Crossing Over

The outlaw dock

I awoke before light and sculled down creek through glassy water, setting sails just as dawn broke. The weather forecast was perfect and I had decided the night before to head east for Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore. There had been talk about a fantastic harvest moon. That news was accurate.

Getting out early for a Bay crossing seems to be best choice. Just don't know what you might come up against and daylight is key. It didn't really matter this day for it could not have been a better sailing day. Wind SSE at 5-8 knots.

4 1/2 hours later we crossed the shipping channel. There were five large ships anchored along the channel. More about that later. SE wind had put us north of the approach that ran inside the bar just south of Cape Charles harbor. Futile tacks against incoming tide. Motored south to Old Plantation Light and caught wind north inside the bar and rock breakwater that protected the harbor entrance. 

Abandoned rail spur, Cape Charles

I tied up at the city pier and walked into town to look for possible galleries to represent my maritime paintings. Found two that may have promise. One gallery owner said that the tankers and container ships have been anchoring off Cape Charles because the Navy in Norfolk closed off the staging area for ships waiting to pick up cargo. Seems that the locals, especially those recently purchasing large retirement homes on the shore, are not at all happy about the new vista. Oh well.

Sultana from Chesetrtown

SY Meteor, George Town, Bahamas. 100+ footer!

As the afternoon wore on Annie and I headed just north of town and anchored in King's Creek. Peaceful evening with another amazing moon.       27.3 nm