24 May 14

We were up early this morning, 06:00, to make the run round Smith Point and into the Potomac. This is a notoriously lumpy area and today was no exception. Forecast was NW 10 - 15/gusting 25. When we got to Smith Pt., it was NNW 25/gusting 30; typical. Just as we were rounding Smith Pt., we noticed a huge (200 ft LOA, 33 ft beam, 11 ft draft, according to the AIS data) pleasure craft - "Majestic" - slipping slowly up the coast way closer to the shore. I thought, there is no way he will make it over the shoal that runs about 2 miles offshore from Smith Pt. to the Smith Pt. Lighthouse, where we were. I was just about to call and ask his intentions, when we overheard the British skipper talking to the Smith Pt. Marina, which is inside the jetties up the Little Wicomico River. No way "Majestic" could get in there, but according to their conversation, they had lowered the tender (we were too far away to see it) and it was making its way into the marina. What for? I have no idea; perhaps they were low on champagne (Cliquot '53). They eventually recovered the tender, doubled back around Smith Point and passed us about 10 miles up the Potomac, doing 14 knots. They will be in DC in time for dinner tonight; we will probably get there some time Wednesday.

As they passed us, I really wanted to enquire via the wireless "I say, have you any Grey Poupon?" but was physically restrained by the Admiral, who apparently lacks my refined sense of humour.

Anyway, the sea settled down a bit, once we got past Point Lookout, MD. We anchored in Palmer's Cove, off the Yeocomico River, and spent a quiet afternoon watching the ospreys hunting for fish. The ones around here rarely snatch their prey from the water on the fly, but rather just crash into the water and grab the fish a few inches below water level, and then quickly pop up and take off, shaking their wing and tail feathers after a few seconds. Weather permitting, we will head another 30 N-m or so up the river tomorrow. I think we will crack one of our new bottles of Jacey wine with dinner tonight.