Spring Cruise 200?

Spring Cruise to St. Mary's River and the Lower Potomac
(by Charles Springett, Cruise Captain)

Nine boats participated in the cruise:

Bob and Jane Bierly on C'Mon Wind
Maurice and Anne Dickerson on Indian Summer
Dave and Kate Raffetto on Witch Wind
Bill and Donna Foote on Footloose
Dave Hutchison on Menabilly
Blaine and Nan Liner on Puffin
Dick Muller on Sea Fox
Charles and Rina Springett on Windrush
Mosby West on Midnight Wind

We rendezvoused on Friday, May 21, in Mill Creek off the Great Wicomico and enjoyed cocktails and a wonderful selection of hors d'oeuvres on Footloose. Blaine and Nan left us at this point to participate in the Poker Run. The next day fitful winds allowed most boats to sail at least some of the way to Smith Creek on the Northern shore of the Potomac, where some anchored out and some took a slip at Point Lookout Marina. Cocktails were hosted by Indian Summer and the party split into two for the trip to our chosen restaurant for the evening. Some chose to walk and some to dinghy round the corner. Courtney's is a seafood restaurant of considerable renown much favored by the local community. We concluded they could use some help in both the kitchen and the dining room. To say that service was slow would be something of an understatement. Some of our party actually thought we would be staying for breakfast. Having said that, the food-when it finally arrived-was excellent and all agreed it was a Maryland tideland experience that should not have been missed.

Sunday was a short sail to St. Mary's River, where everyone anchored in Horseshoe Bay opposite St. Mary's College. This is really an idyllic spot; we watched dinghy races farther out in the bay, swam in the cool and nettle-free water, and generally did nothing very strenuous for the rest of the afternoon. The Bierlys, the Raffettos, the Dickersons, and the Springetts met on the dock at 6:30 and were chauffeured to the historic Brome-Howard Inn overlooking St. Mary's River about a mile from the anchorage. Footloose met out-of-town guests; and the rest of the party, we think because details were sketchy and not very forthcoming, got together on Sea Fox and self-catered-we suspect liquid was involved. The Brome Howard Inn started life in Historic St. Mary's City and was moved to its current location overlooking St. Mary's River several years ago. It is a mid-nineteenth century farmhouse converted to bed and breakfast and an upscale restaurant. The service at dinner-we appeared to be the only dinner guests-was in marked contrast to the previous evening. The food was excellent and the wine list both good and reasonably priced. The Inn plans to add a dinghy dock and stairs up the riverbank soon and when they do it will make one of the better destinations on the bay for dinner. Until then they are quite willing to pick parties up from the college.

Next morning we breakfasted at the Student Dining Hall (with the students) and were given a tour of the College by one of the students. Although St. Mary's is part of the Maryland State school system, it has all the characteristics of a small private liberal arts college and has a stunningly beautiful campus. They have a very active and well- supported sailing program. Most of us agreed it would be OK to be eighteen again and go back to school.

It is a short sail across the Potomac to the Coan River. The wind gods were kinder and although it was a beat it was a welcome change from the engine. The Coan River entrance has been recently reconfigured and is a bit of a challenge. According to the Coan River Marina, the floating marks can be out of place and if they are followed there may be unfortunate consequences. On Monday they were all in their proper places and we arrived without incident. Again some chose to take a slip at the marina and some anchored out. The marina is very informal-they are still recovering from Isabel and dock reconstruction was taking place during the day-but has everything a marina should have including huge trees shading a grassy area overlooking the water with picnic tables and complementary barbecues. So we did. We were joined by J.D. and Pat Willet and rejoined by Blaine and Nan who all came by land yacht bringing the makings of the barbecue. It was a very pleasant evening-even if there were too many cream puffs-and a fitting end to the cruise. Everyone motored home the following day-there was not a breath of wind.