Back in the Chessy

Oct 2, 2008
3,811
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
Hi all,

It took us about 130 hours from the Bahamas April 17th to Deltaville, Va May 4th. We had some good offshore jumps and luck on the ICW with water heights. Mostly one huge high pressure system that gave us the weather to our liking and a full moon to light our overnights offshore. After four months of blue water and solitude it has been a little trying sharing the dirty water with tugs, freighters, container ships, US Navy, and those unmarked covert boats that swarm around you. Yesterday I only got yelled at twice for being in the way in Norfolk. Maybe I was tossing too big a wake for those big boats.

So when you all decide to cruise the ICW just mention my name, I'm sure you'll get the right of way.
 
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Tom J

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Sep 30, 2008
2,325
Catalina 310 Quincy, MA
Yeah, Norfolk can get very exciting. I like to listen to VHF ch. 13 to see what the commercial traffic is doing. They really appreciate it when you explain your intentions to them.
Then there is the Navy. Once, as I turned north into Chesapeake Bay, a call came on Ch. 16 that an aircraft carrier was inbound, and all traffic should clear a lane 1 mile ahead of the carrier. Almost immediately, a helicopter hovered over a sailboat about a mile ahead of the carrier, and the helicopter's downwash sent the boat's mainsail luffing. The poor guy couldn't move, and certainly not fast enough for the navy in any case!
 
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Oct 2, 2008
3,811
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
Nice having the AIS working but I don't see them if they're not moving.
 
Oct 2, 2008
3,811
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
Oops, had to cut in line during the NOOD Regata in Annapolis. We were motor sailing in to the Severn River and the start for the big boats lay in the entrance so we were trying to outrun the start of the race. I couldn't find the radio channel the committee boat was on so we ran along the first flight of boats waiting for an opening. The second group was closer spaced so we turned to cross behind them. A sudden wind change got our boat up to 8 kts as we cut behind the last boat. Nobody seemed to notice the old cruising couple outrunning all the J Boats as we made our way safely into the harbor.
 
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Oct 19, 2017
8,119
O'Day Mariner 19 3444 Littleton, NH
Nobody seemed to notice the old cruising couple outrunning all the J Boats as we made our way safely into the harbor.
Oh, they noticed :eek:. They just didn't want to notice :cool:.

-Will (Dragonfly)
 
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
Sounds like a nice trip! Lucky! One day I hope to go down the ditch and go out to the bahamas for the winter.
 
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
...got our boat up to 8 kts as we cut behind the last boat. Nobody seemed to notice the old cruising couple outrunning all the J Boats ....
He was cheating, folks. I was on his boat today, and saw he has a motor-driven propeller on the stern- like the ones you see in the Florida swamp boats. :liar:
 

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
NOOD is a big deal for Naptown and a pride of the sailing scene; but good gawd those racer boys are difficult to sail around. Especially the little ones with no radios. Makes me glad I'm still stuck on the hard getting ready to launch!
 
Oct 2, 2008
3,811
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
NOOD is a big deal for Naptown and a pride of the sailing scene; but good gawd those racer boys are difficult to sail around. Especially the little ones with no radios. Makes me glad I'm still stuck on the hard getting ready to launch!
You'll be safe there, we're moving on.
 
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Tom J

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Sep 30, 2008
2,325
Catalina 310 Quincy, MA
We’re in Cape May, the Chessy is now available for cruising and sailing.
Great town, great seafood! The family run marina (Unts?) near the entrance to the canal helped us out when our house batteries died.
 
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Oct 26, 2008
6,432
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Great town, great seafood! The family run marina (Unts?) near the entrance to the canal helped us out when our house batteries died.
Utsch's Wave as you go by Barnegat Inlet! Are you stopping anywhere near NYC?
 
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Tom J

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Sep 30, 2008
2,325
Catalina 310 Quincy, MA
Tomorrow we’ll try leaving AC for Atlantic Highlands.
We bypassed Atlantic Highlands for Staten Island. One yacht club rents moorings, and another let us borrow a mooring during a storm. Great protection from all directions.
 
Oct 2, 2008
3,811
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
My wife and I left the Bahamas a month ago and are now in Port Washington, Long Island Sound. A personal best for this crew.
 
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Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
You kids are an inspiration to all us retirement wannabes. Well done AUG and crew!
 
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