a trip on a ferry

November 11, 2006

After spending a few hours this morning working on some odd jobs on Whisper, we took the scenic route that runs NW along the south side of the James River. We stopped for some top rate Reuben sandwiches and then continued on to the James River Ferry, a free car ferry that is run by the Virginia Department of Transportation. We missed the first ferry (by 3 cars--it runs every half hour and gets full pretty quickly on the weekends), so we caught the 3:30. Some people got out of their cars, but I was surprised at how many people stayed inside. It was 79 degrees, warm, sunny, and we were on a fast ferry across the river. Oh well, maybe they were all engrossed in page-turning novels. It only took about 15 minutes to cross the river. We planned to go to Historic Jamestown, one of the first settlements by Europeans, but by the time we got there it was closing in 30 minutes. We drove on the Colonial Parkway to Williamsburg where we got an ice cream. Colonial Williamsburg is very touristy, but the buildings are all authentic and very pretty as is the College of William & Mary. I talked to a friend in Wisconsin and it was surprising to hear it was 28 degrees there today, while I was in jeans and a t-shirt in 50 degree warmer weather.

Kristen on the Jamestown ferry

foliage

another ferry crossing the river in the opposite direction

cars on the ferry

cotton field

our ferry "Pocahontas"

Jamestown as seen from the ferry

odd jobs

November 10, 2006


Anyone need a boat engine?

An old Coast Guard ship. Our mechanic, Mike, designed this when he was an engineer in the Coast Guard for 28 years.

Whisper being put up on blocks in the Travelift

Hans working on some touch-up paint jobs.

Hey! who graffitied on Whisper's hull?

We'll be on the hard here in Norfolk (Portsmouth) until at least Monday afternoon, so we're trying to take care of some odd jobs on Whisper. Some touch-up paint jobs, raising the waterline, reorganizing storage space down below, etc. The weather is beautiful, sunny & warm, so it's hard not to be in a good mood even though our stay in Norfolk is longer than anticipated.
Meanwhile Kristen is becoming a real southern gal: "We don't have no rush" she exclaimed recently...

Still in Norfolk

November 9, 2006

We got the word from Mike the mechanic today, that the shaft is bent beyond repair and that we'll have to replace it. The story doesn't end there, however. Our old shaft was a metric one (25mm), which is an unusual diameter here in the States, so our options are to wait for a piece of (ridiculously expensive) 25mm stainless to be delivered to the machine shop, then have the shaft machined to fit our boat, or to replace the 25mm shaft with a 1 inch shaft (slightly thicker). So what's the big deal? Well, going with a less expensive one inch shaft would require us to replace the cutless bearing, which holds on to the shaft at the propeller end, as well as possibly replacing the flexible coupling between the transmission and the shaft (which holds the front end of the shaft). All in all, there isn't any one easy and inexpensive solution, which is usually the case on a boat project anyways, so no surprises really!
Whatever the case it looks like Whisper might not go back in the water until Monday. In the meantime we're busy with other little projects on the boat and Hans is finishing up the last of his wedding work.

Seaford, VA to Portsmouth, VA

November 6, 2006
Happy Birthday Pete!

8:20: weighed anchor in Chisman Creek, light wind, motoring.
8:34: the snubber worked loose of its knot on the anchor rode and the anchor pulled easily out of the mud. We'll need to get a chain hook to prevent this. On our way to Virginia Boat Yard to have the mechanic check out Boris.
9:32: main up, motorsailing. Poquoson Flats to starboard
11:11: 4 Navy boats cruised past us to Stbd. heading NW.
12:23: on approach to Hampton Roads - Benetau First passed heading north sailing close hauled then a few minutes later, an Island Packet following behind. We're fighting turbulent seas, opposite tide, strong current, slow slow speed. rolling a lot, Kristen is feeling rather naseous.
13:06: crossing Harbor Tunnel
13:46: Norfolk Navy terminals to Port, an aircraft carrier and what looks like battleships. A radar recon plane is continuously circling overhead, fighter jets are overhead as well as helicopters. A Navy transport ship was also anchored in the harbor. Norfolk is definitely the busiest waterway we've had to pilot through, but we're just staying on the edge of the channels so we can easily steer clear if we need to.
15:02: Entering Elizabeth River on Lambert's Bend. Goodbye Chesapeake Bay! We could be sailing but we need to meet the mechanics. bummer.
15:50: arrive and tie-up at Virginia Boat yard - some confusion as to the exact location and we actually went too far and had to backtrack.

We're stopping here to deal with what appears to be a bent prop shaft. We'll stay with Roy & Sue while the boat is out of the water.


Kit Kat helping us navigate through Norfolk Harbor

our next boat?

Deltaville, VA to Seaford, VA

November 4 to November 5, 2006

We're headed to Seaford, VA to spend the weekend with Luke & Kate Barlow, Jake Barlow and to meet the new member, Bryce Barlow.

8:45: let go of docklines at Deltaville, Marina
9:15: beam reach out of Deltaville Bay, course 150, speed 5.2. Sailing out of Deltaville Harbor, south to Chisman Creek, beautiful weather, cold wind, few clouds, forecast for winds to subside in the afternoon.
9:43: rigged preventer, heading south, course 210, speed 4.8
11:34: passed Wolf Trap Light, changed course for York River, wind is slowing down a bit, seas are calming.
13:39: Wind almost died, Boris on, sails down.
16:32: anchored in 6 feet on Chisman Creek. Had to try 3 times to set the anchor but we're holding now. (in mud).

Luke, Trevor, Cheryl & Jake all came out to pick us up with the Barlow Water Taxi. We spent Saturday & Sunday nights with Luke & Kate--dinner on Sat. night with Roy & Sue, then we went to No Frill Cafe for lunch on Sunday. Pats game on Sunday night--not the highlight of the season. It was pretty cushy sleeping in a warm bed, taking hot showers and hanging out with friends.


Whisper at anchor in Chisman Creek, Seaford, VA

Jake Barlow ready for the game

mom and Bryce

Dad doing some work on Sunday night

Mill Creek, VA to Deltaville, VA

November 3, 2006

Destination today: Deltaville, VA. We're meeting Anne & Jonathan Hutchins at Annapolis Yacht Sales who sold us Whisper a year ago. We also shipped our life raft to them so we're on our way to pick it up. Anne & Jonathan have sailed and worked in the Caribbean for many years and have given us lots of good advice.

Not many log entries today...I guess we were tired from yesterday!
9:49: weighed anchor
13:00: 3.4 miles north of Windmill Point, winds subsiding, rolling a bit.
15:04: motoring into Jackson Creek, Deltaville, VA.
15:39: tied up at Deltaville Marina fuel dock.

After getting fuel, we met up with Anne & Jonathan who gave us some hot tea, then a quick trip to West Marine. We went back to their house for luxurious showers, cheese, crackers, wine and nourishing butternut squash. They were on their way to an Oyster Roast so we went back to the boat, got into our sleeping bags and had an early night.

Some notes on the ship's cat, Kit Kat: kitkat is proving to be a real ship's cat. She loves to be out on deck and even snuck out onto the foredeck while we were sailing yesterday. The other night, she jumped from Whisper into Ding-Ding. Brave on her part, but a pretty close call for a nighttime swim. When Boris is running, she hides in the clothes, but she seems to be ok while under sail. Yesterday, she came out into the cockpit when Boris was running so she seems to be getting braver every day.

Solomon's Island to the Wicomico River

November 2, 2006

Destination today: Mill Creek, VA, off the Wicomico. We've anchored there before--it is a beautiful, calm creek with only a few houses.

7:20: weighed anchor
8:02: unfurled jib, turned off Boris. Forecast for 20kn winds, gusting to 30kns from N-NW, perfect to push us down the bay. Gray right now but forecast to clear by afternoon.
10:50: Point No Point lighthouse to starboard, course of 210, speed 6kns under jib alone, winds N-NW at 20 knots, waves 4 feet.
We had an exciting morning. Almost lost Ding-Ding but were able to recover him, minus oars and seats. Probably a terrible idea to tow him in the first place. Winds picked up once we got into the bay and the waves are fairly steep. Sailng under full jib alone.
11:46: cold front is passing us, sky to north has no clouds, sun will be out soon, 2 sailboats behind us are catching up.
12:43: sun is out!
13:46 crossed the state line into Virginia
16:48: dropped anchor in Mill Creek, VA, off the Wicomico River.

sailed approximately 42 miles today for 9.5 hours=approx. 5knots sailing speed.


Point No Point Lighthouse


Captain Kristen

Annapolis to Solomon's Island

November 1, 2006

6:50: washed the mud off the chain while motoring out of Back Creek
7:45: quite a few oyster boats were working in the dawn hours
8:15: past Thomas Pt. Lighthouse
8:30: oranges, toast & cheese & tea for breakfast, listened to NPR
10:08: deployed fishing gear (retrieved later without any sign of dinner)
14:51: Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Plant to Starboard (West these days), changed course for Solomon's Island; two F-18s flew overhead
17:00: dropped anchor in Mill Creek
17:01: jumped in dinghy to get crab cakes for dinner

At one point in the afternoon, we heard a very proper British accented gentlemen call for Sheltered Harbor Marina over the VHF. His call sign (and name of the boat) was "Itchy Feet." As we dinghied up to the restaurant, lo and behold, there was "Ichi Feet" docked at the marina (a 56' Oyster)! We stopped to chat--they are heading up to Baltimore and will be in Antigua for Christmas. Do you think they'll have us over for Christmas pudding?


Chesapeake watermen at dawn.

Hans' first (unsuccessful) attempt at an eye splice in a double-braided line. What went wrong?

Provisioning in Annapolis

October 31, 2006
Halloween

Trick or treaters were not to be found on Back Creek, so we gave our charitable donations to Fawcett's Boat Supply in exchange for some shackles, line, hose & a couple books. We spent the afternoon tidying up the boat, had leftover pumpkin soup for dinner and then we took the dinghy ashore to meet Jeanne Malley for a couple drinks at Davis's. We were entertained by some co-workers of Richard Simmons who were demonstrating the beneficial health effects of leg lifts and butt presses on the bar floor. Happy Halloween!

We were in bed by 11PM to get a good night's sleep before leaving first thing on Wednesday morning.

Under the Bay Bridge

October 30, 2006



We left Dividing Creek at around 2pm, and headed out the Magothy River on a fast close-hauled beat. Once out on the Bay, though, the winds died down and we had to put the iron genny "Boris"-our 13.5hp Beta Marine diesel engine-into gear.

Notes from the Log of Whisper:

14.30 Sailing at 5 knots, 70 degrees, sunny

15.30 Saw ship "Elektra" with homeport Stockholm pass us by to port. We waved the Swedish flag to greet them.

16.15 Passed under Bay Bridge

17.15 Howard and Mia waved to us from entrance to Back Creek in Annapolis.

17.30 Anchor down. Kristen picked up Howard and Mia for a quick tour of the boat, and then we headed to Davis's Pub for crabcakes and drinks.








Heading south!



We saw these US Navy sailboats racing in Annapolis, where the US Naval Academy is located


Howard and Mia joined us on Whisper


Slight storage problem, remeniscent of both co-captains respective teenage bedrooms

hej da! Bon Voyage! Hasta la vista! cul8r!

October 28 to October 30, 2006






















The weekend before Halloween, friends descended upon 739 Dividing Road in Severna Park, MD to send us off with well wishes. The house was the perfect spot, with a great screened in deck, fireplace, huge dining room table, hot tub & most important: ping-pong & foosball. Although there was a gale warning on the bay for the weekend, Hans took a crew out on Whisper on Saturday early afternoon and Fred, who has a much larger boat, took a handful of foolhardy sailors out later on when the winds were blowing 40+ knots. We had a tasty dinner, lots of good wine & beer, guitar playing & singing, ping-pong tournaments, and general good cheer.
On Sunday morning as we were all recovering, we gathered on the dock for a champagne toast. Friends started going their respective ways and a couple more friends joined us on Sunday evening for another big meal and ICW talk. We started packing up to leave on Monday morning, and we pushed off from the dock around 2PM.

And we're off!

October 27, 2006




Kristen, Allaire, Seth & kitkat cast off the dock lines from White Rocks Marina in Pasadena, MD (Whisper's home port for the last year) and headed south down the Bay to Dividing Creek off the Magothy River in Severna Park, MD for the weekend bon voyage party. Hans drove the ailing truck and met us at the house.
The sail was about 4 hours, with some motoring as the wind was on the nose at times and slowing down at others. Casey & Dan met the crew on the dock and we got Whisper tied up securely for the weekend.
The trip is underway!