April 16th, 2018
Hawk
I forgot about this picture from the top of the mast in Georgetown.
As you can see, if you look carefully, a bird broke our 'Hawk' which is the wind direction indicator.
Up I went to retrieve it and do one of my bimonthly mast checks where I look at every nut and bolt in detail.
Pleased to report that the rig looks as good as new and Tracey is once again proved right in suggesting that an electric winch might be a good idea.
'Not on one of my boats said I', only to eat my words as Tracey sends her 'fat old Cornishman' up the mast with with the press of a button and a self righteous smirk.
April 16th, 2018
Cornflakes
Trying to eat cornflakes in thirty knots on deck is a lesson in aerodynamics. It either goes well or you go hungry if you misjudge it!
Just had the most amazing romp up the Bay with up to thirty knots aft of the beam which backed to have us hard on the wind in 20-25knt winds. Full foulies, hats, gloves a frozen face and fond memories of the British Steel Challenge.
'Pearl' loved it! The anchor is now down and the kettle is on - life's good.
April 15th, 2018
Chesapeake
The anchor is down and we are settled in for a blow tonight with winds up to 30knts and gusts above. It's like being at home for as I look out the window there is mizzle, its grey and I'm sat in my thermals feeling snuggled in down below.
We are very happy to have an afternoon off to catch up and probably have a kip if my eyelids are anything to go by. It might sound daft but it's also nice to be sailing in these conditions. We have the boat and gear for it and a bit of bracing wind is a really nice change from the heat.
It's also stunning here in Chesapeake with the most beautiful creeks and anchorages. Last night we stopped in Reedville and found ourselves surrounded by Osprey nesting on piles. If they weren't chirping away they were flying in carrying fish, often big ones.
Reedville and its peace was just what we needed after two and a half days at sea as we made passage from Georgetown. Funny old trip which was interspersed by either great sailing or motoring. It just didn't settle with temperatures fluctuating, wind fluctuating and up to Cape Hatteras a very agitated seaway. I've heard a lot about Cape Hatteras and you really sense that it would be a grim and dangerous place if it was in a bad mood.
We entered Chesapeake as the sun came up and so the day started with a very satisfied cuppa as the Bay opened up ahead of us. Its huge, it's interesting and given the time of the year we have it to ourselves. It's also completely different to anything we have experienced since leaving Guernsey and it feels like another chapter has opened. Big eats and a few wines were had in celebration before sleeping like the dead as we were very tired.
The plan is to go a bit further north to find a place to lay 'Pearl' up for two months whilst we head off to my brothers wedding in Australia, visiting Tracey's brother in NZ on the way. From there its back to Cornwall for all of June to cover a load of work that has come in. There will be plenty of time to catch up with friends and family too.
This comes from Johnstown after a pretty easy 35NM up the bay with a rising wind which ended up on the beam. 'Pearl' was off at 8.5Knts and loving it as we sailed a past huge military base where mobile phone coverage dropped out so I am thinking it was perhaps jammed??
The lighthouses here are really quaint and they are all different - this one is Smith Point.
April 11th, 2018
Georgetown
This is 'Pearl' in the morning sun - what a lovely boat she is.
April 11th, 2018
Georgetown
We have loved our two days in Georgetown for it is very friendly, quiet and interesting. I had no idea that Georgetown used to be the world's biggest exporter of rice by far. The Rice Museum opened up a world I didn't know existed and we look forward having more time to explore a plantation when we return on our way south. This is a picture of 'Pearl' at anchor in the evening - stunning.
April 11th, 2018
Bridge
For all that we loved the day as it blew a few cobwebs away and we couldn't believe the wildlife as we steamed through the nature reserve. We had Pelican dive bombing, Egrit stabbing, Cormorant swimming, Birds of prey swooping and lots of dolphin. An incredible place - this is our first bridge.
April 11th, 2018
Cold
Daft to leave Charleston when we did weather-wise but we had itchy feet and a deadline looming to make Chesapeake in the near future. It was very cold, raining and we had head winds so we decided to have a go at the Inter Coastal Waterway with Georgetown in our sites. Thermal socks, gloves, hats and neck towel to go with the full thermals and wet weather gear. For all that I still ended up doing star jumps to stay warm after ten hours in the cockpit. We were reminded of Cornish mizzle as visibility dropped and it went dark.
April 11th, 2018
Mega Dock
Before I cover the trip here I just wanted to share a picture of the marina pontoon in Charleston for it was a quarter of a mile long. I haven't seen anything like it before in terms of scale and infrastructure. Its called the 'mega dock' and has fuel pumps all the way along to feed the thirsty Inter coastal waterway boats. Chatting to the lads they get through three road tankers of fuel a day in the busy season!!
