Counter Surfers Unlimited
Isi, Chessie, Sneaky & Sadie
It was a dark and stormy afternoon. The clouds from Isidore had already rolled
in, and I was hoping the 5-10 kt winds would shortly pick up. We launched my
little Melonseed skiff, Kokopelli, at 3pm, and Sadie was being an angel.
Now this is only because I decided to let her wear her e-collar while sailing.
It is the kind where you push a button and she gets a slight instantaneous nick
- adjustable. Just having it on changes her behavior - you can whisper
something and she listens. I had hopes she would stay in Kokopelli at least
until we got out of our creek.
The NE breeze was right down the creek leading to the Severn River, in Annapolis. Besides wanting to get out, I wanted to check my sail set. I thought I might have stretched my sail in some heavy gales, and had the boatbuilder and sailmaker all upset. After several conferences, those experts decided it was more likely my luff tension was loose.
Well, geesh - Roger (the boatbuilder) had set it up 2 years ago - and it now did have about an inch of slack on the downhaul. What is an inch? I am used to big boats - when you winch a sail up you probably loose an inch trying to cleat it off. But I have to admit I never checked it these last 2 years. Sure enough, the experts were right, and after tightening the luff, the sail now sets perfectly.
Back to my dark and stormy sail. The water was a dark green-brown. The light was dim, the air light. In my dark green hull we were just ghosting along - almost silently except for the little lapping sound of the water on the bow. Sadie was intently watching every little motion.
There was a mallard paddling right towards the boat! Her ears perk up - her body tensed. I quietly said, "Stay", and there was an almost imperceptible loosening of the set of her ears. The duck kept swimming right at us. True to its heritage as an 1850's sneak boat, the Melonseed silently snuck closer.
All of a sudden the duck sees the boat, and there is a quack! quack! quack! as it takes flight. Sadie looks at me as if to say, "I thought it was duck season!". We continue on, closer to shore.
There is a raucous noise as a disturbed great blue heron flies over us. Sadie stands up, but stays in the boat. Why didn't I think of the e-collar before? We tack, and silently ghost across the creek. The dark green hull must be almost invisible from below in this light and with the dark creek water.
We are in the middle of the creek - maybe 20 feet of water - and there is a soft bump on the bow. Then the centerboard wiggles a little up and down like it does when crossing a sand bar. Another soft bump further back. Sadie is looking around to see what is happening.
I look aft to see if the characteristic ripples, waves and humps of Chessie are there. Chessie is the Chesapeake's version of the Loch Ness monster. It has been spotted in our creek. But the water is flat.
Suddenly there is a disturbance in the water. Hmmm- a school of minnows. Some seagulls fly in. And more seagulls. They start diving at the frothy water, much to Sadie's delight. But no Chessie. And I was wearing my Twisted Kilt T-shirt in honor of the introduction of DuClaw's new seasonal brew, a Scotch ale.
Hmmm - are any Melonseeds sailing the Loch Ness? We continue on to the river, passing another lab owner on shore. I don't think he recognizes me, but yells back, "Cool", in praise of the seed. There is more wind on the river, but it doesn't seem to be increasing as I had hoped. After watching a seaplane land and take off, we decide to head back home.
The light is fading - and it is that quiet time when on the water you can hear every sound. Voices from both banks, dogs barking, many birds. Many different sounds - one bird call I have never heard before. Sadie was most interested in the dogs. We make it back to the launch dock without having to get out the oars. I tie up with just a stern line - enough I thought to lift Sadie up on to the dock.
This will be the first time she has come back dry!!! She is eager to
get on shore - gets her front legs up on the dock and I lift up her hind legs.
The boat drifts out- and Sadie goes splash. So there is this water dog with her
camo lifejacket on, trailing her leash and yellow float, swimming all over the
place having fun. A very pleasant afternoon.
Tony & Sadie
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