Tarheels in the Cockpit

Smashing afternoon sail with North Carolina crew including first timer.  Fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner and break in the cold weather emboldened the out of towners to put to sea.  Underway from NS Norfolk Marina at about 1440 into a 5 kt WSW wind  Cruised up to TS channel with a few other sailors in view and then back as the wind steadily increased.  Enjoyed the setting sun and brisk breeze in low traffic conditions.  Nattily dressed Dr at the helm from start to finish with The Rev handling the sheets.  Smoot RTB at around 5.  Christened the head with first lady customer.

Blue and Gold Captains bid farewell to Salt Ponds with a view of Doc on the Dock waving godspeed. Underway at 1045 we motored ahead of a 3 foot swell and 20 knot NE wind  Enjoyed some spread eagle time on the foredeck wrestling with  the jib  Arrived at home base around 1330 just as the rain started to fall..  Lunch at Chili's.

Underway with a crew of two around 1 p.m. for a lazy sail up to Salt Ponds. Target: the Burwellian Seafood Fest. Wind from SW at 10+ with a following sea. Eased up to TS channel and then over to the fishing fleet east of Ft. Wool. A few inadvertant jibes later and we were skimming north across the channel past Ft. Monroe and Buckroe. Lack of sustenance became of factor so some prostration to the tunes of JT's best helped to ease the quease. Turned into Salt Ponds around 2:45 p.m. arriving to cheers from the triple deck resort crowd on Channel Lane and a welcome Gator Flag. All turned out quite well in the end after a few Horse's Necks, Jack the chompin' cheerleader, some shrimp and fish, and a brilliant victory over the Cajun Tigers.

Marvelous morning on the water with the LaLo. Keeping the tradition of family day underway alive. Left the slip around 10 ish with a very light SW wind. We cruised out to the TS channel and found a few more knots eventually achieving 4+. The crewladies stretched out on the foredeck in alternating sun and shade for an easy few hours. Helmsman was rock solid and the Blue Captain manned the jib sheets. Upon RTB received multiple salutes from the Naval Base shore battery to celebrate a wonderful Fourth of July.

A fine morning on the water for the OpSail 2012 Parade of Sail. Underway just after 0800 in overcast skies and 10 kt winds from south. Cruised the southern edge of Thimble Shoals channel from Ft Wool to the Naval Base for three hours enjoying the outbound Naval vessels and Tall Ships. Action started slow with the "Gloria" from Columbia and the Brazilian "Cisne Branco". Then finally just before turning for the barn, they began to roll up the channel "Pride of Baltimore", "Virginia","Godspeed", "Cuauhtemoc" (complete with singing foredeck crew), "Guayas", "Esmeralda" and finally the "Kalmar Nyckel". Not to mention a slew of US,Canadian warships as well as the RFAS Argosy. All and all a beautiful show that really impressed the mates. Pulled sail back to main only and the R&B stabilized for a smooth ride. Best sailing experience this year.

A wonderful morning spent cruising around Thimble Shoals channel nimbly dodging merchants, tugs, and a frigate. Underway at 7:50, raised sail around 08:00 in westerly 7 kt winds and sunny skies. Watched the brand new Polaris J head outbound for Savannah filled with containers. After morning rations of tea and bacon sandwiches, ended up on north side of channel south of Hampton Bar steering to clear the path on an incoming warship from the east. Discussion among the captains noted a color and configuration that weren't of local origin. The frigate continued and launched a rigid hull which sped right toward the R&B. This prompted recognition of a mooring buoy to the west, and, realizing that our 25 foot sloop stood between the frigate and its destination we briskly headed south. As the security crew on speedboat discharged some anchormen onto the mooring, HMCS Ville de Quebec (FFH 332) breezed past looking somewhat stodgy but workmanlike in the morning sun. Under the NATO ensign, R&B crew felt obliged to provide an assessment of armament (raisonable), sensors (hmmm), air capability (small hanger), and prospects for liberty in OPSAIL 2012 (oh-no) and overall savoir faire (eh?). After a few circumnavigations and a wave to the VDQ crew, drifted homeward with a jibe here and they to avoid traffic (including the Great Navigator-Hong Kong). Gold captain handled most of the sail stowage and we arrived back at the slip around 11:10 just ahead of the VDQ's liberty boat.

A new helmsman joins the R&B crew ala francaise. Underway at 0751, we launched under sunny skies and light, persistent 7 Kt breezes from the ENE. Temps in the low 70s. Passed a turtle on departure and took a quick tack around the western end of Willoughby Bay. Followed Willoughby Channel north reminded by the Gold Captain to hold close to the final red daymark. Reached TS Channel and turned east in the general direction of Thimble Shoals light. Lots of sails on the Chez Bay. On a tack to south received an unwarranted "honking" from the 53,103 ton Ever Refine an Evergreen Container under Panamanian flag last out of Charleston. Unabashed and fortified by hot tea and digestives, we set a broad reach under the Frenchman's steady hand. Enjoyed a good run back to homeport passing many outbound fellow sailors including Ocean Girl and Talisman. Proudly won a short, but intense race past historic Ft. Wool. Arrived at the slip around 1100, mightily refreshed. Joie de vivre.

Opened the 2012 Season with an easy, uneventful sail round Willoughby Bay under light winds. All hands refreshed helmsman skills. Watched the "red buoy" crab pot boat retrieve a fair number of beautiful swimmers. Plenty of warm tea to keep things lively. Passed the fine "CindeRella" cat outbound. Only sore point: Blue Captain lost the marina on the final inbound leg due to some clever OPDEC by the Naval Base having installed a large number of light poles that closely resembled masts. Reaction was similar to the famous green buoy collision event. Good grief.