After extensive planning Fred Rapp of the RAPP-A-TACK and Dave FROGGER Oldham departed on July 10, 2000 from the Riverton Yacht Club for an undetermined destination on the Chesapeake.
The tides were checked, Fred's engine was given a tune up and a rebuilt carburetor. The engine hadn't been used in years. Dave's engine was in tiptop shape as it was used daily during the winter for fishing in Florida. Basic provisions were organized.
The plan was to leave Riverton at 7:30 AM, two hours before high tide at Philadelphia. Fred, who never needs an alarm clock as he rises at 6:00 AM daily, overslept. The relaxed anticipation of the trip set in early. After Dave's call, he quickly arrived at the club by 7:45 AM.
Most of the supplies and the ENGINES were already on the boat. At about 8:30 AM, it was time to start Fred's rebuilt engine which had been appropriately sea tested the prior week. The engine started on the second pull and ran smoothly; however, there was no water circulating. The good idea of two engines was put to the test early. Opps! Dave's engine wouldn't start.
Depression and anger set in. We decided to take some supplies, the extra gas and Dave's engine off the boat and go for a sail up the river until the tide changed. Dave Hess arrived to welcome the students to the RYC sailing school and suggested we just sail south for the day and return the next morning. It was a nice day with moderate winds from the west, which gave us a nice reach to Philadelphia--about nine miles down the river. We reached Philadelphia about 11:30 AM. The tided had changed and was now with us, but the winds had slackened, our progress was slow.
The river is an enjoyable sail with the commercial traffic, city skyline, and the recent addition of the Battle Ship New Jersey and the U. S. United States.
We approached the Navy Yard about 1:30PM. Philadelphia was still in sight. The river meanders around the city and you get to see it from three sides. We decided to stop on an island just south of the Navy Yard to try the engine again. Great! On the second pull the engine started and sounded smooth. Opps! No water circulation. We took the engine off and continued our sail.
Our destination was the Corinthian Yacht Club at Essington. The Commodore Barry Bridge came into sight as we rounded Little Tinicum Island. We had a sense of accomplishment as we docked at the unfriendly Corinthian Yacht Club. We asked if we could moor there for the night as we were from a local yacht club.
We were promptly told they did not have boats stay over night at their club. We asked if there was someone else we could talk to. We were referred to a manager. We took a different approach. We asked if there was a place that we could eat, and after dinner we would sail on. He gave us directions to the Tinicum Inn, which was about a mile away. It was an enjoyable walk through a factory town.
The Tinicum Inn was a wonderful place with extensive local color. We were told that we could have a sandwich, but the kitchen didn't open until 7:00PM. They recommended the crab cakes. We decided to have a beer and wait for the kitchen to open. It was about 4:30PM. The people in the bar were very friendly and their stories were great. We won't go into the stories at this time. The cook arrived about 6:00PM. We were quietly told not to ask her about dinner, as she didn't start until 7:00PM. She was an elderly lady. She came to the bar and joined the barmaid PUDDGY who had changed shifts. The barmaid's husband "HATTER" was also there. It turned out that they didn't have crab cakes that day. That was another story that we won't go into. Dinner was good. However, we don't remember what it was. At about 8:00 PM, we started back to the boat. Our plan was to go out and anchor for the night. We decided to try the engine one more time. On the second pull it started. We shoved off; perhaps we were more aggressive on the throttle as now we had water circulation.
With the Commodore Barry Bridge in sight, and Engineers Cove at the end of the Delaware, and Chesapeake canal only 46 miles away, we decided to go for it. Dave was very pointed with the fact that he didn't stay up late and that we would have to anchor someplace for the night. As the Commodore Barry Bridge passed from sight, the Delaware Memorial Bridge appeared. About this time, Dave suggested that we find a place to anchor. I said that we should go farther and possibly stop south of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. I really didn't feel safe about anchoring and I knew that I wouldn't sleep. The motor was running well, we were on a reach with moderate winds. The tide had changed and was with us. I made contact via VHS relative to the current in the canal and was advised that it would be running to the Chesapeake until 2:50 AM. Dave was out. He can really sleep. I was pleased with the confidence he had in me.
It became dark as we passed from the river to the top of the Delaware Bay--the city lights of Wilmington were gone. The maze of lights of the refineries at Delaware City and the Salem Nuclear plant were in the distance. The bay opened up and the marked and unmarked markers were difficult to find to an untrained navigator. Efforts were made to stay clear of the channel in order to avoid the silent and dark commercial traffic. Our GPS indicated that we were moving at about 7.6 mph. What a fast boat!
Dave awoke and asked where the Delaware Memorial Bridge was. I said to look in front of us, then look back, only the top of the bridge was in sight. We topped off our gas can and began to look for the entrance to the canal. We had both been through the canal several times, but it was difficult in the maze of distant lights to find the canal entrance, which is tucked behind a mile long jetty. We were only off by about a half-mile. We followed the jetty to the entrance. Once into the canal, a sense of safety was felt. The sails were lowered. The engine was running well. Our battery-operated stern light was dimming.
The canal is 17 miles long and 473 feet wide. Its banks are made of large rocks. There are streetlights about every 300 yards. Our destination of Engineers Cove was about 14 miles away. About a mile past the St. George's Bridge the first of several tug boats pulling barges came into sight. He was going in our direction. The captain was advised via channel 13 that about a mile in front of him the small sailing vessel Rapp-A-Tack was proceeding towards the Chesapeake. He was further advised that we were having problems with our running lights. He said he could not see us. He was advised that we would circle a flashlight. He advised us that he saw us and thanked us for the notice. We stayed close to the rocky bank as the tug passed. Boy, did he make a wake, which went from bank to bank. All of a sudden the rocks looked like boulders. Dave arose briefly. He knew he was in safe hands, I wish I had felt as secure.
The next several tugboats passed in the opposite direction. The bumps and splashes were a welcome relief from the semi broaches. The tug boat captains kept open communication with us via channel 13.
We arrived at Engineers Cove after the moon had set It was 4:00 AM. The mariner was equipped with a tent. No, it was not put up, due to the hour and the fact that there were no bugs.
We woke about 7:00 AM, pulled anchor, and motored across the canal to Schaffer's Canal House. We used their facilities and put 7 gallons of gas into our 8-gallon fuel tanks. We left a 5-gallon tank at RYC. It would have been comforting to have that extra 5 gallons on hand the previous night.
We left Schaffer's at about 8:00 AM. It was about 3 miles to Welsh Point where the canal enters the Elk River. We raised the sails and turned off the motor for a 4-hour sail to the Sassafras River. Dave threw out a fishing line as we passed the Bohemia River. The wind was 10 to 12 and out of the northwest. We passed Turkey Point where the Elk, Northeast and Susquehanna form the top of the Chesapeake Bay.
Upon reaching the Sassafras, we motor sailed the 8 miles to Georgetown. We surveyed the numerous marinas from the water and selected Duffy's Creek Marina. We were very pleased with our dockage and stay. Their charges were a dollar a foot per night and ten dollars to use their ramp. Their showers and lavatories were air-conditioned. Their pool was located on a bluff over looking the harbor.
It was about 3:30 PM by the time we tied the boat up. We used the wonderfully refreshing shower and pool. Life is good! Being refreshed, we went to a local restaurant for dinner. We then took a tour of the numerous marinas, with their multitude of large boats. We returned to the boat for a relaxing after diner drink and turned in about 10:00 PM. No bugs, no tent.
We were amazed in the morning that there was no place for breakfast, not even coffee. We were told of a town about two miles away, so we started on our morning walk; all up hill. About a mile and a half out, we smelled the bacon. After an enjoyable breakfast, we walked down hill to the boat and dropped the mast. Sylvia and Pam were picking us up at 11:00 AM. Pam is an excellent trailer driver. They arrived promptly at 11. We loaded the boat and took one more dip in the pool before we were off for a 30-minute car ride to Schaffer's Canal House for lunch.
It was a great trip. We would like to do it again next year, perhaps with more boats. It is nice to sail for several days and then trailer your boat home. One recommendation would be to avoid the canal area at night. Please contact your river guide at srapp9@home.com for additional information.