When I first purchased my Catalina 387, Toccata in Sea, it was my first boat – I’m too old to start small and work my way up! – so every experience was a new one.  Some were more fun than others but all were learning experiences.

One of our first trips and a trip where I hadn’t yet anchored the boat anywhere overnight was one of those “learning experiences”.  To make things easier and less stressful, we traveled with our friends on their Catalina 34 and rafted up to their anchor in Swan Creek on the Eastern Shore of the northern Chesapeake Bay.  The forecast was typical of the summer on the Chesapeake, i.e. afternoon thunderstorms and then clear.  So…since the afternoon had passed, I looked forward to a quiet dinner and pleasant night with friends and family out on our new boat.