We decided to stay at our anchorage on the Rhode River for an additional day (Thursday) because a strong cold front was passing the area and would bring gale-force winds. We kept an ear on the local weather forecasting and decided to make the final leg of our trip on Friday with wind forecast from the NW at 25 kt and gusts to 35. We put two reefs in the main and rolled out the jib just enough to balance the helm.

As the day went, the actual wind was more commonly 35 kts with gusts to 45 . The chop was over the lee bow on occasion. The boat handled beautifully and we sat on the lee helm seat with harnesses and worked to 60 degrees apparent wind. Top gust we spotted was 45. The boat speed over ground was averaging 9 kts for the 36 nm distance we covered. Even with greatly reduced sail we sped in excess of 12 kts over ground at times. Air temperature was about 45 degrees F.

While making a beeline for the center span of the Bay Bridge, we had to keep an eye on our auto-piloted track which passed just to the east of a freighter anchorage just south of the Bay Bridge. We safely but narrowly passed behind an anchored freighter. At the same time we were keeping an eye on a large freighter approaching from the south. We played a guessing game as to who would get to the center span of the bridge first, where both vessels would share the same channel! We could breathe in relief when we made it there first, quickly crossing the channel to the eastern edge to remain clear of the freighter which would soon pass us in the main channel.

We made the mouth of the Sassafras River by noon.