HOTCR

[Bob23]

Capt Elk: Any new developments on the soon-to-be famous HOTCR?
bob23

[Elk River]

Hello All:

     Not a lot of development has occurred pertaining to the HOTCR.  Like your situation last month, Bob, I am presently in Davenport, FL wondering what to do with all this sunshine and warm-ish temperatures.
 
     However, back to the HOTCR; so as not to interfere with Heavetoo's plans for a get-together at the bottom of the Bay at the end of May, perhaps the HOTCR could happen at the very beginning of May to give people a chance to prepare their vessels.  Thus, it could morph into the MDMDHOTCR or the Maryland May Day Head Of The Chesapeake Rendezvous.  This means it would be held on the first weekend of May, which is technically after May Day, but I doubt anyone will actually argue the point.  Anyone that wanted to arrive on Friday (or earlier) could do so as slips will be available as per the original post.

     How does that time-frame sound to interested parties?  I trust it will be something worthwhile getting your boats ready for.

     Yours for warm sailing at some point,

     Elk River   

[Bob23]

Sorry to hear that your sunned in down there. You are in our prayers and thoughts.
Well, 1st. weekend in May sounds great to me! It'll certainly give me something to shoot for. I probably won't launch Koinonia until after the event.
I'll pencil it in and check back here for confirmation.
For the cause,
Bob23

[Eagleye]

Brad,
The Susquehanna River introduces itself into the head of the Chesapeake Bay very close to Elk River. And the headwaters of the main branch of the Susquehanna River originates at Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, NY, which is about a 90 minute drive from my home.  So if I plunked in at Cooperstown how long would it take me to float the 464 miles down the Susquehanna to to HOTCR?
Maybe I should plan to start as soon as the ice is gone? 

-Allen
(OK it's still snowing and the temps are in single digits here in Upstate NY and I'm bored.)

[Elk River]

Hi Allen:

     Something to end your boredom would be to figure out how to portage over or around the Conowingo Dam in Port Deposit, MD.  Whether or not you have other issues between that and Cooperstown, I do not know.  The way this winter is going, your ice out could be after the MDMDHOTCR, so you might just have to trailer down here.  But remember, free launching & slips...

     Bob, if you are not bringing Koinonia, don't let that keep you away.  We can rig up a boom tent for sleeping in the cockpit or someone with a larger boat might show up that could take you.  I noticed a posting on another thread of someone that has a 27 on the North East River, which is on the other side of our peninsula.  I sent him an e-mail to make sure he looks at this thread, so hopefully, he can be convinced to participate.  If push comes to shove, rig up a sleeping arrangement in your Walker Bay and bring that,  or perhaps, your guideboat.

     So, note to all:  end boredom and commit to the MDMDHOTCR!

     Elk River

[Bob23]

Brad:
   One way or another, I fully intend to bring Koinonia to HOTCR. You may remember that at the MWG, Tim informally challenged me to a race to I have my honor to defend. Lord willing, I will be there.
Bob23

[Tim Gardner]

Absolutely!

[Eagleye]

Hi Allen:

     Something to end your boredom would be to figure out how to portage over or around the Conowingo Dam in Port Deposit, MD. 

Those Darn Dams!!!

-Allen

[Bob23]

Already this is shaping up to be one heckofa event. Time for the racing bottom paint treatment.

[MKBLK]

Well, Eagleye. It seems that you'll have to abandon your beloved Com-Pac and either row, paddle or use a jet-ski (GF!). The river really isn't navigable for its length except to the former vessels. Pray for much rain (then sun!). And then, of course, there is the damn dam. When I visited it some years ago, at least the fish were able to climb the fish ladder. I don't think that'll work in your case. Better use plan "B".

Marty K.

P.S. Sorry, couldn't help myself!

[Mike K]

Hi guys,

Quick update here in Delaware.... Cathay can't make a sailing trip anytime in May, and also has a business trip planned the last week of June.  However, I may be able to sail solo from the Bohemia River and join you in May or whenever you go.  This year, I'm going to try to keep the boat at a slip instead of on a trailer this, so that should make a solo sail "do-able".

One thing you may want to keep in mind is that the first couple weeks in May can still get fairly cold, especially at night.  That's air temperatures.  My guess is that water temps are still pretty cold then too?   And I am a wimp about the cold in my old age.  It's not that I won't go in early May, but I can't guarantee I won't let a few whines out past my chattering teeth!

Oh, and Alan, forget about coming down the Susquehanna!  The damn dam is not the only obstacle.... Rocks the size of the Titanic are all up and down the river, and then you have Three Mile Island.... a Kayak would have a hard time getting more than a hundred miles down that river!  But it is a pretty river.

[Elk River]

Marty & Mike:

     Don't scare Allen away, just convince him to trailer down after he uses his snowblower to clear a path out to his boat (even in May, up his way).

     Bob, what's this thing about defending your honor?  You're from N.J., remember?

     Mike, again:  if you have a stove in your boat, just get yourself a clay flower pot and put it upside down over a burner.  It makes a great heater when you are at anchor.  The Bohemia may be as far as we can get for a weekend rendezvous, so you won't have to sail far.

     Elk River   

[HeaveToo]

I haven't heard from anyone about doing a middle bay meet-up.  Don't worry about me, I am guessing that this won't happen.

Either way, I took off the last week of May and I am heading down the Potomac River and out to the Chesapeake Bay.  There are so many places to go from there.

Plans may change though...I will have to see how this year develops.

[MKBLK]

As it presently stands, the last 2 weeks in May are cast in concrete. I'll be in Newport, RI for the Volvo Ocean Race (no, Pegasus is not competing). It's also costing a pretty penny...soo, I really don't know how things will come together. Too much ice around here for me to think clearly. I know my youngest son is teasing me with a trip to Key West and renting a sloop or cat in April... but, again money rears its ugly head. I do want to attend, but must iron out some pesky details.

Marty K.

[HeaveToo]

Part of me is half tempted to keep Saga on her trailer this season so I can complete the big modifications.  I would splash her for the long trips that I take.  It is a pain in the butt and it would limit my sailing a lot.  Raising and lowering the mast and planning stuff around the tide really stinks.

September trips are so pretty on the bay.  The last week of September was awesome sailing last year and I really enjoyed it.

I may switch jobs so that could change things a lot for me because of leave.