The Devil on our Tail

 10-30- Anchors up at 6:30am. It’s a good thing there was a full moon so that even at that hour there was plenty of light to see. We took off at a pretty good pace which slowed as the sun made its daily appearance. We were facing the double whammy of a relatively strong breeze on our nose and a tidal current also on our bow. It was not going to be a fun day. The winds were 15-20 SW and there was a flooding tidal current of 1.5 knots. The combo was brutal as the waves built up to 3-4 feet and were only 4-5 seconds apart. We definitely put the dolphin on the bow underwater plenty of times. The whole boat is now covered in salt from the spray of the boat crashing through the waves. There were series of waves that just drove us to a standstill. We were doing 1.5-3 knots. 

   Of course the reason we were out here was because of this cold front coming across the country. The forecast called for the wind to go from 15-20 SW to 25-30 NW in a matter of hours in the evening. 5 foot seas were also expected across the bay. It was a good time to not be on the bay. 

    That is why we were “racing” to get to Hampton Roads. The wind eventually died down to the 10 knot level and the tide changed as it always does but it never really made it better for us. We still slogged along. Even as we entered the mouth of the harbor the ebbing tide ( by this time) gave us a 2.5 knot current in the channel. This just ground us to a halt. We did come across a rather large pod of dolphins cavorting around the boat as we crawled by. 

    Eventually we entered the fairway and the town of Hampton Roads. We had a slip way down one of the creeks that will be really protected for the big wind that is coming. I can hear the rigging whining as I write this. 

   So ends our adventures on the Chesapeake Bay for this trip and we are now at mile 1 of the ICW. Actually we are at Mile minus 12 but you get the idea. We entered the bay hiding out from a big wind storm and now we leave the bay in front of a big wind storm. Everything in between though was some beautiful weather, sunny every day and warm. We had a blast even getting to sail some. We want to thank everyone we visited for their hospitality and their patience with us. We have to come back this way in the spring so …..



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