Our plan was to leave yesterday, but waking to 28-34kt winds and 4-6ft seas in Chesapeake Bay convinced us to wait another day.
Good decision. This morning we gathered all dock lines in zero wind and heading out into 1ft waves and following tide. Fast trip down the bay to Norfolk with 10kt winds on the aft quarter.
The cockpit enclosure is a great success, and essential for winter sailing. We had a very comfortable ride with no wind chill factor.
That's ice on the outside of the enclosure from sea water kicked up from exhaust. Its about 52 inside the cockpit and 32 outside. That's about about 30 degrees (including wind chill factor) more comfortable. Very nice in the sun. Got to put my heavy foul weather jacket back in the closet.
There was alot of commercial traffic in Hampton Roads harbor. We stayed over on the "red" side just outside the deep water channel bouys. Was especially important as we passed by an outbound submarine "Event A" escorted by the USCG maintaining a 500yd security zone with "deadly force" authorized.
Even after clearing the merchant anchorage area and naval base we still had to watch out for lots of tug traffic. These containers are probably heading for Baltimore after being unloaded from a ship in Norfolk.
By noon we were passing by Norfolk Waterside and heading down the Elizabeth River. Not as much traffic anymore, but still some barges and security boats off the Naval repair yards.
Genny is enjoying her trip and very appreciative of the enclosure where she can sit in the sun and enjoy the warm rays on her brown hair.
Mid-afternoon and we're tied up at Atlantic Yacht Basin. Time for some reading in the cockpit. Sue's a little overdressed for the conditions, but she just came in from outside where it is still in 30s.
Yep, still cold out there. Those are icicles hanging down from the fender.
Supposed to be 40s tomorrow, then into the 50s and we'll keep making further progress south. Come on warm weather.
On to Coinjock tomrrow - assuming we can get through the Centerville Bridge which was closed all day today for mechanical malfunction.
