Norfolk-Hampton VA

This morning we sailed past the little cove that we were warned against and found that it was empty.  Next time we'll consider staying there.  We tucked in behind a tug who got us through a restricted bridge a few minutes early only to get stuck at a RR bridge for 20 minutes.  We heard a ferry captain make a comment about all the sailboats in the "Southern Branch."  One tug skipper remarked that "It makes me feel so safe when those sailboats run into each other."  It took us a little while to figure out what he was talking about but after passing a bend in the river we saw what looked like hundreds of sailboats wandering around in all different directions across the river.  

Picking our way through them was a real challenge.  We were under power and they were all sailing - so every last one of them had the right of way over us.  We managed to get by most of them but as we cruised along the leeward side of the channel a cannon went off.  We found ourselves at the start of one of the divisions.  I wish my timing was as good in any of the races I've entered.  We crossed the line just as the cannon sounded - a perfect start!

Everyone in the Norfolk area must own a sailboat.  I don't think I've seen so many sailboats in one place since Block Island Race Week!  The wind was gusting to about 25 knots so boats were moving fast and rounding up in the gusts - but what a beautiful scene.

We ended up following this little Hinckley yawl for awhile.
Pretty boat but over-canvassed as were most of the boats in this race.

Combining our boat speed with the true wind we were getting readings of 32 knots in the gusts.  We figured maybe this wasn't a good day for us to motor directly into the wind up the Chesapeake so we headed across the harbor to Downtown Hampton Pier Marina.  The marina is conveniently located next to the Virginia Air and Space Museum.  Last October I had wanted to visit the Imax theater at the Museum but we didn't have the time.  Today we saw the 3D Imax movie: "Into the Arctic."  I love 3D regardless of the quality of the movie.  This one was fun.  I marveled at the divers who swam with the large IMAX cameras under the ice.  Underwater shots of swimming polar bears and walruses made me wonder how crazy you have to be to film them.  Two thumbs up!

Maybe tomorrow we will be able to head into the wind to Deltaville, VA.

We're Baaack!

Keeping up a blog is difficult - especially when you are pushing as hard as we are to get back to NY.
We have covered over 1000 miles in about 25 days not counting the time we took to fly to NY, Tampa, and finally to Wilmington, NC.  It's also hard to be quite as excited about heading away from the Bahamas as it is to be headed toward them for the first time.  We are pretty excited about the progress we have been making.  Tomorrow looks to be a little rough for much of a passage so we'll look for a short run in the Norfolk area.

The Great Dismal Swamp Canal
first built in 1805.  Beautiful.

We are anchored just north of the Deep Creek Lock on the Great Dismal Swamp Canal.  The locktender, Robert, suggested that we might not like the little cove we were originally headed for since it is a crazy Party Central on the weekends.  He told us that we could anchor in mid-channel just outside the lock.   We were the last boat to pass through the lock today so we’re good until tomorrow morning’s opening at 8:30.  It feels a little strange to be anchored right in front of the lock.

Our 2 Calibers in front of Paul and Joyce's Home

We spent yesterday at our friends' dock on the Pasquotank River just south of the GDSC.  Paul and Joyce are generous hosts who give the term “Southern hospitality” new meaning.  Paul helped with a temporary repair on our autopilot.  The autopilot broke free from its mount again in heavy seas on Albemarle Sound.  We hope if we baby it, it will get us home to NY where we can get a proper repair done on it.  Paul also showed me how to properly tighten the fan belt that has been loosening up on my engine. 

It was hard to take our eyes off the Pasquotank River and our two Caliber 40’s from Paul and Joyce’s laundry, dining and living rooms!  The views of the river with the big cypress trees are exquisite.  Paul also cooked us a sumptuous manicotti dinner – vegetarian style for Maryanne topped off by rich chocolate brownies prepared by Joyce.  Once again we had a wonderful time at the Wheeler's.

The Great Dismal Swamp Canal did not live up to it's original expectations because the water in it was not deep enough.  That issue was partially solved with the addition of locks that lift boats 8 feet for a portion of the canal.  Locking through is fun - watching the water boil in front of you as it comes in and the boat rises slowly 8 feet up the wall of the lock on the rising water.

At the bottom

Going up

Higher

and higher

Are we there yet?

OK, We're finally 8 feet higher.
Time to open the gates.