The long awaited return to Hampton Roads. Arrived in Redart around 10:40 and went through the usual pre-sail checklist. Lengthy discussion regarding all repairs accomplished. The wood work is beautiful and strong. R&B looks good (still some cleanup as always) and a few minor items still to be done (by the owners). Underway just at 12:00 with a final wave to our superb ground transport officer and very well compensated carpenter. Motored out through the "Hole in the Wall" and out to "boy" "3" where we raised the mainsail and turned to starboard. Strong following sea and north wind pushed us south very fast. Pewich clocked an instantaneous 8.7 on the GPS. One very exciting (but planned) jibe. We carried on until around 15:00 when the wind slackened and it was time for some help from the noble motor. As evening approached, decided to cut the transit short and pull into Salt Ponds Marina. An easy approach channel then past gargantuan homes. We arrived at slip G-3 just at sunset (glorious) and to a warm welcome from the Burwellians and the just- arrived Ground Transport staff. Plan for a week long stay and then departure on Halloween back to home port (wherever that may be!)

Motored the good boat R&B up the Bay on two-day run to Stutt's Creek for top deck rebuild by Tim Scheid of Redart, VA. Weather was very cooperative except for last hour of building seas. Left boat overnight on Saturday at Belle Isle Marina, Hampton, to break the trip up. Channel off Back River into Belle Isle very narrow and winding. At Marina entrance keep close to seawall on left. ($1.50/foot). On Sunday motored past York Spit light and then west of Wolf Trap light. Quite a few sails on the water. Entered Hole in the Wall and then into Stutt's Creek where Tim was waiting on the dock. Good, headbangin' turnover. Ended up with a tour o L'eauDanser and met Dooley the Parrot ("what does the duck say").

A charging, windy day with Hatchards & Co. Sun-filled and warm with a medium south wind and falling tide. Excellent training opportunity for UK based visitors. 6+ kts for most of the 2.5 hours. Excited Blue captain managed to leave blue breast line tied during slip departure and mainsail also experienced a rip. Unique tactics on return to Cove Marina.

Mid-morning depature with light wind from the northwest on a falling tide. Nice, sunny weather. Drifted around Crump's Bank until the wind subsided. A pleasant, uneventful, conversational Saturday sail.

A fine cruising day with light NE wind and a falling tide. Underway with the Blue Crew about 1045, drifted toward the CBBT and then back to "LC" No. 2 over about three hours. Top speed 2.6 knots. Enjoyed the sunshine and light breeze which presented photo opportunites for the Winston Salem helmspersons. Shipboard sound system performed well although initial station selection did not survive the cruise. Sharp looking return to slip without incident with the Doctor at the helm. Chastened Blue Captain reminded that head combo key is 1-2 together and then 4. All in all quite a contrast to the challenging conditions from the day before.

A rough and rowdy day with initial plans for a flip-flop cruise. Underway with full Gold Crew at 1210 facing a steady north wind. Reached the "LC" No. 2 buoy and raised the main. Strong seas challenged the R&Bs stability and rigging interity. A wise decision was taken to rtp (Return to Port), "discretion being the better part of valor" (a paraphrase from Flastaff and one of the cardinal maritime principles of the R&B).

A truly wonderful day on the Bay. Underway at 9:30 am with the French Army we cruised Crump's Bank and up to the South Channel with a 15 kt north wind and 2 foot seas. The R&B was steady throughout. Knot tieing refresh is required to avoid more self-induced loose jib capture. Nautical terms a la Francoise (empennage, spinnaker) lessons ensued. Espied large dolphin while cruising north. Returning to Cove Marina around 1245 for crew pickup advised by the boys in blue of new radio procedure for transiting LCreek on radio channel 12. Back at Cove embarked the Gold Captain and two hardy deckhands and departed for another 3 hours of long tacks under three different helmsmen, steady wind, and broad smiles in the cockpit and foredeck. Dodged the Ches Bay Bridge Tunnel twice by just under 2500 yards. Lot's of sailing company on this marvelous afternoon and the R&B seemed to hold her own against the competition.