A Spring Sailing Charter on the Chesapeake
On a spring bareboat charter, old friends learn lessons of sailing, science, and camaraderie.
Between tacks, we stole photos of the beauties out on the water. In particular, we’d admired one ketch that appeared, with fuel jugs and solar panels on deck, to have seen some offshore passagemaking. Its crew waved to us as they raised the mizzen sail, and we snapped away.
Not long after, I was horrified to hear a sound in the distance. Looking back, I caught the unfortunate sight of that same ketch hitting a green can.
“Oh, no!” I yelped.
Not missing a beat, the captain bellowed, “Everybody’s got to maintain a lookout! You cannot cruise by GPS and autopilot!” Touché, Captain Mac, touché.
Hours later, exercised by our sail and tucked in at Lake Ogleton, we toured the waterfront by dinghy and, lo and behold, came upon the ketch at anchor, with a green smudge on its port bow. The crew seemed content, and we could only conclude that all was well. As we headed back to La Mia Stella, the first raindrops fell, and the captain was pleased.
“We’re so lucky!” Mac said. “What a beautiful way to end a charter—we cheated the weather forecasters and had a glorious day.”
I eased back against a cockpit cushion and could feel the Fates—smiling, scheming, and plotting their next adventure.
Elaine Lembo, CW’s deputy editor, writes frequently about chartering.
