I've been busy updating my web site and have placed the pictures from our circumnavigation. Nothing great, just a lot of fun, until we wrapped a line around the prop. http://www.ayesail.net/sailing/DelMarVa/index.html Jim S/V Java
Pictures of Circumnavigation of DelMarVa on site
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Thanks
Jim, Thanks for sharing your experience. I'd like to make this trip some day. Question, is there a reason you went into the Atlantic from the Delaware Bay and not Norfolk? Very interesting. Paul
Jim, Thanks for sharing your experience. I'd like to make this trip some day. Question, is there a reason you went into the Atlantic from the Delaware Bay and not Norfolk? Very interesting. Paul
Thanks Jim!
Jim, Appreciate the effort to post and look forward to the narrative. Planning to do the DelMarVa loop in 2005. Regards, Tom
Jim, Appreciate the effort to post and look forward to the narrative. Planning to do the DelMarVa loop in 2005. Regards, Tom
Hey Jim
Nice pictures. I'd like a little advice, if you'd be so kind. I had a great summer on the upper Potomac in a new H240 - got as far south as Colonial Beach, VA, and am contemplating a trip around Pt. Lookout into the bay for next year. Problem is, I'm told by some that rounding Pt. Lookout in a relatively tender, 24-foot sailboat is insane. If one picks one's weather, is it really that bad? Thanks for any insight. Drew
Nice pictures. I'd like a little advice, if you'd be so kind. I had a great summer on the upper Potomac in a new H240 - got as far south as Colonial Beach, VA, and am contemplating a trip around Pt. Lookout into the bay for next year. Problem is, I'm told by some that rounding Pt. Lookout in a relatively tender, 24-foot sailboat is insane. If one picks one's weather, is it really that bad? Thanks for any insight. Drew
Point Lookout
Drew, The mouth of the Potomic can be rough. That said its like any other sailing, you pick your days and weather based on your boat and experience. I went into the Potomic with a 22 O'Day and up the St Mary's River. If you've not done that, give it a try. Good luck, Paul
Drew, The mouth of the Potomic can be rough. That said its like any other sailing, you pick your days and weather based on your boat and experience. I went into the Potomic with a 22 O'Day and up the St Mary's River. If you've not done that, give it a try. Good luck, Paul
Thanks Paul...
...I will. I'd still like to go "all the way," though. Any idea what the swell conditions get like at the mouth?
...I will. I'd still like to go "all the way," though. Any idea what the swell conditions get like at the mouth?
Swells
Drew I've been up the Potomac about six times, each time traveling from Solomon's Island and Pax River via the Chesapeake. Only one of those was what I would consider rough. The wind was directly out of the mouth with rolling waves of about three feet. If I recall correctly, the wind was 25 knots. I was sailing my 35 O'Day. On the bay I've seen five to six ft. Not something I enjoy. I believe the weather stations provide wave action there. Best of luck Paul
Drew I've been up the Potomac about six times, each time traveling from Solomon's Island and Pax River via the Chesapeake. Only one of those was what I would consider rough. The wind was directly out of the mouth with rolling waves of about three feet. If I recall correctly, the wind was 25 knots. I was sailing my 35 O'Day. On the bay I've seen five to six ft. Not something I enjoy. I believe the weather stations provide wave action there. Best of luck Paul
Thanks Paul
Sounds like a pick-your-day scenario for me. I can handle three footers no problem but 6 footers...oh dear. Thanks again. Drew
Sounds like a pick-your-day scenario for me. I can handle three footers no problem but 6 footers...oh dear. Thanks again. Drew
Jim, about your trip
Hey, Jim-- How did you bend the prop strut? Sounds like a story we need to hear there. Seeing Salem nuclear power plant that close always scares me. There are two pretty little historic towns right across from it. One 'Pepsi Syndrome' slip-up with that thing and the whole ecosystem of Delaware Bay is ruined for generations. We'd never use our boats again. [shudder] I also am of the consensus that it's better to go down the Bay-- more places to land, etc.-- and up the coast. Going up the coast you should be roughly downwind in summer- if there IS any wind! That said-- I never saw so many dull pictures in my life! LOL --meaning of course that you had such perfectly calm weather! Not much else do to in weather like that but take pictures!
Your wife sounds (and looks) like a good sport. You should feel lucky to have her! JC 2
Hey, Jim-- How did you bend the prop strut? Sounds like a story we need to hear there. Seeing Salem nuclear power plant that close always scares me. There are two pretty little historic towns right across from it. One 'Pepsi Syndrome' slip-up with that thing and the whole ecosystem of Delaware Bay is ruined for generations. We'd never use our boats again. [shudder] I also am of the consensus that it's better to go down the Bay-- more places to land, etc.-- and up the coast. Going up the coast you should be roughly downwind in summer- if there IS any wind! That said-- I never saw so many dull pictures in my life! LOL --meaning of course that you had such perfectly calm weather! Not much else do to in weather like that but take pictures!
Your wife sounds (and looks) like a good sport. You should feel lucky to have her! JC 2
Answers - JC2 - Potomac
Point Lookout, we've been there about 10 times and only once did we not dare go any further from the Potomac. Of course the winds were out of the NNE at 25-30 against an out going river, made for a very rough chop. We anchored behind Point Lookout for the night and next morning saw a sailboat come out of St Marys headed out and then turn around back into the river. Most of the time it is a very nice ride. I think this was labor day weekend. The winds howled for days. Delware Bay can really catch you if you don't pay attention to the tides. We used 3/4 of tank getting to Cape May, fuel consuption doubled and only had 4gals left when we got in. We caught our own dockline 5/8" nylon around our prop in Little Creek, Va. Cost $2300 to repair mostly labor. Bent the strut, motor mounts but left the shaft alone. My wife? Lucky? I worship the ground she walks on. She likes to sail and buy new boats! What more could you ask for? Jim S/V Java
Point Lookout, we've been there about 10 times and only once did we not dare go any further from the Potomac. Of course the winds were out of the NNE at 25-30 against an out going river, made for a very rough chop. We anchored behind Point Lookout for the night and next morning saw a sailboat come out of St Marys headed out and then turn around back into the river. Most of the time it is a very nice ride. I think this was labor day weekend. The winds howled for days. Delware Bay can really catch you if you don't pay attention to the tides. We used 3/4 of tank getting to Cape May, fuel consuption doubled and only had 4gals left when we got in. We caught our own dockline 5/8" nylon around our prop in Little Creek, Va. Cost $2300 to repair mostly labor. Bent the strut, motor mounts but left the shaft alone. My wife? Lucky? I worship the ground she walks on. She likes to sail and buy new boats! What more could you ask for? Jim S/V Java
Your Wife
Thank you to my wonderful husband for that "beautiful commment"!!! I just want everyone to know I'm a great sport and will take the helm anytime (except at about 15 knotts and above I turn it over to the "real" Captain). When doing the Delmarva heading north or south first is just a preference. Either way it's WONDERFUL!!!!!
Thank you to my wonderful husband for that "beautiful commment"!!! I just want everyone to know I'm a great sport and will take the helm anytime (except at about 15 knotts and above I turn it over to the "real" Captain). When doing the Delmarva heading north or south first is just a preference. Either way it's WONDERFUL!!!!!
Your Trip
Thank you for sharing your trip iin pictures. It made it much easier to discuss the possibility of doing the same with my wife. Of the days you were underway, how many days to you put up sails?
Thank you for sharing your trip iin pictures. It made it much easier to discuss the possibility of doing the same with my wife. Of the days you were underway, how many days to you put up sails?
Good Grief *yks She also reads these
Actually put the sails up everyday, it was just the wind wasn't strong enough to get me where I wanted to go. Out in the Atlantic at 1:00 in the morning a nice breeze came up and I was reaching at around 5kts for 3 hrs. It was great, full moon and quiet. I was hoping for more of a swell 4 -6 ft in the Atlantic but got nothing as the pictures show. Oh Well there is always next time. Better be carefull what I say on this site about my love affair! Jim S/V Java
Actually put the sails up everyday, it was just the wind wasn't strong enough to get me where I wanted to go. Out in the Atlantic at 1:00 in the morning a nice breeze came up and I was reaching at around 5kts for 3 hrs. It was great, full moon and quiet. I was hoping for more of a swell 4 -6 ft in the Atlantic but got nothing as the pictures show. Oh Well there is always next time. Better be carefull what I say on this site about my love affair! Jim S/V Java
The Plan
We actually planned our trip around full moon. Months in advance we checked when full moon would occur so we could be in the Atlantic during it. More light to see you with sweetie. Second was the 4th of July. The fireworks in Norfolk area are supposed to be great. Vacations worked out so we could take the last week of June first week of July off. So we went clockwise around and a couple of people said it is a better way. Winds in the Chesapeake (that is when you have any) are mostly from the SW - S. Looking at the upper bay North of Baltimore it gets narrow and would be a LOT of tacking to come south, so we went North. How far into the Atlantic, no more than 20nm but I had plans for 50nm depending on the winds. I would rather make a few long tacks than making a bunch of smaller ones. One 35nm vs 4 10nm tacks. And we did rent a EPIR from BoatUS for the trip. We were in no hurry to be anywhere, other than Norfolk for the 4th. Jim S/V Java
We actually planned our trip around full moon. Months in advance we checked when full moon would occur so we could be in the Atlantic during it. More light to see you with sweetie. Second was the 4th of July. The fireworks in Norfolk area are supposed to be great. Vacations worked out so we could take the last week of June first week of July off. So we went clockwise around and a couple of people said it is a better way. Winds in the Chesapeake (that is when you have any) are mostly from the SW - S. Looking at the upper bay North of Baltimore it gets narrow and would be a LOT of tacking to come south, so we went North. How far into the Atlantic, no more than 20nm but I had plans for 50nm depending on the winds. I would rather make a few long tacks than making a bunch of smaller ones. One 35nm vs 4 10nm tacks. And we did rent a EPIR from BoatUS for the trip. We were in no hurry to be anywhere, other than Norfolk for the 4th. Jim S/V Java
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