It's a perfect day for sailing, blue skies, 70 degrees, winds 10-12, and light seas. Capt Mark demonstrates to Reed and Jackson how to ease the genoa furling line as we set the sails.
Ella has the lookout watch, making sure no enemy vessels sneak up and surprise us. Its unlimited visibility today. There are several ships out there today, but no one coming our way.
Capt Mark gets to check out his new AIS receiver which shows all the commercial vessels within 30 miles or so on the chart plotter. We can see all the merchant ships entering the Chesapeake and heading for the Baltimore or Thimble Shoals channels. And, also confirm the two tugs and barges up ahead are at anchor and out of the channel.
SAIL-HO, Ella calls out. Its a fast moving, 3-masted schooner coming down on us from the starboard side - not transmitting any AIS signal. Could it be a pirateer trying to cut us off?
No, its only the Schooner Alliance based out of Yorktown taking some guests out for a local sail on this beautiful day. They're tacking back and forth across the York River with the wind and tide taking them downriver. Fortunately they also have an iron-genny to motor them back to port or the guests might have to stay onboard till the tide changes.
Approaching Yorktown we'll anchor off the beach at the foot of the Yorktown Monument, site of the culminating battle of the US Revolution where George Washington accepted General Cornwallis' surrender following decisive victories by the French naval forces under Admiral de Grasse at the Chesapeake entrance and effective sea and land blockades by the French Navy and Franco-American ground forces under General Lafayette and General Rochambeau. Wait, whose revolution was this?
Securely anchored, its time to head to shore and soak up some history, then a stop at Ben and Jerry's to spend my birthday gift certificate. Ice cream all around for the terrific crew.
Its a great day for a tour of the town and battlefield including a trolley ride, waterfront walk and sea-chanty concert. Oct 19th is the anniversary of Gen Cornwallis' surrender, 233 years ago, and date for the annual Yorktown Victory Days.
Tides Inn sits quietly at anchor off the Yorktown shore.
It was too good to last though, the next morning the wind was 20-25kts from NW putting us on a lee shore. It was time to up anchor and fly back to Chisman Creek with double reefed genny taking us downwind and down current at a great pace. We tucked into the creek and waited out the blow, heading back to our slip by 1700 with a gentle 8-10 kts. A great weekend trip.
