Images from Herring Bay 8.12.2011

We set sail from Oxford around 9:30 heading East in very nice North winds. We made the entire trip of 21.1 NM on a single starboard tack. No motoring this time! Our route took us up Towne Creek, down the Tred Avon River, down the Choptank River, across the Chesapeake Bay and into Herring Bay.

There was a regatta, all boats under spinnaker that was headed our way. We were able to stay out of the way of these boats, but it helped that we were on a starboard tack. For you non-sailors, that means that we were the stand-on vessel (had right of way) of all these boats!

This was really something to see. A whole flock of birds hitting the surface where there were schools of bait fish.


The beach at Herrington Harbour South

The marina has an Olympic size pool. This is a resort marina and a huge step above most. We had dinner poolside at Mango's. The lobster tempura was to die for!

Shiloh wading at the beach before we sailed home.

Images from Oxford 8.11.2011

I should preface this post with "images on the way to Oxford!" Oxford is a sleeply little town and there wasn't much there. It was a long trip, 36.5 NM and it took 7 1/2 hours! We had light winds and had to motor most of the way. I was wishing for some of the wind we had on the way to St. Michaels, but it just didn't happen.

I caught a bucket of blue crabs in St. Michaels in the evening and we steamed them in Oxford. These along with a couple of steaks was a fantastic meal. I borrowed a crab net from the marina and just netted these tasty buggers off of the pilings. It was so much fun and so easy, you would think it is illegal!!

Motoring up the Choptank River


The scallywag was tired and took a good nap!

This is a ferry that crosses the Tred Avon River (from Bellevue to Oxford)

We just loved this little cottage!

Images from St. Michaels 8.10.2011

Eileen and I were able to get away for a 4-day sail, just the two of us. We set sail early Wednesday morning in strong, steady winds and sailed 26.6 NM and set a new speed record for Domingoman at 8.3 knots over ground (7.9 knots over water)! Winds were 15-20 knots, gusting to 23 knots out of the NW and we were sailing South and then East so we had following seas for a good portion of the trip.

The harbor entrance in St. Michaels, MD

Shiloh keeping watch!


Eastern Shore Brewery...a must on a hot day! Shiloh was welcome inside too!

St. Michaels is so quaint, we are definitely going back!

We went inside this Episcopal Church and it was a real blessing for us.

This is inside the lighthouse that you saw in the first picture. It is actually 3 stories and very very cool inside! It is part of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum which we toured. It is the best Maritime Museum I have ever seen!

This is the view of our marina (Bob Pascal's St. Michaels Harbor Inn and Spa) across the harbor from the lighthouse. Before we set out for the second leg of our trip, we borrowed a tandem bicycle from the marina and rode through town. No pics to prove it but we really did!

Will your GPS work when you need it?

Please consider sending an electronic note to the FCC by clicking here. I am very much opposed to anything that interferes with my safety and the safety of others on the water. In an emergency, I would not be able to effectively provide my exact location or the exact location of a vessel in distress without GPS coordinates. I have pasted the information about this project below.


From the Boat US Website: Will your GPS work when you need it? Act Now!


Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gave conditional approval to a private company, LightSquared, to begin a nationwide broadband service right next to the radio spectrum used for GPS. After concerns from user groups (including BoatU.S.) the FCC required significant testing and a report for potential conflicts with aviation, cellular, navigation, and four other GPS uses before this proposal could move forward. In that June 30th report the navigation sub-team concluded “that all phases of the LightSquared deployment plan will result in widespread harmful interference to GPS signals and service and that mitigation is not possible.”

Points to consider:

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has become embedded in modern daily life. Users include recreational boaters and commercial mariners, pilots, farmers, surveyors, construction workers, hikers, delivery drivers, dispatchers, lumberjacks, first responders, and emergency vehicles.

LightSquared should only be given approval if it can be proven that there will be no GPS interference.

In 2010 alone, 122 million GPS units were sold. Retrofitting legacy units to accommodate LightSquared’s needs is not feasible.

Even if LightSquared moves to a lower spectrum, lab testing revealed many GPS devices still suffered from harmful interference.

American citizens rely on the FCC to protect the bandwidth as a national resource; compromising GPS compromises American lives.

4th of July 2011 Part 4

We headed out for a sail as the sun was setting. Joel, Brad and I enjoyed 16 knot winds in very warm air. We stayed out well past sunset and navigated through the crab pots under a moonless sky. Joel and Brad were on the foredeck and they were quick to point out the little sea monsters!

Joel at the helm and Brad supervising!

We were hard on the wind heading East on a Starboard tack. Notice the sailboat on port tack just off my bow. Obviously we had right of way, but the guy in the other boat was busy entertaining three others as they were having dinner in their cockpit. I know this because I had to change course to pass to leeward. A classic situation where you don't want to be dead right!

4th of July 2011 Part 3

Alex was so excited to go on Cappy's boat! He woke up that morning talking about it! He just took it all in and really enjoyed seeing the other boats as well as the wildlife. We went for a short cruise to Historic Annapolis, headed up Ego Alley, and then to the Spa Creek bridge.

Alex in command of Domingoman

The Deschaines, Brad, Stephanie and Alex


She'll always be daddy's little girl!

Alex on the stern pearch

4th of July 2011 Part 2

Brad at the helm on our sail down to Thomas Point Lighthouse. Zoli and Sarah joined on a very beautiful afternoon.

The lighthouse is just over Brad's right shoulder