Fabulous Fall!

With temps nearing 70F and plenty of wind in the forecast, we had to get underway!  We decided to head to a new anchorage in Whithall Bay outside of Annapolis.  After a great start, it got super gusty at the mouth of the Severn and we got to experience our first round-up!  I lost some skin on my hand while trying to ease the mainsheet, but otherwise we did well.  We even saw 8kts through the water under reefed sails!  Woo hoo!  😬

We took the tight entrance to Whitehall Creek very slowly and toured past the marina before turning around and settling on a spot in Ridout Creek for the night.  It was a really great spot that afforded us opportunities for paddling and dinghy rides.

Today brought more adventurous sailing! After a peaceful morning we got underway and got to see our first 25kt gusts again at the mouth of the Severn.  With a scrap of genoa up we managed to make between 5 and 6 kts the whole way back.  The timing put us back home with only a +0.25' tide.  That, combined with the stiff breeze on the beam, led us to decide to drop the hook outside the marina while we wait for the tide to come up a little.  We will get underway shortly, and return home to clean the mud and salt off the boat and carve pumpkins!

Football and Ghoul Sailing

We decided to take advantage of a Living Social deal to take the kids to a Naval Academy football game against the Citadel's arch rival, VMI.  It's been 5 years since they've been to a game!  Since it's also boat show weekend in Annapolis we were really torn on how to get there--put up with the crowds of drivers or the crowds on the water.  I'm so happy we picked the latter!  We got an early start Friday and dropped the hook in Weems Creek just after sunset.  We were right by the dinghy tie-up closest to the stadium!  Rain moved in overnight and through Saturday morning, but it was still great.  Board games, video games, and cooking made for a relaxing start to the day.

After lunch we headed ashore to watch USNA whoop VMI, 51-14.  I think the kids liked it!

Today we enjoyed a nice sail most of the way home.  We love sailing with the Halloween decor up, and even got hailed on CH16 as "Spider Boat" once!  Heading home under power now.  Have to get these kids to school tomorrow so the parents can hit the boat show!  

Fall is creeping in

Since we were away from the water last weekend, we were definitely getting underway this weekend!  The forecast called for showers Saturday so we decided to put the dodger/bimini connector back on.  Alas, it is fall.  We had a great sail to an anchorage in the Rhode River despite the rain.  Honestly it reminded us of our early days sailing in Washington.  The rain passed and the evening was glorious!  The air was perfectly crisp, the moon a fiery orange as it rose.  I even managed to paddle around a bit before dinner.  

Today has been lovely!  After a lazy breakfast I enjoyed a little SUP yoga and a brief paddle.  The sun is shining and we are only now losing the wind just 3 miles from the marina.  It's been such a relaxing day, I even gave myself a pedi!  I love fall on the water!

Git 'er done!

It's NASCAR weekend, baby!  We've never gone to a NASCAR race before, so this weekend we headed to Richmond, VA for the Federated Auto Parts 400.  It was awesome!  It was a night race, and there was so much to do at the track.  We even got free pit passes from military hospitality!  We had great seats six rows up, right across from the pits and just off the start/finish line, and had scanner headsets to listen to the action--that was awesome!  We learned a lot as newbies, and I honestly want to go again!  We aren't hard-core fans that follow a certain driver, but it was just fun to be part of all the craziness and noise!

Movin' on up!

While this post isn't about the boat, it is about our Navy family.  And today, our family hit a milestone--momma became a Commander!  This is huge for me, for us, for our future.  I had a few things I really wanted for my pinning ceremony, and it was pretty much exactly as I wanted!  My ex-boss/mentor/friend drove up from Mississippi to see his son's football game, and with his wife, three other kids, and mother-in-law in tow arrived at the Pentagon this morning to administer my oath.  Wow.  And my whole family was involved in swapping out my rank insignia, just how I always imagined.  I am so fortunate to be supported by such amazing people.  I laughed, I cried, and laughed some more.  Such a great day!