Still Pond Raft '09

[kpetry]

Sitting in Annapolis now, on thursday afternoon. We've had a great week on the bay so far. Planning on being on the inside around early afternoon friday. Here's hoping for great weather!

 

[Alegria]

Sitting in Annapolis now, on thursday afternoon. We've had a great week on the bay so far. Planning on being on the inside around early afternoon friday. Here's hoping for great weather!

You know between you sitting in Annapolis and Mike posting sipping Mojito's the other week... I hate Technology...:smt021

Well my Microstragety report has completed onto more data mining!!!!! Whoo Hooo!!

 

[Mfortune]

looks like we're pushing our weekend back a bit....we'll be arriving Sat and leaving Sun

 

[skibum]

I'm still not entirely sure how my weekend is going to pan out. We are definitely going to Aquapalooza for a while on Saturday. Depending on how the crew feels, we may make the run up to Still Pond as well. Could be Aquapalooza on Saturday, and Still Pond on Sunday. I just don't know yet.

Has anyone picked a CSR channel on the radio, or is everyone planning on hailing on 16 all weekend? The CG has been getting testy on weekends around here lately. I think they've heard "breaker, breaker..." just one too many times.

Small boats are allowed, right?

Michael

 

[Overextended]

Has anyone picked a CSR channel on the radio, or is everyone planning on hailing on 16 all weekend? The CG has been getting testy on weekends around here lately. I think they've heard "breaker, breaker..." just one too many times.

Small boats are allowed, right?

Michael

New crack-down on hailing other boats and radio checks on 16. 16 is reserved for emergencies only while 9 and other channels can be used for hailing.

See you there....

Josh

 

[Bodkin Creek George]

Wish we could hook up with you guys. We had to cancel all boating activities this summer right before the Inner Harbor gig. We had a slip and even drove up there to ck. the place out. Was looking forward to making new boating friends but my other hip gave out. Had the left one replaced in Jan. and thought I could hold out till next Jan. for the right one. Wrong!!! Head for surgery Tuesday so hopefully I will still get a chance to hook up with some of you in the early fall or next season. Anyway have a great raft up at Still Pond and tip a few for us.

George&C.J.

 

[Converse48]

Just got back and have posted a slide show of pictures here.

I'm too tired to do the "funny caption" thing. But let's just say it was a great time. I think we did end up approaching 20 boats on Saturday. It was really great to see everyone and to meet some new friends!

All the boats ended up swinging on Stan's tiny little danforth anchor with a 3/8" rode. We had other anchors out, but it was Stan's that took the brunt of the workload. It was piano-string tight most of the time!


Some highlights:

• Stan and Donna were the first ones there. Stan ran aground on the way in and was still sucking sand out of his strainers when I left.
• We had a nice little downpour on Friday night, but other than that, the weather was gorgeous.
• My house batteries died.
• Ryan's genny threw a belt. Luckily, he has a righteous spare parts kit (see pictures).
• Josh's genny died from a clogged strainer (grass).
• Dave did not instruct his crew properly on what NOT to flush down a vacuflush toilet.
• I had to "trawl" over to Worton Creek to get fuel on the way home because my fuel gauges were telling me I was on fumes (after adding 100 gallons, the system said I had 130 gallons... it must get funky when the tanks get low).
• We all enjoyed "Club Sea Ya" where Mike has disco lights, strobes and a smoke machine. We were the hit in the anchorage around midnight.
• Enough people have transom lights that we also lit up the anchorage that way too.
• Ken and Josh actually wakeboarded behind Ken's dinghy.
• I should have told people to bring stern anchors!!!
• Stan brought the f***ing ziti!

 

[mistercomputerman]

Looks like a great trip. Wish I could have been there.

Hey Stan, is that the f***ing ziti you are holding?

 

[standers]

Great job with the pics Tim! Had a great time, as usual. As we know, being first to the party means finding the best spot and laying claim to same. I wanted to get as close to the sandbar as possible to create a favorable swimming area. I found it alright and totally packed the strainers. They did their job as no sand appeared in the hoses post strainer. Starboard engine seemed to pass some granules through the exhaust but after 3-5 minutes of running, there was no more gritiness in the exhaust water.

Yes Rick, that is the f***ing ziti, what was left of it!

Being first to the party also means last out. After digging out the stern anchor, we departed and pulled into BIH around 6:00 PM. We decided to have one more dinner on the boat and enjoy the city view and return today.

 

[Alegria]

Well its about time!!! I was looking for pics all day yesterday what took you so long... Just kidding. Looks like a wonderful time. The weather was super fabulous too...

I should have asked you Tim prior to running into Rock Hall but I chanced it and ran directly over from the front range marker to the red buoy and made it. Lots of sail boats in Rock Hall, how do you avoid them all. Coming in it was chaos!!!

 

[dellis2628]

A great weekend ! A very big thank you to the "anchor members" of the team. Without all your work, early arrivials and coordination we could not have the great begining of our trip.

Dave
dellis2628
Katheryn Ann
1988 340 DA

 

[Converse48]

I should have asked you Tim prior to running into Rock Hall but I chanced it and ran directly over from the front range marker to the red buoy and made it. Lots of sail boats in Rock Hall, how do you avoid them all. Coming in it was chaos!!!

There is plenty of water over what shows on the charts as "Swan Point Bar". You can go just north of the range marker and never see less than 7'. I used to sail my 42' sailboat with a 5'7" draft over that so-called sand bar. Does it get a little shallow? Yes. But there is no sand bar there.

Avoiding sailboats, and dinghies, and crusiers, and fishing boats, and go-fast boats is all part of the fun of being based on the hustle and bustle of Rock Hall harbor!

Stan- how deep was that stern anchor dug in?

 

[standers]

Stan- how deep was that stern anchor dug in?

Deep enough for me to think about swimming back for the knife! Almost 10 minutes of "foot digging" and tugging got it up. I did step into the hole after it was up - I'm guessing 15" - 18". Did we ever add up the weight of the boats?

 

[Boatingfool]

Awesome event!

We really enjoyed meeting everyone and the wonderful hospitality. Looking forward to hanging out with the group again next time! :grin:

 

[Alegria]

There is plenty of water over what shows on the charts as "Swan Point Bar". You can go just north of the range marker and never see less than 7'.

Thanks Tim. Is that the lower range marker, closer to shore the one you are referring to, or the first one closer to the bay. If I can run North of the lower range marker closer to shore that would cut some time off my next trip down. :smt038

Great Pics...

I don't think anyone missed anything at the Aquapooloza event down at Hart Miller. We stopped by anchored way off and it was chaos by 12.

 

[hack4alivin]

I don't think anyone missed anything at the Aquapooloza event down at Hart Miller. We stopped by anchored way off and it was chaos by 12.

"Chaos".... that is too kind! That had me so bummed out the Admiral and I did not have it in us to make the trip north.:smt013 We should have spent the entire weekend at Still Pond, won't make that mistake again.

 

[hack4alivin]

New crack-down on hailing other boats and radio checks on 16. 16 is reserved for emergencies only while 9 and other channels can be used for hailing.

Is this true? I thought while out on the water you are supposed to keep your radio on 16 in case of an emergency and you are close by and can assist. If that is the case how would you ever receive a hail?

I can see their point about the radio checks, that does not need to be on 16, but hailing another boat. I guess that means I need to keep my radio on channel 9 all the time.

 

[Mfortune]

We had a great time...only wishing we had made it out earlier and skipped the "fun" at Aquapalooza...that was our first raft up, and first trip to still pond...we're looking forward to more of both.

My wife (Margie) said she will be posting the recipe for the spinach and artichoke dip soon for those of you who wanted it....its simple to make, or at least it looks like it when I watch her...

Tim - thanks again for putting the idea out there...thanks to everyone for their hospitality!!

 

[Converse48]

Thanks Tim. Is that the lower range marker, closer to shore the one you are referring to, or the first one closer to the bay.

See chart below. The one I am talking about is the northernmost range marker circled in red. It is actually the lower range light that marks the Brewerton channel out of the Potapsco. In fact, when coming from Baltimore, we follow this range all the way home via the blue line on the chart.

When coming from the north, you do want to give the land part of Swan Point a reasonable berth, but just make a gradual, sweeping turn out of the Bay and pass the range light to starboard, like on the green line below.

 

[Converse48]

Is this true? I thought while out on the water you are supposed to keep your radio on 16 in case of an emergency and you are close by and can assist. If that is the case how would you ever receive a hail?

I can see their point about the radio checks, that does not need to be on 16, but hailing another boat. I guess that means I need to keep my radio on channel 9 all the time.

Channel 16 is for "International Distress, Safety and Calling. Ships required to carry radio, USCG, and most coast stations maintain a listening watch on this channel." It is OK to hail on 16. Most people on the Chesapeake monitor 16. The CG has been getting cranky about radio checks and non-hailing, non-emergency traffic, but it is definitely still OK (and preferred by local preference) to hail on 16. Channel 9 is fine, but no one is listening. OK, maybe not no one, but fewer people...