To Long Island Sound - Aug 2010

   We departed Yorktown on Sunday, 8 Aug, with the intent to head straight for Martha's Vinyard to meet up with our friends Sally and Conrad, already up in those waters. But, as the winds' gods would dictate, it was a no go to head offshore from Norfolk into brisk easterly winds. So, instead we headed north and rode the east winds up the Chesapeake. We anchored off Tangier Island the first night, and near Rock Hall for a short stop the second night. It was an early 0500 departure to catch the tide north in the Upper Chesapeake, through the C&D Canal and down the Delaware. We finally reached the ocean at 2100 that night and rounded Cape May and off for New York City.

 There was a bit of motoring during the light/no wind periods and some great sailing "wing-on-wing up the bay and coast. While the winds were quite variable, the weather was great with lots of sun during the day and no rain. Sue and Genny had a good trip. Genny has mastered the potty breaks on the bow in all but the most boisterous conditions. 

After the long (relatively speaking for us bay bound sailors) 38hr run from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Sandy Hook, NJ, we enjoyed anchoring off the US Coast Guard base for a comfortable dinner and glass of wine. The evening sunset provided a great backdrop to the abbreviated ocean voyage.

We had a great sail across/up New York Harbor on Thursday, sailing past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, then we hauled in the sails for motoring up the East River and out into Long Island Sound.  Lots of traffic on the water as we crossed from Ellis Island to East River and we dodged the boats and ships just like Frogger (remember that video game).  We are now moored in Port Washington, a great boaters town on Long Island north shore. A shower is moving in, so looks like it will be tomorrow to launch the dinghy and check out downtown.

   Meanwhile, we are still in contact with Sally and Conrad who are working their way down the Sound from the East.  We hope to meet up with them in couple days mid-Sound.  The life of a cruiser, adjust your plans to the winds.  But, any day on the water, is better than a day at the office, right?

Tides Inn back home to Dare Marina, 5 July

We are back to our home marina after six long months to Northern Virgina working in DC. Pulled into Dare Marina this morning after a great trip from the Potomac and some great fireworks last night. We anchored at the mouth of Chisman Creek (take a look at our track data: Track) passing on the idea of watching the fireworks off Yorktown Beach. Good move as we were able to see the Yorktown fireworks from our anchor spot on the Chisman, as well as loads of private shows around the Creek and Poquoson River. Some of the best were right in front of us. The economy may be hurting, but a lot of people have money for great fireworks this summer.
Now its clean up and boat maintenance time. Waiting for the temp to drop back below 90 this evening before we hit the washup routine.
Now that we are safely home we can happily say it was an uneventful 5 day trip without any equip failures enroute. Weather was fantastic for the whole trip. Wind wasn't all that strong, but no wind is always better than wind on the nose. A great trip.
We are waiting now on news whether we will be working from home for next few months, or going to Brussels for a few months. Should find out by end of the week. Will keep the blog posted.

Return to Yorktown from Wash DC 1 July 2010

Yea, we are finally underway from Belmont Bay, Occoquan, and heading back to home base in Yorktown. Six months of work done in DC and back to sailing (I hope). Weather is just perfect. 3 days of northerly winds and blue skies. Highs in 80s and nights in 50s. Amazing for July in Chesapeake. And, a 1kt favorable current took us down the river today. Now its wine and dinner in the cockpit and a beautiful sunset. Happiness is a sailor at sea (or at least on the water in the Potomac). Check the "where's Tides Inn" as we will update our positions each day. And check out the video...  Genny's eager to get going.

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?