We woke up very early this morning planning to raise the anchor at dawn and begin the trek south. Just about when the sun was coming up, a storm hit so we stayed put for a few hours while experiencing it snug and dry from the cockpit. We had side panels made before leaving home and today was the first day we benefited from having them in place. They continued to keep us warm for the next several hours.
We set out about 8 am with a south wind, exactly the direction we were heading. We motored for a few hours hoping at some point to be able to try the new staysail. Unfortunately by about 1:00 pm we were in a heavy bank of fog. Visibility about 100 feet. We throttled back, pulled out our air horns, rolled up the side panels and wind shield to improve visibility and sound and carefully watched and listened. Jeff went out on the bow to sound the horn every couple of minutes and to listen for boats while Mary drove Echo and watched the electronics.
We had been hearing a radio alert all morning that a Navy submarine was in transit up the bay and all mariners were required to stay clear of a 500 yard radius around it. Wouldn’t you know – we encountered the sub while in the fog. Well…not exactly encountered it but we saw it and the Coast Guard boats traveling with it on AIS (Automated Information System) about 1/2 mile from us, fortunately we were not within the safety zone or they would have been very unhappy with us. The radio alert is very specific on what they will do (including deadly force) to boats that enter the perimeter.
Jeff hailed them on the radio just to be sure all was good. They, of course, had also been watching us with both AIS and radar. It just figures – we passed them in the fog rather than the miles of clear visibility we traveled through earlier in the day. It would have been very cool to see the convoy consisting of a boomer and 3 Coast Guard gun boats.
For those of you that worry about us all the time, we were taking advantage of all safety measures and were traveling slowly and cautiously. There were a few other pleasure boats out there too along with a cargo freighter. Some with AIS some not, Jeff kept in radio communication with the freighter for a period of time to discuss the traffic and the weather.
Although it was a bit stressful, all went as it should when you have access to things such as AIS, radar and a radio. Way back when we sailed on Beowulf in a fog bank, the way we knew there was another boat nearby was when we heard the voices of men on deck of the freighter nearby.
The fog cleared about an hour later and visibility was fine but the wind was still in our nose so we never raised a sail. Maybe tomorrow.
We entered the Patuxent River as fighter jets flew overhead, (we were passing by Pax Naval Air Base) and motored a few miles up river to Solomons, MD where we have dropped anchor for the night. We were surprised to find Ed and Chris on Freedom anchored nearby.
Cooking meatloaf for dinner and plan to dinghy over for a visit after dinner.
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What an amazing experience Roberta! We had told our friends on Freedom our experience with the sub and they wondered about how the perimeter would be maintained on the St. Mary’s with the naval base up river, guess that’s how.
We’ll keep an eye out for those barges, glad to have AIS to track commercial traffic.
LOL Wait until you get to say you were escorted out of the St Marys River (Florida) by the Coast Guard as you were passing by a Trident Sub on the way in!
We were halfway out when the announcement was made on the VHF. Couldn’t hold position due to current on our stern and couldn’t turn around because it was that close. So we had two nicely appointed r.i.b’s escort us until we were safely passed. Both of us were awestruck.
A call out on the VHF to thank for the allowance and the escort and to thank all for their service to the country was returned with thanks for being so cooperative followed by many thanking us for the nice welcome home. I still get tears in my eyes thinking about it.
Hope the foggies aren’t too much of a problem for you from here south. Keep an eye for tugs towing barges out in the open waters of the ocean. ICW barges are pretty good about making their presence known if they are towing, but most are pushing.
Happy travels!
You don’t have to worry about pirates in the Chesapeake, but it is wise to worry about those nuclear submarines.
Yes Pattie, I was thinking specifically of you when writing that entry!
So I guess I am. One of the people who worry constantly so thanks .glad you are safe. I love and miss you both