Blue Pearl Sailing

After two years of pouring blood, sweat & tears into Blue Pearl, she was finally ready”ish” to cruise. And on July 27, 2022 with all our belongings either on board or safely stored at my parents house, we set off for the Chesapeake.

We had been down the East River before but this time felt different. After calling New York home for all those years, we were leaving. It was one of those perfect, sunny NY days. Jodie & Sylvie came out to wave as we passed by Brooklyn. And before we knew it, we were passing under the Verrazano Bridge heading to our first stop in the Atlantic Highlands.

We left the Atlantic Highlands a few days later and headed out into the Atlantic. The first afternoon we were swarmed by greenhead horse flies. Ah the joys of sailing! With one of us at the helm and the other on fly watch with swatter in hand, we headed down the coast. Night time always scares me a little. Even though we’re tethered to the boat, there’s something about looking out into the pitch black horizon that’s eerie. I suppose you get used to it overtime. Though nothing beats that moment of first light, right before the sun comes up as the horizon comes into view.

We had planned to pull into Cape May the next morning for some rest. But with daylight and a pod of dolphins off our starboard side we were feeling energized. We pushed through and headed north up the Delaware Bay. And WOW is that stretch of the passage boring! It was a treat to arrive to the beautiful C&D canal.

We stopped for the night in Chesapeake City, refueled at Schaefer’s Marina and into the Chesapeake Bay we went!

Next stop, Havre De Grace, Maryland! For those who don’t already know this story, we found Blue Pearl’s original paperwork and she was commissioned from Havre de Grace in 1990. My Mom & Aunt also grew up there with my grandparents. So it felt pretty special to bring Blue Pearl back here, to say the least.

From there, we explored a bit more of the Chesapeake Bay. Spent a night anchored in Still Pond. Went for a paddle board & watched a family of bald eagles hang out on the beach. Sailed down to Dobbins Island in the Magothy River and explored Gibson Island with the gorgeous horse farm right on the water. Then up the Chester River to an anchorage in Langford Creek where we rode out a nasty squall and dragged anchor. Luckily it reset without too much trouble (or lightening strikes).

And then it was time to head to our new “home” for summer. Our slip in Annapolis where we would spend time with friends & family while finishing up the last of the boat projects before heading out for our travels South!

-LS