Short sail around Willoughby Bay with my neighbor who has a Pacific Sea Craft 34(?) A SE breeze gusting to over 20 knots had me putting one reef in the sail to keep things relaxing.
Century Club: George Hernandez
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 to Thursday, January 8, 2026
Number of days:
2 days
An unusually warm day with 15+ knots west breeze had me seeing 7.5 knots on a broad reach! A bit of tacking into the wind and outgoing tidal current to enter Back River.
Just as I set the anchor I was treated to an F-22 aerial demonstration.
Perfectly calm overnight and even though the low was near 40, I was very comfortable with my new diesel fueled heater.
The following morning was still calm so I motored out onto the bay and about 1/3 of the way back towards Norfolk where a nice east breeze carried me the rest of the way at a gentle 3 knots.
Monday, January 5, 2026
Number of days:
1 day
A short sail west then NE around Swells Bar and back into Willoughby.
Friday, January 2, 2026
Number of days:
1 day
I hope I'm not jinxing myself, but this is going to be the year!
With mild temperatures, a light wind and sunny skies it was fairly comfortable on Willoughby Bay. Clouds moved in within 30 minutes and the wind all but vanished. Still, a nice start to the year...
My marina neighbor joined me for some time on the water.
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Sunshine and comfortable temperatures. Before leaving the dock I noticed the wind pickling up. With gusts of 20+ knots I started right off with one reef in the sail. Good decision! It kept sailing relaxing for me and I was still seeing 6.5 knots at times on a broad reach.
Sunday, November 30, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Partly cloudy skies filtered the sun's heating, but with light winds it felt cofortable for a local sail.
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Sixty degrees, sunshine and a 10 knot west breeze made for a great day on the water. Sailing over to Fort Monroe it was a little battle against the outgoing tide. Returning difficult but made much easier using the diesel for a short section...
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Arriving at the marina there was a light north breeze. I thought to myself, this will be a pleasant afternoon. With the sunshine and the light winds it will be comfortable on the water. By the time the sail was up winds had increasted to over 15 knots. It made for great sailing moving me along at 6-1/2 knots, unfortunately the warmth of the sun was overpowered by the cool breeze.
Friday, November 14, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
A light west breeze made for a relaxing afternoon on willoughby Bay. With the sun already low by 4:00 o'clock and the wind dying it was time to return to the dock.
Will not make 100 this year. As of this summer, I'm back to a marina that doesn't require going through the HRBT with the constant traffic problems and getting more comfortable docking this boat in a wind, next year I will !
Friday, November 7, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Left Willoughby Bay through the Swells Point Channel and rounded the bar heading east. Shortly after turning around at the Ocean View Fishing Pier the wind started gusting to around 20 knots so I put one reef in the sail to calm things down. Slow going returning against the still outgoing tide. The combination of clouds, breeze and mid 60's had me feeling a little chilled and changed my mind about anchoring out for the night...