Hopefully everyone has had a pleasant Labor Day Weekend and finally have power and said goodbye to Irene.

This coming weekend is the annual Tides Inn cruise and currently there are four boats signed up.  Cruise chair, Tony Sakowski has 8 slips reserved and will need to release the unused balance soon.  If you are able to make this cruise, please sign up ASAP so Tony can finalize the dinner and slip reservations.

The Fall Cruise is shaping up as there are currently 8 boats signed up.  There are several others who expressed an interest in this cruise and hopefully they can join the group.  Please sign up ASAP so reservations can be made.

The itinerary follows:

Saturday, September 24  -  Leave docks and rendezvous at Horn Harbor Marina on the Great Wicomico.  The little marina has several slips and there is plenty of room to anchor.  You will need your dinghy on this trip.  I doubt the marina will have enough slips for all of us and the larger boats, Iola Na Mare and Miss Kate, can raft on the T-head as the slips are not large enough for them.  Cocktails will be at 5:30 pm at the little pavilion on the waterfront adjacent to the marina.  Dinner will be captains’ choice.  The restaurant is excellent, but if you prefer eating on board, that is fine----your choice.

Sunday, September 25 – Go to Solomon’s.  The Off-shore power boats will be racing in Solomon’s that day so expect congestion as you enter the harbor.  There are 4 good choices for the evening:   Anchoring, slip or mooring at Zahniser’s, slips at Spring Cove or slips at Calvert’s.  Calvert’s has floating docks for $1/ft which is my recommendations other than anchoring.  There will be a group dinner at the Bistro which is on Calvert’s property.  Cocktails will be at the picnic tables at Calvert’s at 5:30 and dinner at 7:00.

Monday, September 26 – Go to Annapolis.  I plan to take a mooring.  If you desire to stay at Annapolis Yacht Club or a marina, please make those arrangements.  We will meet at Pusser’s at 5:30 for cocktails and then dinner will be a captain’s choice.  We will stay in Annapolis on Tuesday, September 27^th for a day of shopping, sightseeing, etc.  If you have not taken a tour of the Naval Academy, I highly recommend that you do.  Chick & Ruth’s is a great place for breakfast.  On Tuesday evening, we will meet at the Chart House at 6:00 pm for happy hour and then have a group dinner.

Wednesday, September 28 – Leave for San Domingo Creek / back door to St. Michaels.  Raft up for cocktails at 5:30pm.  We should be there early enough for exploration of St. Michaels.  Dinner will be a captain’s choice.  If enough are interested, I will make reservations at the Inn at St. Michaels.

Thursday, September 29 – Morning in St. Michaels and then move over to Oxford (2 Hours).  There is ample anchorage or the Tred Avon Yacht Club has slips for $2 / ft.  They also have moorings.  We will have cocktails on the patio at TAYC at 5:30 with a group dinner at Latitude 38 or Pope’s Tavern.  Many of us ate at Lat. 38 last year and thought the food was excellent, but I am open to change.  Just let me know.

Friday,  September 30 – Back to Solomon’s.  Same docking choices.  Cocktails at 5:30 and dinner is captain’s choice.  Dinner options are Dry Dock at Zahnisers, DC Café in town, D. Giovanni’s Dock of the Bay,  Solomon’s Pier, and King Fishers in additions to the Bistro.  There is an excellent food store with prepared meals.

Saturday, October 1 – Mill Creek raft-up.  Move on to Mill Creek just south of Reedville for a raft up and dinner aboard.  There is a seafood outlet in Reedville where you can tie up long enough to purchase excellent seafood, if you wish to have that for dinner, before going over to Mill Creek.

Sunday, October 2 – return home

Notes:

1.        Please consider all group dinners optional.  If, for dietary or other reasons, you prefer different arrangements, please feel free to do so.

2.       If you need diesel on this trip, I would suggest buying it at Spring Cove in Solomon’s.  This past week diesel was $3.38 / gal. Versus $3.86 in Annapolis.

3.       The ducks are back in Annapolis and they are a pest to dinghies.  I would suggest pulling your dinghy up on your transom at night as they will roost on them and make a mess.  Take a rag to wipe your dinghy when you go into to town as the ducks will get on them at the dinghy dock and “poop”!

4.       Bring you fly swatter.  It is fall and the flies can be aggressive.

5.       Please arrange for good weather – the above schedule may have to be altered if the weather does not cooperate.

6.       Cocktails at 5:30 each evening.  I would ask that only 4 boats bring appetizers each evening, to be decided each night before.

7.       Preceding the Fall Cruise, we will have a potluck, bring your favorite salad, dinner at Fanny’s House.  We will begin with drinks at 6:00 pm and then share dinner and cover any last minute details