36.51.129N      076.17.875W

Fishing Bay became busy with 13 ‘transient’ yachts heading south, one of which was “Passepartout” which we had been next to in St Lucia in January and we had enjoyable drinks and supper with Chris and Nirit who hail from Israel.

Little wind next day as we departed the Piankatank River and after a pleasant run down the bay we visited the Hampton River but there was no room to anchor so we headed straight to Norfolk and reputedly the biggest naval dockyard in the world.

We had arranged to stay at the private docks administered by Gary and Greta who are the OCC port officers for Norfolk and we had hardly moored when we were ‘dragged’ aboard “Tamure” for drinks with Scott and Kitty who have made two circumnavigations!

Tuesday I broke a tooth which a subsequent visit to a dentist confirmed needed a crown (£1000 – ouch twice!)

Thursday I rebuilt the steering pedestal with new parts from Edson and a brand new autopilot drive arrived from Raymarine! However the design has been changed and it will not fit so I have to go and get a new s/s bracket made to secure the ram. Nothing is ever straightforward.

We can walk into a cosmopolitan city for the first time in months which is a novelty but you still need a car to be able to buy food!

Dave and Alison arrive in a week’s time and meanwhile we will continue to work on Moonbeam and enjoy the social life here!  

                                                                                                                            Hampton

                                                                                                                            One of at least three aircraft carriers here