Almost Home

We left Norfolk at 5 am yesterday morning, hoping to sail 90 miles to Solomon’s. We were able to safely leave the dock, even though the west wind was pinning us against the dock. Once we left Little Creek and entered the Chesapeake Bay the winds were blowing at 20-25 knots and the 2-3 ft waves from the NE were right on the bow. We motored until the sun came up then raised the main sail with a double reef line. The waves had the boat pitching every which way and had caused the main halyard to get caught on a spreader. Before we raised the sail George put on his life jacket and tether and went up on deck to try to get it free. No luck. It appeared to me that the lazy jack line was holding the halyard to I suggested turning the boat so that the boom and lazy jack line would move and release the pressure on the halyard. Hooray, it worked!  The boat was moving slowly with just the main sail so we unfurled the jib, which left us heeling at 30 degrees and way overpowered. So, we furled the jib and motor-sailed with the reefed main. The conditions were just miserable. Breeze On was crashing down many of the steep waves. Slam! Slam!  Slam!  Some of the larger waves crashed over us. The air was cold and the tide was against us. We decided early on that we didn’t want to continue all day under those conditions so we searched for an anchorage. George chose an anchorage in Mobjack Bay on the western shore. The entrance to Mobjack was littered with crab pots buoys.  They were difficult to see due to the choppy water and salt water splattered on the windows. Somehow we managed to get to the anchorage without snagging one and dropped the anchor just before noon. It was discouraging to see how little progress we made since leaving the dock 7 hours before. After we anchored I turned the fresh water pump on and it started running. I turned it off and checked the faucets. They were all turned off so I knew we had a leak somewhere. George discovered a line in the shower had come loose even though it had been double-clamped. It must have been all of the slamming. We were SO grateful that we had remembered to turn the pump off before we left the marina (that is our practice but we don’t always remember). We never would have heard it running and emptying all of our fresh water into the bilge. It was a quick fix & we had water again. 

The weather forecast seems to change by the hour but one thing remains constant, a front bringing high winds is due to come through tomorrow. We want to be home before that arrives. So, we raised anchor at 7 am this morning and began a marathon motoring trip home. The trip is about 112 miles so we won’t get home until the wee hours of the morning. Fortunately the creek where we live is very well-lit at night so we shouldn’t have any problems with visibility. 

Although the wind started out on our nose this morning, at least it is light and the waves are small. The sun is shining and warming up the air inside the enclosed cockpit so we are keeping warm.