A Record Setting Day

Sunrise over Drum Point

Weather: The wind clocked from the NW in the morning to the south in the afternoon; wind speed ranged from 0.0 knots as we hauled the anchor to 12 knots in the afternoon; it was hazy and sometimes sunny with a high of 80 and a low of 65.

Comment: This was a record setting (smashing) day. Here are some entries from our log book:

• 0535 Final goodbye to “Kallita” and cast her off.


• 0540 Engines on and anchor up! It is dawn and the sunrise is scheduled for 0602 hours. The running lights are on but there is enough light to easily see the marks and other boats.


• 0700 We are kickin’ ass! Speed in 9.2 motor-sailing in 11 knots of wind out of the northeast. We have gone 8.1 miles from the anchorage.


• 0800 The speed is down to 7.6 mph in 8 ½ knots NW wind.


• 0900 The jib is in as the wind dropped to less than 3 knots. We are making only 6.2 mph which is average any other day.


• 1000 We motoring along at 6.5 mph. we have gone 29.9 miles in four hours and twenty minutes.

The "Virginia"

1100 The jib is out and we are motor sailing at 7.1mph.

1200 6.5mph in 5 knots out of the SE. 43.3 miles on the odometer

1300 6.4 mph will pass under the Bay Bridge in 30 minutes

• 1400 Foul current! Speed is down to 5.2 mph – it looks like we’ll be fighting current for the rest of the day.
  
• 1500 6.0 mph still in a foul current


• 1600 6.7 mph in 10 knots of south wind, still in a foul current – Jin in at 1630 hours


• 1700 6.1 mph – passed by fuel dock at Tolchester – weather doesn’t look good for tomorrow so we’re devising a new plan. Anna Marie checked with the Delaware City Marina regarding dockage for tomorrow. It may be an option as there are things to do. If we get hung up there for a couple of days, the kids could visit and not be bored. The plan to be home for Mother’s Day is in jeopardy!

Sunset over the Northern Chesapeake

NOTE: We motor sailed for nine hours and ten minutes today!

• 1800 We’re making 6.0 knots in 11 knots of southerly wind and have traveled 79.5 miles


• 1900 Just passing the Sassafras River


• 2000 The current has turned! We’re making 7.1 mph. Too bad we’re going to stop within the hour!
• 2040 Anchor down, engines off – Cabin John Creek MM 10.0. It is 75 degrees and the wind is 4.5 knots out of the south. We have traveled 95.7 miles in 15 hours. Small craft warnings were posted at 1800 hours. The wind is supposed to pick up to 15 to 20 knots out of the south with gusts to 25 tonight. NOAA promised the same for most of tomorrow with some diminishing of wind strength in the evening. Showers and thunder showers are also in the forecast.
  
  We will try to get fuel tomorrow and at least make Chesapeake City on the C&D Canal. If the weather isn’t as bad as predicted, we’ll go the eastern end of the C&D to check out the Delaware. If it’s bad, we'll head toward Delaware City for the blow. If not, we’ll head down bay to Cape May. Once there, we check the weather to find out when we can get home!
  
  After tending to the log book, we’re going to chill out for a few minutes and then it’s off to the sack. We’re both pretty tired!