Greg Lanshe

4/22 started the offshore passage. Heavy winds and big confused seas with up to 8 ft waves with short intervals. Winds started on our starboard quarter and moved to 50degree wind angle. Winds started to die out during my 12-3 am watch and we turned the motor on at 3:00. At the beginning of watch, Elon Musk thruster recovery boat Bob hailed us and asked us to change course. I totally forgot how to use the vhf and had to wait for Cindy to come talk to them. Saw bioluminescence behind the boat. They looked like little fairies hopping around. Woke to calm seas and more motoring today. Winds may pick up later but from our stern and not strong enough to sail in. Cindy saw 3 pilot whales sleeping and I have seen some flying fish. The water was glass most of the day Thursday. Greg and I saw a pod of dolphins playing in our bow wake. Motored until 9:00 Friday morning. We now have building wind and seas 18 knots and 5-6 ft seas with wind chop. Making 9-10 kn consistently with up to 12 when surfing down waves. We made the decision to continue around Hatteras and into the Chesapeake, hopefully getting anchored in Hampton early Sunday morning before the weather moves in. As Friday progressed, the seas calmed then kicked back up again. The wind angle changed in an unfavorable direction and steadily increased to 20. We continued to make 10-11 knots with a double reef in the main and full jib. Reefed the jib to the second reef when winds hit 21 and didn’t lose any speed but felt much more in control. Around 6:00 we started getting 8-10 ft seas with 5 second intervals and 28 kn of wind. Still moving 7-9 kn with 3 reefs in the main and in the jib. Making dinner was an adventure though it was just heating up rice and stir-fry in the microwave. Prepping for rain and cold once we round Hatteras. It was a bumpy night but at 7 am today the seas calmed and the wind died. We have been motoring since trying to make it all the way up the Chesapeake without stopping. We may need to stop for a few hours since there is a forecast of 6-8 Ft chop with a wind chill in Virginia Beach. Ick. So in the meantime we are trying to enjoy the warm sunny flat day. 3 hours to the bay bridge tunnel and a line of thunderstorms with potential hail will most likely be there to greet us. Approaching the tunnel channel, we had some thunder and lightning in the distance. Once into the bay, we headed to the west coast and aimed towards fishing bay. The seas started out choppy then settled for a while. They picked up quickly making us turn back and go to Bryant bay off of Mobjack bay. We came in around 4:30 and had to wait for daylight to go down the channel. We anchored at 6:30 went to bed and woke up at noon. Very protected anchorage for the north winds. Leaving Monday afternoon for Rock Hall.

No winds to start. Increased to about 8 knots before dying when the storm stole the wind. Anemometer isn’t ready properly so we are using hand held. Sailed for about an hour of the trip. Anchored in good holding and protection from the wind for the low front to pass. We should be here until at least Wednesday maybe Thursday to wait for seas to calm before heading into the Gulf Stream.

We expected to motor most of the day but got more wind than predicted and got some downwind and upwind sailing in. Learned how to set up the boom preventer.

Light winds, put up the sails and sailed some then motor sailed the rest. Went ashore for gas and walked to coco bay to see rays, nurse sharks and a super cool needle fish. Dinner at the Green Turtle.

Unknown wind since wind is still not working. We had a nice sail approaching the bridge until the wind shifted and the tide was pushing us away from the bridge. Motored until green 3 then sailed along the Rock Hall coast. Sea state got a little choppy but nothing bad.

Downwind sail until under the bridge then we had a nice reach. Gusty with rolly seas. Had one reef in for most of the day, had to put a second one in for a little while and reefed the head sail. Shook them all out after the bridge.

No wind but fishing was done, then wind, then rain and more fishing.

Light wind sail tacking up the Chesapeake to Middle River.

We were expecting 4-8 kn winds but we were given 10-20 knots. Yay!