Days 212-213 – 5/3-4/24

Starting location: Tied to free dock in Tylerton, Smith Island, MD

Weather: 60s, mostly sunny

Ending location: Solomon’s Island Yacht Club docks, Solomon’s Island, MD

Statute miles: 42

As General summary: We had been contacted via the Nebo app by the Harbor Host on Solomon’s Island and invited to stay at the local yacht club for a discount. He is a former Looper. This required crossing the Bay from East to West, which is a reasonably big body of water in this area. The wind prediction was a bit strong, but the direction appeared to be in our favor. Waves predicted to be 1 foot with 3 second period, which is just slightly choppy but tolerable. Unfortunately, the wind was a little stronger and in a bit less favorable direction in the morning. Ok when we headed directly West, with the wind and waves behind us, but we needed to go Northwest, so kept having to turn into the waves occasionally to get off of the Western shore and budge our direction North. Still no comparison to our Gulf crossing. On the way, we passed a structure which turned out to be a purposely partially sunken ship the Navy reportedly has used for target practice. There is a charted area around it that you are supposed to avoid (we did) due to metal fragments in the water. I’m told they no longer use ammunition, and just do simulated strikes now.

Once we turned West into the Patuxent River the water calmed. We were greeted at the marina by the unofficial dockmaster, Mike, who helped us secure the boat. We checked in and were invited to the Yacht Club dinner hour and got passes for two free drinks. They have a two story building with a kitchen and dining room on the first floor with a lounge upstairs. Got to meet Doug, our host, and chatted with him and his wife about their aborted loop experience, where his wife suffered a broken leg. Hope they are able to get back out there soon.

Walked about town and visited the Maritime Museum where you can tour an old lighthouse and they have a fantastic wooden boat exhibit.