Sun Sun Sun and lots of wind
Catacaos
Graham Shaw
Tue 27 Oct 2009 02:23
Deltaville, fab sailing, goose winged most of the way, tide with us also, so
managed to hit double figures again, and most importantly the sun was out.
Stopped overnight at Deltaville with Seawalk folks, early start next morning
towards Hampton. As we left Deltaville managed to go aground, yet again I
hear you say, this time Gray was driving.
Not a good day sailing to Hampton, tide against us and no wind or on the
nose - we both cannot work out the tide tables in the USA, it changes so
dramatically each day, and the wind changes from hour to hour almost 180
degrees at a time. Being so use to British constants of tide and wind that
stay that way most of the day kind of throw us still in the States, well it
throws me. Anyway, the great thing about Hampton is the English shop, we can top up
on all those things we miss, and pay exhorbitant amounts of cash for them, and
wish you brought more with you.
Managed to get together with Seawalk folk for a few beers, and Isabelle kindly
cooked us dinner, bless her. Being the last supper we will spend with them.
Will be sad to leave them as they have been such good fun and light-hearted company, and the children
have been such a good influence on little Lucas - no I am not getting
maternal, and not thinking of adding to crew of Catacaos. Seawalk are going
down the coast to the Bahamas, while we are going straight to the BVI.
The idea was to go through Norfolk and stop at Great Bridge via the Virginia
Cut route, we came North up the Dismal Swamp route. Heard lots of good stuff
about Great Bridge, but not to be, no room at the inn. Last space taken
by the boat just in front of us at the lock. (I didn't swear at him, honestly)
There is a mass exodus of boats from the north heading south, so most of the
quiet anchorages we stopped at on the way up, are now all a tight squeeze, and a
little too cosy.
Headed for Belhaven with lots of wind, again good sailing day. Following day
to Beaufort, long day but even better sailing. Lots of spinnaker flying,
which is always nice to get out, I had to bribe Gray with a piece of chocolate
cake to get it back out the second time, as we mis calculated where the wind
direction might be. I don't think we mis calculated it just changed
dramactically. Anyway good flying, Gray counted 28 boats on our horizon,
not one other boat was flying a spinaker, which was a shame, but nice for us
as we overtook most of these boats. Nice way to finish sailing in the USA.
We are going to spend a number of days in Beaufort to straighten out the boat
before setting off on the (approximately)10 day haul to the BVI, when the forecast looks good.
