Just out to the James River and back. Only on the water for an hour enjoying an absolutely beautiful morning before heading back to the house. Sorry no pictures...
Century Club: George Hernandez
Monday, October 9, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
A little gusty and cool. In fact, 'small craft advisory' along the coast.
After taking care of a few things I was out at the boat for an overnight. If it was a little warmer and slightly less windy I would have anchored out. However by the time to make dinner came along it seemed the best idea was to return to the marina for the night.
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Another beautiful day. Because of the comfortable temps I didn't realize how strong the sun was and got slightly burnt. Broad reach all the way which forces me to sta close to the tiller. I should have set up a sheet to tiller system, but didn't.
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
A little help from Yanmar on both ends of this sail. Light winds just as I passed Fort Wool with an incoming tide and again entering the Back River with an outgoing tide. Except for these two instances, excellent sailing all day in a gentle NE wind. Perfectly calm night on the boat and low 60's made for wonderful sleeping weather.
Monday, September 25, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
A friend in town for a few days and the weather cooperated enough to get him out on the water. Light NE breeze gave us some gentle sailing then we motored out to the Elizabeth River to see the Navy ships.
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Another nice afternoon. I arrived at the marina mid-afternoon. Staying on Willoughby Bay I just sailed back and forth until dinnertime. I anchored on the east end by the 'bird's nest' turnpoint for Thursday races.
There was only one shower within 200 miles of my location and I managed to find me! Fortunately it was short lived!
With forecasted increasing winds, I decided to spent the night in the marina rather than anchored out. Through the night the winds picked up and by Friday evening we were really feeling the effects of Ophelia. After dinner I drove out to the marina to check on things. Gusts of 50 knots created problems for a few boats. One piling broke affecting two boats which was being delt with as I arrived. A little later another boat broke a dockline and was hitting its neighbor. It took 4 of us to get it back in position and secured. Later another was loose but the marina staff was unable to bring it back into position and just put out fenders to minimise damage.
This wasn't even a full hurricane! Can't even imagine 100 or 150 mph winds...
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
I just motored out onto Willoughby Bay and drifted doing a little fishing and enjoying a beautiful sunny afternoon.
Nope. Didn't catch anything...
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Originally, the plan was to sail my boat to Middle Ground Light and photograph the race from there. However my help was needed on the comittee boat so instead I went out with Tim Etherington on the Hampton Yacht Club's Deadrise. The sun was in my face so not the best shots, still got a few decent ones.
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Last of the fall series on Willoughby Bay. Good north breeze made for a fast race. Normally I anchor out for the night after the race, cook dinner and watch a movie. Unfortunately the winds were forecast to increase through the night. Gusting over 20 as I pulled into my slip gave me a little excitement and forced me to back all the way out of the aisle to try again. This time with more speed to maintain steerage. Lesson learned!
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
A moment of excitement on the photo boat!
Motoring out of my marina and turning east towards the mark I hadn't been underway 10 minutes when the diesel stopped. Fortunately no bang, grind or squeel. Opening the genoa immediately I continued on to my planned anchor point. The fuel gauge said 60%. It then dawned on me that it's been at 60%, like forever... Yep, gauge or more likely sending unit failure. A squeeze of the bulb confirmed no fuel in the line.
The scary thing is that I had motored into our narrow channel in total darkness during peak tidal flow the other night returning from Tangier as I unknowingly was on the edge of fuel exhaustion. It's good to be lucky...