A relaxing couple hours just to get on the water. Back and forth on Willoughby Bay and out to the Elizabeth River using the Swells point channel.
Century Club: George Hernandez
Thursday, September 4, 2025 to Saturday, September 6, 2025
Number of days:
3 days
A building breeze in the afternoon moved me right along on a broad reach. Rounding the Poquosin Flats towards my destination I took advantage of a brief break between gusts to put in one reef. I'm glad I did because when the gusts returned they were stronger. I'd rather trade a knot or two for comfortable cruising. Making 6 knots on a close reach is fine by me.
I anchored on Claxton Creek on the south side of the channel and about 500 feet from the beach. Great spot. Quiet and just a short paddle to walk the beach.
Returning home the following evening the winds were gusting to over 20 knots and a bad direction for docking my boat, so I spent the night anchored 1,000 from the marina. In the morning while not calm, things were much more managable...
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
...on Willoughby Bay.
A beautiful afternoon for sailing. Arriving late I stayed on our little bay enjoying the nice east breeze blowing me along at 7 knots. Anchored on the east end, dinner was a can of Wendy's chili waiting for the race to start.
After the race I motored back to my slip. Unfortunately with the 15-20 knot SE breeze after 3 tries, I gave up on backing the boat down the fairway. While a joy to sail, my Nonsuch 30 stubbornly resists backing unless the wind is light or in a favorable direction. This is because the mast in the front acts like a wind vane. This effect can be overpowered by keeping the boat moving fast in reverse. However I'm not that comfortable entering my slip in reverse at 3 knots. Driving in forwards worked better. Nobody injured and not paint scraped off. Haha...
Monday, August 25, 2025 to Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Number of days:
2 days
Starting off with very little wind I motored out, happy just to be on the water. After not too long a light breeze out of the ENE arrived providing a relaxing afternoon gently moving along at 2.5-3 knots.
I anchored for the night on the east end of Willoughby Bay. After burgers on the grill I watched the broadcast of Starship Flight 10 but was dissapointed as it was canceled at T-40 seconds due to weather issues.
Saturday, August 16, 2025 to Sunday, August 17, 2025
Number of days:
2 days
Original goal was Kiptopeake. However headwinds, waves, and tide was slowing my progress eastward. With very little breeze forecast for the next couple days to bring me back to Norfolk I decided to stay closer to home and at about 3 I turned back and headed to Back Creek for the night.
Sunday, August 3, 2025 to Monday, August 4, 2025
Number of days:
2 days
Finally an opportunity to take my son out on the boat. The original plan was to sail Monday morning before he heads back to Henry VA. In the afternoon I asked if he wanted to make it a bit more of an adventure and spend Sunday night on the boat at anchor. So at 9:30 PM we motored out and dropped anchor on the eastern end of Willoughby Bay. The following morning with a nice NE breeze we raised the sail and cruised over to Fort Monroe and back. A relatively short but fun introduction to sailing for him and a treat for me on my birthday!
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
A hot day with light NW breeze. Stayed on Willoughby Bay for an hour and a half sail.
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
To the entrance of Salt Ponds. After the previous days' unsucessful trip I had to at least reach a goal. Very few biting flies made fo a more relaxing afternoon on the water...
Monday, July 21, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Light winds right on my nose slowed my progress. Biting flies brought it to an end.
Original plan, sail over to Kiptopeake for the night. Instead I turned back and just anchored in Willoughby Bay.
Friday, July 18, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
What little breeze there was as I pulled out of the marina, disappeared. It was hot sitting in the sun! That didn't last long as the forecasted NE breeze arrived within 15 minutes. Sailed over to Fort Monroe before returning back to my marina. Shorwers forecasted for the evening had me keeping the sail short..