December 11, 2008
Departed Regatta Point at 8:30 p.m. for fuel, left Deltaville at 8:45. Winds E 5 - 10 mph, shifting to NE, temp. 60°, overcast, light drizzle at times. Destination, Hampton Roads, VA. Anchor down at 1640, one other small sailboat in the anchorage. Distance, about 40 nm.
Today's forecast is light rain until early afternoon, then the kind of deluge that would make Noah nervous - 1 - 4 inches in the afternoon. I'd thought of hanging out another day at Regatta Point (electricity, thus heater!) but the winds were forecast into the south again tomorrow for the lower half of the Bay, meaning a no go again. I don't want to get stuck here that much longer, I'll risk the rain. Heck, I won't melt.
Surprisingly, there were only a few light showers until just off the point at Hampton Roads - suddenly, the wind shifted 180° and increased, to about 10 - 15 mph. That's happened here before, just something to do with this area.
The surprising thing was the temperature, it jumped at least 20°, becoming very moist and muggy in an instant. It was so warm in fact, I looked around the boat to see if there was something on fire - it was that warm. Then it started to pour, but fortunately only for about ten minutes. At the same time, the GPS quit! Hmmmm.....strange. However, it must have been a flattus in the innards, because it ran fine on restarting.
The winds were gusting now to over 20 knots, and the wx radio advised of a tornado warning. Gee - I think I'd rather be cold and without wind. Luckily, there's only two miles to go to the anchorage. Got there and dinghied in to pick up a shower room key.
About 8 p.m. I reanchored the boat, putting out 70 feet of rode in 8 feet of water, as I felt it was dragging and I was too close to the marina docks for comfort. Some of these busier anchorages have a bottom so torn up an anchor has a hard time holding, but I didn't feel like trying the Danforth alone in a tidal situation and with these winds, didn't want to put it out as a second hook.
December 12, 2008
Departed Hampton Roads at 0830, winds NE 10 mph, temp. 45°, partially sunny. Destination, Virginia City, about 40 nm.
Woke up with the boat in the same place as when I went to sleep - always a good thing on a boat! Coffee, then upped anchor and headed out. Some wind from my starboard bow - enough to have a fun sail over to the Navy Yards, hitting 7+ knots under just the genoa. A lot of confused waves bouncing me around quite a bit, which didn't quit even after getting behind Craney Island where I'd have expected some lee.
A large freighter was anchored just at the turn to the Navy Yards - its coast guard patrol boat came around to my side, heading towards me, so I veered away to make my intentions clear, waving as I did so. These guys carry 50 cal machine guns and they don't want you getting cozy. 100 yards is the closest permitted approach and they'll back you off long before that. Interestingly enough, last year in almost this same spot I got quite a bit closer to a submarine before the USCG made it clear I wasn't welcome.
Then it was past the warships, aircraft carriers and other huge ships of the US navy in the yard, some floating, some in drydock. A grey patrol boat cruised along with me, despite my being a good 200 yards out, at the far side of the channel.
Saw Wendy and Kerry Moran out on the water too. For the uninitiated, they are two of the tugboats in the Moran company fleet, a huge maritime corporation - all their boats are named for relatives in the family - haven't seen my own namesake yet however!
Still sailing, and now I see another sail far behind me - good, I'm not the only fool out here in this cold.
Finally, past the yard and into the city proper, I take down the sail in the lee of a hotel, to discover that the sail was contributing well over a knot of speed to my progress against the tide.
My goal today is Virginia City, at which there is a free dock. There is little in the way of anchorages in the area coming up, and past VC there is nothing for miles as it's a canal. I'm also hoping to pick up wifi from Atlantic Yacht Basin across the canal from the dock.
The last few miles, I've been sailing along with the boat I saw in Norfolk - it's a Westsail 32, Full Circle. They fuel at AYB, then dock behind me. Al and Patty, from Pittsburgh, are cruising to the keys this year.
Al and Patty bought Full Circle for $10k, spent about another $30k on it, but it's just beautiful. And, they have this marvelous diesel heater, the boat is almost too warm! We chat for a while over a beer, then help Nina, a green scow, into the dock. The owners of Nina, Dayton and (can't remember her name!) show us their boat. It's quite unique, wood, built in 1986, a schooner rig of about 50 or so feet.
She was recently up in Orillia, researching an article for Old Boat Magazine. Small world. I'll have to pick up a copy of the magazine and get her name, or ask Patty for it. They've been cruising with a steel schooner, which I'll run into in a couple of days time, in Belhaven.
December 13, 2008
Departed Virginia City at 0800. Winds NE 5 - 10 mph, temp. 35°, sunny. Destination, Coinjock, or further. Anchor down at 1630 just short of Albermarle Sound, Full Circle is anchored here as well. Distance, about 50 nm.after fuelling up at Coinjock. Total fuel usage to this point, about $23, from Annapolis.
First the canal, long and straight, the winds funnel and are either straight ahead or behind you until the North River opens up. Used the genoa as much as possible, furling and unfurling as the winds shifted. Bit of a nuisance, but using the sail really helps with fuel economy I've discovered.
Coming up to one turn, I saw a barge approaching. Since the turn was to my left, I decided it would be easier for both of us if I went to the inside of the turn on the left side of the channel.
Wrong! The barge turned quite sharply to make the turn and I had to go right over to the edge of the channel into about 7 feet of water to stay clear. I didn't expect it to come over that far and I must have looked foolish to him, but I figured that with his bulk, my keeping to the right - the outside of the turn - would be the wrong move. Next time, I'll use the VHF and simply ask.
Chilly today, but the sun makes it comfortable. After leaving Coinjock - it was too early to stop and there wasn't a boat in the place to make it interesting, I decided to head for my usual anchorage about three miles to the south of Coinjock, where there would be a lee from the E - NE wind of this evening. Making great time, so I decided to head a bit further, to anchor opposite Broad Creek. Found Full Circle there, got them to take some photos of GW coming in under sail with the sunset behind her. They've put those photos on their blog, www.sailboat50.blogspot.com is the url if I remember correctly. I'll check it out later as I don't have wireless here.
Tried to take some photos of Gypsy Wind with the full moon in front when it rose, but that didn't work very well. The flash was required, and it ruined the ambiance - and without flash, the dinghy is not a stable platform, so the pics were blurred.
Tomorrow, the Albermarle Sound - hopefully, the winds will be enough off the bow to permit a sail. At least the temperatures are climbing again, into the sixties. Should anchor at mile 100, the beginning of the Alligator Pungo Canal leading to Belhaven.
Cold tonight, but tomorrow the low is in the 40s, after that into the 50s. It ain't the Bahamas, but it ain't Collingwood either!
Interesting discovery yesterday and today - as great as my Garmin chartplotter is, the Moeller's book with locations of bridges, etc. is a big help in the cockpit. The chartplotter has a lot of useful detail but finding certain information on the screen is awkward while underway - the Moeller's book gives me bridge, lock and anchorage information, plus the mileages, bridge heights and opening schedules, stuff that just isn't put onto a chart but helps to know as you're moving along. As an adjunct to the plotter, it's invaluable.
Got some great garlic pepper jelly from Coinjock Marina today....it tastes way better than it sounds, trust me!
Departed Regatta Point at 8:30 p.m. for fuel, left Deltaville at 8:45. Winds E 5 - 10 mph, shifting to NE, temp. 60°, overcast, light drizzle at times. Destination, Hampton Roads, VA. Anchor down at 1640, one other small sailboat in the anchorage. Distance, about 40 nm.
Today's forecast is light rain until early afternoon, then the kind of deluge that would make Noah nervous - 1 - 4 inches in the afternoon. I'd thought of hanging out another day at Regatta Point (electricity, thus heater!) but the winds were forecast into the south again tomorrow for the lower half of the Bay, meaning a no go again. I don't want to get stuck here that much longer, I'll risk the rain. Heck, I won't melt.
Surprisingly, there were only a few light showers until just off the point at Hampton Roads - suddenly, the wind shifted 180° and increased, to about 10 - 15 mph. That's happened here before, just something to do with this area.
The surprising thing was the temperature, it jumped at least 20°, becoming very moist and muggy in an instant. It was so warm in fact, I looked around the boat to see if there was something on fire - it was that warm. Then it started to pour, but fortunately only for about ten minutes. At the same time, the GPS quit! Hmmmm.....strange. However, it must have been a flattus in the innards, because it ran fine on restarting.
The winds were gusting now to over 20 knots, and the wx radio advised of a tornado warning. Gee - I think I'd rather be cold and without wind. Luckily, there's only two miles to go to the anchorage. Got there and dinghied in to pick up a shower room key.
About 8 p.m. I reanchored the boat, putting out 70 feet of rode in 8 feet of water, as I felt it was dragging and I was too close to the marina docks for comfort. Some of these busier anchorages have a bottom so torn up an anchor has a hard time holding, but I didn't feel like trying the Danforth alone in a tidal situation and with these winds, didn't want to put it out as a second hook.
December 12, 2008
Departed Hampton Roads at 0830, winds NE 10 mph, temp. 45°, partially sunny. Destination, Virginia City, about 40 nm.
Woke up with the boat in the same place as when I went to sleep - always a good thing on a boat! Coffee, then upped anchor and headed out. Some wind from my starboard bow - enough to have a fun sail over to the Navy Yards, hitting 7+ knots under just the genoa. A lot of confused waves bouncing me around quite a bit, which didn't quit even after getting behind Craney Island where I'd have expected some lee.
A large freighter was anchored just at the turn to the Navy Yards - its coast guard patrol boat came around to my side, heading towards me, so I veered away to make my intentions clear, waving as I did so. These guys carry 50 cal machine guns and they don't want you getting cozy. 100 yards is the closest permitted approach and they'll back you off long before that. Interestingly enough, last year in almost this same spot I got quite a bit closer to a submarine before the USCG made it clear I wasn't welcome.
Then it was past the warships, aircraft carriers and other huge ships of the US navy in the yard, some floating, some in drydock. A grey patrol boat cruised along with me, despite my being a good 200 yards out, at the far side of the channel.
Saw Wendy and Kerry Moran out on the water too. For the uninitiated, they are two of the tugboats in the Moran company fleet, a huge maritime corporation - all their boats are named for relatives in the family - haven't seen my own namesake yet however!
Still sailing, and now I see another sail far behind me - good, I'm not the only fool out here in this cold.
Finally, past the yard and into the city proper, I take down the sail in the lee of a hotel, to discover that the sail was contributing well over a knot of speed to my progress against the tide.
My goal today is Virginia City, at which there is a free dock. There is little in the way of anchorages in the area coming up, and past VC there is nothing for miles as it's a canal. I'm also hoping to pick up wifi from Atlantic Yacht Basin across the canal from the dock.
The last few miles, I've been sailing along with the boat I saw in Norfolk - it's a Westsail 32, Full Circle. They fuel at AYB, then dock behind me. Al and Patty, from Pittsburgh, are cruising to the keys this year.
Al and Patty bought Full Circle for $10k, spent about another $30k on it, but it's just beautiful. And, they have this marvelous diesel heater, the boat is almost too warm! We chat for a while over a beer, then help Nina, a green scow, into the dock. The owners of Nina, Dayton and (can't remember her name!) show us their boat. It's quite unique, wood, built in 1986, a schooner rig of about 50 or so feet.
She was recently up in Orillia, researching an article for Old Boat Magazine. Small world. I'll have to pick up a copy of the magazine and get her name, or ask Patty for it. They've been cruising with a steel schooner, which I'll run into in a couple of days time, in Belhaven.
December 13, 2008
Departed Virginia City at 0800. Winds NE 5 - 10 mph, temp. 35°, sunny. Destination, Coinjock, or further. Anchor down at 1630 just short of Albermarle Sound, Full Circle is anchored here as well. Distance, about 50 nm.after fuelling up at Coinjock. Total fuel usage to this point, about $23, from Annapolis.
First the canal, long and straight, the winds funnel and are either straight ahead or behind you until the North River opens up. Used the genoa as much as possible, furling and unfurling as the winds shifted. Bit of a nuisance, but using the sail really helps with fuel economy I've discovered.
Coming up to one turn, I saw a barge approaching. Since the turn was to my left, I decided it would be easier for both of us if I went to the inside of the turn on the left side of the channel.
Wrong! The barge turned quite sharply to make the turn and I had to go right over to the edge of the channel into about 7 feet of water to stay clear. I didn't expect it to come over that far and I must have looked foolish to him, but I figured that with his bulk, my keeping to the right - the outside of the turn - would be the wrong move. Next time, I'll use the VHF and simply ask.
Chilly today, but the sun makes it comfortable. After leaving Coinjock - it was too early to stop and there wasn't a boat in the place to make it interesting, I decided to head for my usual anchorage about three miles to the south of Coinjock, where there would be a lee from the E - NE wind of this evening. Making great time, so I decided to head a bit further, to anchor opposite Broad Creek. Found Full Circle there, got them to take some photos of GW coming in under sail with the sunset behind her. They've put those photos on their blog, www.sailboat50.blogspot.com is the url if I remember correctly. I'll check it out later as I don't have wireless here.
Tried to take some photos of Gypsy Wind with the full moon in front when it rose, but that didn't work very well. The flash was required, and it ruined the ambiance - and without flash, the dinghy is not a stable platform, so the pics were blurred.
Tomorrow, the Albermarle Sound - hopefully, the winds will be enough off the bow to permit a sail. At least the temperatures are climbing again, into the sixties. Should anchor at mile 100, the beginning of the Alligator Pungo Canal leading to Belhaven.
Cold tonight, but tomorrow the low is in the 40s, after that into the 50s. It ain't the Bahamas, but it ain't Collingwood either!
Interesting discovery yesterday and today - as great as my Garmin chartplotter is, the Moeller's book with locations of bridges, etc. is a big help in the cockpit. The chartplotter has a lot of useful detail but finding certain information on the screen is awkward while underway - the Moeller's book gives me bridge, lock and anchorage information, plus the mileages, bridge heights and opening schedules, stuff that just isn't put onto a chart but helps to know as you're moving along. As an adjunct to the plotter, it's invaluable.
Got some great garlic pepper jelly from Coinjock Marina today....it tastes way better than it sounds, trust me!