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 !
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...
A 10-15 knot WNW breeze was barely enough, close hauled, to get me across the channel to Fort Monroe while fighting the outgoing tidal current. Coming back it was still a close reach, but I made it. At times this weekend the current was running 3.5 knots!
After what seems like weeks of rain and wind a few gentle days for some relaxing sailing. With no destination other than on the water I'm prefectly happy to be floating around at 2-3 knots in a less than 10 knot wind. On Saturday I sailed over to Fort Monroe and after breakfast on Sunday just around Willoughby Bay.
Light winds. So relaxing....
Yes the picture is correct, I was inverted at the time...
Sharon and I attened the "No Kings" rally in VB then rewarded ourselves with a visit to the Cheesecake Factory, so it wan't until late in the afternoon that I arrived at the boat. Staying in Willoughby bay it was a relazing late afternoon on the water. A building breeze from the SSW had me headed back to the dock in an attempt to avoid difficulties backing the boat in with winds from a bad direction. Even at 12 knots the weathervaning tendencies of this boat while backing had me giving up and docking bow first.
A direct headwind, but favorable tidal current, at first, carried me onto the bay where I turned north. Dying breeze arriving earlier than forecast slowed me to the point where even close destinations were out of reach before sunset. The now turning tide and light breeze gave me decent speed heading back to my starting point. A beautifull night anchored out on Willoughby Bay.
The following morning, Saturday, brought an east again which carried me to the Elizabeth River and down to a crowded Hospital Point in Portsmouth. I arrived in time to see the Carnival Sunshine departing Norfolk. It was interesting to see this cruise ship turning around in the relatively narrow channel.
Sunday morning with very light wind I motored back to Willoughby.
I wanted to go somewhere but light winds were forecasted for most of the day. Arriving at the marina there was a nice west breeze which carried me out to the main channel. If this held maybe down to Chesapeake on the Elizabeth River.
It didn't and left me floating in the middle of the main channel over the HRBT. Fortunately, no ships approoaching as I slowly floated east on the outgoing tide. After about an hour I fired up the diesel and motored back toward Willoughby Bay. Just as i passed Fort Wool and forecasted east breeze arrived and I was sailing again.
Anchored in my favorite spot it was a pleasent evening and perfect sleeping weather...
Last race of the year for Willoughby Group. A nice breeze at the start faded about halfway through the race, leaving many of the slower boats to round the 'Birdnest' as darkness set in.
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.