Beachmen on the Water. Morning cruise around Hampton Roads in fine winds and weather. Around Willoughby, TS Channel and up the James a ways.

Big day on the water, underway with a crew of six at around 9:15. At first it looked like the cruise of the crowns but the cobwebs were soon blown away and the crew settled down to business. Cruised east west around Willoughby Bay using Paydirt as the mid-course marker. South wind eventually spun around to northeast and gave us a fresh bump just after a fine lunch including some juicy canteloupe. Mayaritaville showed her stuff at the helm followed by Capt Pe. Smooth ride home.

Underway around 9 am for a very fine day sailing around Hampton Roads on a rising tide and north wind. Wind proved iffy around Ft. Wool. Dodged a few merchants including the NYK Daedulus and survived a no-touchee close encounter with Catalina 27 - Leonora. Impressive, confidence building performance from new depth gauge and porta-potty. Wind shifted and sent us surging in to the Navy Marina.

Gold Crew manned the R&B for the first sail of the Season on a fine, sultry Spring Saturday. Ladies at the helm for a two hour spin around Willoughby Bay. The Ant made do with an impaired hand, ok actually it was broken. Previously iffy GPS came back on line. Repaired depth gauge worked. Lots of tack practice at 5+ knots in light winds and calm seas.

The return from Virginia Boat and Yacht on a pleasant, cool, and windy Friday morning. Decision to motor back proved wise. Riding the tide up the Elizabeth River and listening to Welsh humor sustained by Mrs. Beach's original bacon sandwiches and tea, we finally turned the corner at Pier 12 (USS George H.W. Bush) into a very healthy swell and headwind that immediately attracted total attention. Uncooperative GPS and depth reader. Just over 2 hour transit, back in Slip D-29 and ready to sail. (Coast Guard auxil inspection on Saturday).

A motoring day to open the 2011 season as we dropped the R&B off at Virginia Boat and Yacht for a repaint. Underway around 0930 on a cool morning that turned warm with wind from the south. Unfortunately this meant a headwind going down the Elizabeth River so sails stayed in the bag. Steady 3 kts on a falling tide. Trailed in behind the USS New York pulling into Naval Station Piers. Slightly stung by the Gold Captain's description of this mighty warship as looking like a "cross-channel ferry". Enjoyed the beautiful weather as we chugged down the west side of the Norfolk Reach channel. Finally passed south of the degaussing complex and then turned west to arrive just past 12:00 for check-in with Bill Hughes. Call back in a few weeks.

Underway around 1:15 on a windy day. Out to the east end of Willoughby and quickly down-sailed. Crossed the TS Channel into Mill Pond Creek. Enjoyed the usual Hormone talk with Capt Pewich and the Lady Anne. Enjoyed the brisk east wind and choppy seas. Very Maya-esque behaviour from the tillerman. Very savoir fare lunch including disgusting brown cheese with dark streaks and wonderful warm tea. Wind chill was just bearable til around 3 when the teeth chattering began and in we went.