Submarines and Bald Eagles in Yorktown

 
Anchored off Yorktown landing, we woke up to watch a USN submarine parade pass by. The submarine is heading down the York River after loading torpedos and Tomahawk missiles at the Yorktown Weapons depot. Security boats flank the sub, which is followed by a tug to assist in case of propulsion casualty and finally a USCG cutter for security. Click on the photo for a full screen view.
 
 
We sailed down the river and back to Chisman Creek near our marina and anchored for lunch. You can't see in the photos, but across the Creek over the marina on the far shore, two bald eagles are soaring, scanning the coastline for their own lunch.
 
He's a photo looking up Chisman Creek at our marina, Dare. We'll head up there near sunset once the wind dies down. Gusting 20-25kts today. Very nice fall sailing.

French Jets over Yorktown

 
Its a beautiful Fall day in Yorktown and we are sitting off the waterfront watching the French precision flying team flyover commemorating the Victory at Yorktown in 1781 which was supported by the French fleet blockading the British troops, preventing their escape or replenishment.
 
The jets trail red, white and blue smoke representing the US and French national colors as they pass over the Yorktown Battlefield monument.
 
Off they head over the York River bridge.
 
The schooner Alliance and Tides Inn sit off Yorktown watching the festivities. A gorgeous day to be on the water.

Back in Intra-Coastal - Waccama River

We are back in ICW after a couple days/nights running up the coast. After departing the St Johns River at Mayport we headed northeast for South Carolina. It was a fast and bumpy ride with south winds at 20-25kts and seas growing to 4-7ft. We passed by Charleston and ultimately made landfall at Georgetown, Wynah Bay. A line of thunderstorms passed through at 0400, getting us a little wet and raising the winds to gusts to 30-40, but by landfall the skies were clear and winds back down to 25kts. We hove-to outside the sea buoy for an hour waiting for daylight before making the passage in through the two breakwaters. Turned out there were 3 of us sailboats bobbing around off the seabouy for an hour or so. Bobbing is a "nice term" for lying hove-to perpendicular to the 4-6ft seas.
The advantage of entering the ICW at Georgetown is this section of the ICW up the Waccama River to Myrtle Beach is the most scenic segment of the whole ICW. You run up the river where there is little to no development, lots of eagle and osprey nests, alligators and turtles, etc. We are anchored in a oxbow arm off the ICW without another soul in sight. A refreshing nap and quiet night's sleep and we will be ready to move on north.
The weather is forecasted to be "unsettled" the next 4 days with winds from the north and showers, so we will be sticking to the ICW. May be able to jump out to ocean north of Frying Pan shoals.

Underway from Jacksonville

We are finally bringing our boat back from its winter home at NAS Jacksonville. Heading out to sea this afternoon on Apr 09. Weather looks good for a few days offshore so we will head to Gulf Stream and shoot on north towards South/North Carolina.
We will be sending position reports each day so you can track our position by clicking on the "Where's Tides Inn" link above.
Mark & Sue

Rounding Hatteras on the Schooner Virginia

I was able to sail on the 125ft schooner Virginia from Charleston to Norfolk this week, rounding Cape Hatteras. What a great experience seeing what sailing was like in the days of yesteryear before in-mast mainsail furling, headsail furling, and all lines led back to the cockpit, and the wonderous "autopilot". It was a great time, but I'm ready to return to my Island Packet and its fantastic features that not only make sailing easier but safer.
We had a good weather window for March, a mild low pressure system that provided clocking winds at 20-25kts first from the east as we left Charleston, then to SE and S pushing us up the coast, then to SW for rounding the Cape. Once we were safely around the Cape, a secondary low pressure system overran us with winds rapidly clocking to NE then to S, but by then we were in the Chesapeake and heading to Virginia's berth near Nauticus. The bad news - it drizzled the entire 3 day transit, not so bad in the warm Gulf Stream waters, but bone chilling cold north of the stream off the Chesapeake.

Here's a photo of the main salon onboard the Virginia. Its a classic, pilot schooner, and a true "19th century" sailing adventure. No fancy first class cabins or casino/entertainment shows. Just pure sailing with a great crew.




Here's a photo of my bunk onboard the schooner. The guest crew get the choice bunks amidships. With the bow rising/falling about 20-30ft in the 10ft seas around the Cape, the amidships berths were in high demand over the foc'sle.




All "guests" get assigned to a watch and stand 4hr watches just like any other deckhand, including two 1hr stints at the wheel and two 1hr lookout/ship check duties. Generally the ship is easy to steer except in the quartering seas and winds off Hatteras where a bit of muscle was required and the goal was to keep the heading plus/minus 1pt (11deg) on the compass. First you have to learn what EastNorEast by East means though. There's no numbers on the compass, only points.


If you are interested in a ride on the Virginia, and all sailors should be, you have a couple options. Go to the website (click on this blog entry title) and sign up for a cruise trip, or volunteer your services to maintain the ship as I do and ride on a space available basis. But be warned, all that brightwork has to be sanded and oiled each season and that's what we volunteers do. Its a labor of love, with the only reward being to get to "mess around with boats". What could be more fun?

No Sailing in Afghanistan!

Unfortunately our great plans to cruise the Bahamas this winter have been overcome by the call of our nation and the need to maintain a positive cash flow during these difficult economic times.
I have been asked by the Dept of Defense to travel to Afghanistan to help improve intelligence information flow to NATO forces trying to improve stability in this region. Hopefully will have some good pictures to share upon my return this Spring.
Meanwhile, here's a great video to remind all what its about on the high seas.