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?
