Large Naval vessels and navigation lanes that are closer to an airport runway than a normal Harbor or Bay entry signal we are entering the Chesapeake. Untethered makes her turn to port and after 8 days, and over 1,500nm, we leave the Atlantic for what will be a full day, and the last leg of journey up the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake is an amazingly large body of water with a total length of nearly 200nm and our landfall in Annapolis will take us more than halfway up. As we enter the tides are coming out so we battle a good tidal current for half the day as we wind slowly north and the bay slowly narrows.

Huge vessels ply the Chesapeake, mostly container ships, as they use the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays to avoid the open Atlantic. The top of the Chesapeake is the C&D (Chesapeake & Delaware) Canal that connects the two Bays and makes a much quicker and safer passage from New York to Baltimore. So much of the day is spent dodging these vessels and making way for them as they move at 15knts or better.  The winds are nearly on the stern which allows us to fly the Gennaker again from the Bow Sprit and Untethered is moving quickly up the Bay despite the adverse current. Great progress up the Bay under motor and a full Gennaker pulling us is going to save us 2 hours on our landfall at dock in Annapolis, but despite this it will be a 3am arrival and late night channels to navigate and a bridge opening in Annapolis.

Spirts are high as we move up the bay and seeing land to Part and to Starboard is a nice feeling as we watch the many small towns, farms and vacation homes slip past us. Always exciting to make landfall after many days at sea.

Sun sets as we continue up the Bay and crew gather for a last meal on board and all find some time in a bunk to catch some rest ahead of the late night navigation and arrival. As we approach Annapolis we find more than a dozen large vessels at anchor just off the Annapolis channel which light up the night as we ready for our turn in. Untethered has recently been fitted with wireless headphones for communication and these get tested for the first time as we navigate into the channel and around so many idle vessels at anchor. This mid June Friday night also has the Annapolis harbor lite up with AIS signals of the many vessels at anchor and at dock in this busy marine town. With one crew on navigation, one at the helm and one reading lines and fenders it is busy above and below deck and as we come to dock all are pleased to see our onshore support ready to catch line and Tether us once again.