I've been wanting to complete this sail for a long time. I think this was my fifth attempt. Finally everything came together. A 15 knot south wind, an outbound tidal current in the morning that turned in the afternoon. Six and a half hours for the almost 38 mile sail!
Century Club: George Hernandez
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Cloudy and hazy with smoke from Canadian fires. I alternated between sailing and motoring as conditions changed. My goal is to sail everywhere I go, but more frequently than I like, firing up the diesel is necessary. For much of the day the visibility was around 5 miles. However approaching Norfolk it dropped to around 2 miles. Ships appeared and dissapeared into the smoke in just a short time!
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
I spent the day at Kiptopeake doing a little fishing and then kayaked to the beach for a walk. Very nice day.
Monday, June 5, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Tidal current and wind right on my nose slowed my progress most of the day. Otherwise beautiful weather. Smoke from Canadian fires visible to the north blocked the sun as sunset approached. Found anchoring close to the beach was a mistake when the winds swung around to the south. At first it was just the bow rising up and down, with was not bad. But later after the tidal current reversed and the winds/waved started coming in from the SW mading for a rocky night with little sleep. At first light i moved close to the ships and got a few more hours of sleep in the more protected waters.
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Dark and windy along the coast in VB had me cancelling plans for sailing ahead of the race. In fact, from the buffeting my little car experienced driving to the marina I didn't think I would even be leaving the dock. However the skies brightened and the winds seemed managable our little bay so I motored out to near the windward mark with my camera. Fast race in the 15+ kt breeze.
Monday, May 22, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
With 25 knot winds forecast for the following day, I decided against anchoring out somewhere overnight. Instead I decided to sail east to the CBBT and maybe beyond. Through the afternoon headwinds continued to increase and finally I decided to give up and head back home to Willoughby Harbor Marina.
Sailing out I was passed by the George Washington CVN-73. With the carrier still over a mile away I was approached by the Norfolk Police boat reminding me of the 500 meter security zone. At this point I realized my handheld radio I keep in the cockpit had malfunctioned. Time for a new one...
Thursday, May 18, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
After a little work on the boat, a short sail....
Friday, May 12, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Having to back track quite a few miles in order to clear sand bars and forecasted light afternoon winds, I wanted an early start. It was probably approaching 20 knots as I raised the anchor and sailed away. For the next hour or more the wind increased a bit and I was making hull speed with only the main. Finally my course turned southeast and the wind eased. On a close reach through the afternoon, the wind slowly turned more west keeping me from having to sail too far east. I was across the channel and sailing past Fort Wool as a submarine was headed out to sea
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Light winds at time early in the day as forecast, picked up quite nicely early afternoon and I was flying downwind approaching Poquoson River. Earlier in the day I sailed a little out of the way to get some shots of the New Point Comfort lighthouse.
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
A relatively early start around 10 am for this 27 mile sail. Against an incoming tidal current and tacking back and forth in light winds it was slow going for the start. A little ways past Fort Monroe and able to turn north the rest of the day was easy cruising. Sailing into Mobjack and towards the East River with the wind almost dead behind things were rolling a bit. I found a nice spot just outside of Tabbs Creek for the night. Nice sunset, very colorful with smoke from Canadian fires adding to the color. With just a 300mm lens on a crop sensor I could see sunspots on the sun.