I had hoped to get in some sailing on this day, however as is usually the case, projects take much longer than expected. Replacing the backing for a stantion is fairly straight forward when you have someone above, but when working alone it becomes a bit more complicated. With the help of a vice grip the task was completed.
As a reward I motored out for some time drifting along with the NE breeze and watching the interesting clouds...
A light ENE breeze carried us over to Fort Monroe. Looking at the tide I was expecting a gentle current. I must have misread things because there was close to 2 knots which brought our forward progress almost to a stop. A little diesel power got us past this and we continued up the beach for a while before heading back to Willoughby Marina.
A tense moment when firing up the diesel only to find we had a crab pot line on the prop. Reversing the engine unwound it and we were back in business. Love crab, hate crab pots!
Starting off with a 10 knot west wind as I was heading towards the channel. Approaching the narrow section of the north Willoughby Channel the winds faded. The wind shift was close. Clouds building to the north and west announced the approaching front. I sailed on the light northeast wind back to the marina and had just finished covering my sail as the rain started. Perfect timing...
A light WSW breeze starting out at under 10 knots made for some slow easy sailing. I headed for the channel but by the time I got there the wind had decreased even further. The outgoing tidal current had me decide against being drawn eastward with not enough wind to return against it until the current eased. Sailed around Willoughby Bay instead
Local sail with my neighbor Eris. Wind gusts at the Willoughby Degaussing 26 knots. One reef in the sail all day.
Almost calm as I headed out. I motored around the corner to the end of Willouhgby Spit close to the HRBT. I had never paid much attention to this area and was surprised just how close to the bridge deep water extended. I anchored there for a bit and tried a little fishing first with a lure then Fish Bites but nothing.
After a while a gentle west wind arrived so up went the sail and I managed to get in a little sailing.
A cool but nice afternoon on the water. East wind ~15 knots so put in one reef to keep things relaxing.
Anchored about 400' from the Birdnest windward mark to photo the race and then stayed there overnight.
Very light winds so motored back to Willoughby Marina in the morning.
A light NE breeze diminished to near zero as I arrived at the boat. I decided to just motor out and anchor on the east end of Willoughby Bay for a couple hours enjoying the warm sunshine but slightly cool air.
Original goal Norfolk but time constraints had us turning around at the Lafayette River. Great practice for Eris tacking up the narrow west channel exiting Willoughby Bay. Sunshine, nice south breeze bringing warm air made for an excellent sailing day!
A south wind in the low teens carried us out to the main channel and east. Returning against a decreasing outgoing tide the winds shifted to the SW which had us tacking up the narrow entrance to Willoughby Bay. My neighbor Eris joined me and was rewarded with a submarine passing us apparently headed to Newport News.