic practice field and took the dhingy into Annapolis to have dinner at Fleet Reserve Club next to the Marriott on "Ego Canal". Watched NFL and US Tennis Open.

Sept 14 U/W for Tidewater boat yard Baltimore Harbor to have haul out to check for source of chatter. Suspect the Cutlass Bearing failure.

Sept 15 Haul out and inspection showed Cutlass Bearing migrated out of the strut back towards the hull. Prop, shaft and rudder had to be removed to get to bearing. The Beneteau Cutlass Bearing has mushroom style rubber caps on the ends rather than metal bearing rings. If bearing had not migrated inward there would not have been a need to remove rudder. Shaft alignment Ok, and no movement of the engine mounts.

As a result of checking the shaft alley, skipper noticed water and heavy corrosion of thru hull inlet fitting for sea water cooling of GenSet. Two of the three holding bolts were leaking. Replaced fitting with bronze fixture . Skipper is absence from the boat often and he does not believe his bilge pump would have kept up with the 3/4 inch opening at the bottom of the boat if it should have given way.