Departing Willoughby at 10:30 I was counting on the east wind to increase and swing to the south-east making a sail over to Kiptopeake fairly easy. By 2:30 my chartplotter indicated I wouldn't reach my destination until between 6-7. After dark.
The slightly north of east wind stayed light until around 3:15, and by then I had already turned for my alternate at Back River.
Returning the followind day, a gentle east breeze brought me back to Norfolk at a relaxing 3-1/2 knots.
A warm day with a steady, gentle west wind. My neighbor Eris was at the helm for 90% of the time. Perfect wind direction for a sail across the channel, along the beach at Fort Monroe and back.
Light winds stayed close then anchored by the bird nest. Great night on perfectly calm water!
Just across the channel to Fort Monroe.
An unusually warm mid-October day with a gentle SW wind. My marina neighbor joined me for the big day.
We made it as far as the main channel before the wind took a break and I decided to turn back. Floating along at 0.7 knots back into Willoughby Bay I was treated to some live music and one of the songs my friend had written.
A good day and happy to have finally acheived the goal I've been chasing for more than a few years.
And the season isn't over yet!
With light winds early in the day, this almost became a local sail and anchoring out on Willoughby Bay.
The winds were forecast to pick up mid afternoon, however if they arrived late I could be arriving after dark. Heading out on an ebb tide Sebatical easily made it past Fort Monroe on a 5 knot east wind. Moving slowly north I was past Salt Ponds before 4 with the SE breeze arrivng not long after that.
Anchored just west of daybeacon #4 at the Harris River inlet I enjoyed a quiet night with comfortable temperatures. Headed home in the morning with a SW breeze required some tacking to remain close to shore so it wouldn't be too much work fighting the outgoing tide turning west after passing Ft Monroe.
But, it was a really nice day and probably the last 90° for a while. In spite of a cold and cough I motored out to enjoy the sunshine and just drifted for about 45 in the gentle breeze without uncovering the sail.
I wanted to go somewhere for an overnight but calm winds were forecasted overnight and into the morning so I sayed close and anchored on Willoughby Bay. Nice night on the water with flat water and comfortable temperatures. Motored back to the marina in the morning and got on a coat of varnish before heading home.
I wanted to go somewhere for an overnight but calm winds were forecasted overnight and into the morning so I sayed close and anchored on Willoughby Bay. Nice night on the water with flat water and comfortable temperatures. Motored back to the marina in the morning and got on a coat of varnish before heading home.
With a low pressure sititng just off the east coast, low clouds seemed a little threatening. With no precipitation on the radar or in the forecast my marina neighbor Eris and I took advantage of the 15 knot NE breeze to round Middle Ground Light. Easy cruising in the mostly steady breeze. It did take a couple tacks to re-enter Willoughby Bay in the narrow channel past Swells Point. Great day!