Month: May 2020

We got underway from Solomons at about 6:30am. We are expecting the winds to start from the south allowing us to begin the day on a run. The prediction was to have the wind direction shift by early afternoon to from the west and then from the north by 3pm or so. This would have us tacking against the wind or motoring in the afternoon unless we stop for the night by 1-ish. Three things conspired to change our day from the orignal plan.

First, our anchorage was uncomfortably close to the channel the night before. In order to draw attention to the boat so no one would run into it over night, we left deck lights on. This draw bugs to the boat over night which had to be cleaned and polished out of everything. This task Ian took on with zeal, making the cockpit spotless over the course 3 or 4 hours. While he was doing that, he left me in charge of sailing the boat. I with the favorable winds we had to start with I pushed to get the most distance out of them expecting things to change and work against us later. For the first several hours we averaged 8kts on strong winds behind us and a 1.5 2kts tidal current in our favor!

Second, The wind shift to west came 3 or 4 hours later then expected. By the time the winds shifted to the west I had already passed our planned anchorage for the night. Since we were further along, the charts showed less places to stop for the night that would work for us between Eastern Bay and Annapolis. I guess I can take the credit over-sailing our destination.

Lastly, It was such a nice that what’s a few more tacks into wind on a beautiful day! We decide to go all the way to Annapolis. This put us 2-3 days ahead of schedule. Seriously though after staying on Chesapeake Bay all Saturday I can understand why people love to cruise this area. There were hundreds of boats out, sailboats, fishing boats even pontoons. It just a beautiful day to out on the water!

We arrived at Annapolis before sunset. The bugle played over the Naval Academy as we put the flag away. It was nice to sit at the mouth of Annapolis Harbor and watch the parade of boat return from a day on the Bay!

We got going early at 7 this morning. We were scheduled to have winds from the south carrying us up the bay at a nice 5-6kts speed in 8-10 kts of wind speed. That is really efficient sailing in such a light breeze! This all started when Ian asked, “Do you fancy hanging the Blue Machine?” This is the asymmetric headsail which acts as spinnaker for us. It is a hassle to get up and flying, but once its up, it is pretty awesome. Not only were we faster than the other sailboats around us, ( Let’s face it whenever there are 2 or more sailboats together it’s a race!) We did look a lot cooler as well.

While we were sailing along, we came across the above yellow “special purpose buoy”. After checking the charts and doing some research we came to find out that this particular buoy signifies the edge of a “Aerial Gunnery Targeting Zone designated for practice. Good to know!

We got into Solomon Island late afternoon. It looks like a great place to hangout if the virus was not an issue. After anchoring as best we could in the mucky bottom that doesn’t hold anchor sets very well (We did get some tips from other sailors on anchoring in the mud, the consensus is just put out more chain. Not very confidence building).

We did visit a few boat yards looking for a place for Yantina to haul put and sit on the hard while Ian returns to the UK. He may use one here in Solomon Island.

This morning we were up and out early with rain in the forecast. We figured we could knock off quite a chunk of the 45 miles we wanted to cover before getting wet. As it was we had a great day on it the wind came around to our back and strengthened the 20kts. We put up the pole and roared along at 8+kts going “wing & wing” with the main sail to port and the jib to starboard! It was a great of sailing.

We were able make it to all way to our anchorage before the rain started. Unfortunately, the hard bottom that makes up a good portion of the Chesapeake Bay would not allow our anchor to set easily. After 6 tries, we broke out a second anchor. We got a decent set between the two of them, but by then we were soaked. Of well another lesson in what makes sailing so hard.

Foggy start to the morning, we had having an issue with the engine starting to run the generator. Worked on that early morning. Patrick headed out for Nashville, Ian and I will go on to Annapolis. We had to figure out an address for Lyft to come pick up Patrick and then take the dinghy ashore in someone’s back yard and walk up on to the street. Fortunately, the house was for sale and the dog next door appeared to be afraid of us. It was interesting looking for a street to tell the driver where to pick him up?

After Patrick left, we raised the sails and had a nice trip into Matthews, VA. A nice little town with lots retirees hanging around. We came ashore in the dinghy, parked it at someone’s pier and snuck through their yard ( this is becoming a theme) to the street and walked into town. After a little walk around town and some grocery shopping it was back to the boat. We spent the night at a beautiful anchorage a ways up a river for shelter from the bay.

Yesterday started foggy and the weather became progressively warmer and better as we sailed around Hampton and north. We tacked our way across the bay at 3 to 5 knots. As we approached a lighthouse in the middle of the Bay, a coast guard boat was dropping off a guy. Near as we could tell on the internet, people work 4 – 5 day shifts working 24 hours on location by themselves in the lighthouse.

The above boats passed us going really fast, so fast it hard to get a picture. Using the binoculars they appeared the dressed in Navy Seal type uniforms. It most have been a training exercise. Curious that neither boat came up on radar?

We finished the day by giving Yantina a good washing to get the salt and grime off the decks. She is now sparkling clean!

Our intention was to tour Norfolk on foot yesterday. Unfortunately the anchor did not cooperate. We were unable get the anchor to set at our anchorage in downtown Norfolk. We stay for lunch on the boat, never went ashore. We did have a great sail down the channel and back between Hampton and Norfolk. The weather has been cold here 55 -60 degrees and breezy. Given that it was a holiday weekend and Corona virus coupled with cooler weather, we had the good fortune of sailing a reach at 7kts along Battleship Row right at dusk, it was truly a great experience!

We found an anchorage right outside the harbor I left from last October with ICW cruise. It was fun to pull into a place so far from yet felt familiar! It shaped up to be a cold night, good for chili and canasta.

We got underway on Friday morning to very rough seas to Cape Lookout. At least it didn’t rain, we had had enough of rain after 6 days so it was good to get out to sea regardless of the rough water. Once we rounded the turn the breeze shifted and we were able to stay a reach for most of the day. It was pleasant, but cool sailing.

The night was eventful with shifting winds and a few sails changes. We changed from a reach to run and back again during the night. The temperature was pretty cold or maybe we just aren’t used things being warmer. In the middle of the night we lost the wind indicator when it stopped working. Back to sailing the real way (if you feel the wind on both ears, your nose is pointing to the wind).

The next morning, dying winds and flat seas were the order of the morning. the day shaped up to be beautiful sailing until the early evening. The temperature inched up and we sailed along on a fine reach at about 7kts most of the day. We stayed 50 or so miles off the coast to use the Gulf Stream current which at times boosted us by as much as 2kts. It was interesting to look at the boat speed of 5 through the water but making way at 7 according to GPS!

As we made our way North, the traffic on the water increased. There is a lot more tankers and container ships as well as pleasure boats. It is annoying the amount of sport fishing boat on the water that don’t have anyway of seeing them electronically with no radar reflector or AIS. I guess I’m sounding even more like the crusty sailor believing that no else ‘gets it’.

We felt a sense of accomplishment getting to mouth of the bay. Unfortunately, the bay entrance was huge and the tidal current was against us on our approach, which meant it took forever to get to our anchorage. Along the way we rescued a pleasure boat that start and got them out of the channel to where they could anchor for the night and figure it out in the morning.

To top things off we anchored right in front Battleship Row. As we motored to our anchorage the bugle played signifying the flag coming down at dusk, it was quite moving. The day ended with difficulty getting the anchor to catch. It took us 2 anchorage points and 6 attempts to get the boat secured. At that point there enough energy for a hot shower and bed!

After 6 days of rain we are heading out of Morehead City with the tide. Feeling good to bid NC adieu. We have had nothing but rain here. We project it will a bumpy ride for at least the first half a day maybe more, but this is our best weather window for awhile. I will keep you posted!

We had to break up the team before we get to Hampton. Dennis had some family and business commitments he had to attend to and taking a few more days to get to Virginia didn’t work. We will carry on without him, not happily!