So, a couple of my buds and I went on an adventure. And that it was...
We left Urbanna on Friday morning (10/30/15) with plans to go to either Tangier Island (in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay) or Onancock (on the eastern shore). Wind and weather were favorable but the tide was not, so it took us almost 4 hours just to get around Windmill Pt and into the Chesapeake Bay. We sailed NNW on a pinched reach making 5 to 6.5 knots to about where we needed to decide on our destination, when off in the distance we saw the water tower on the island - that was a "milestone moment"... fireball shots for everyone!! (normally, but our stomachs were just not up to it). Almost as if we had a direct connection to the wind gods, we got a lift and sailed right up the west shore of the island to the channel. It was high tide so all was good wrt depths, wrecks, unexploded ordinances, and other such dangers.
We spent the windy, cold night on Tangier after an exciting docking experience. The tide rushes through the channel between the east and west side of the island. The dock help got excited and yelled at us to do this and to do that. I mean strong heart felt yelling, but from what I am told, that is the way things roll there. I honestly never understood their concern. It never felt like we were either out of control or not doing what we should. Kinda odd, but then against, that is Tangier, but in a good way. It was all laughed off once we were securely tied to the bulkhead. We took a walk through town and once my stomach felt more settled, it was time for crab cakes (but no beer - the island is dry). Tangier is very interesting - frozen in the '30s except with golf carts.
The next day we went out of the east entrance and had a shorter but PERFECT sail to Onancock. The wind had moved around to the NE to give us a gust free beam reach. A bit chilly at 50 degrees or so plus wind chill, but exactly what we expected or better for this time of year in Virginia. We got to Onancock at about noon, at which time we got a 9 out of 10 from the dock master on backing into a slip (granted it was about ideal in terms of no wind or tide effects). Quite different from the Tangier welcome committee!!
We heated up some awesome gumbo that my son in law made for their wedding reception (It was so good that I froze some for just such occasions). Then we went to explore the sleepy little town. Friendly is an understatement - I felt like I had grown up and spent my whole life there what with all of the warm welcomes. Being off season, about the only thing open in the town was The Blarney Stone pub so we drank a few dark and tans, went back to do some things around the boat, and then returned again for a dinner of fish and chips. It was a flawless and memorable place to dine. The same words describe the marina and the facilities on the Wharf. What with it being Halloween there were some interesting things going on around us. We dressed up as sailors (i.e. we barely changed). We definitely were ready for some spirits that night - beer, Makers Mark, and rum, oh my.
Next morning (Sunday) we left before sunrise for the 40 mile trek back to Urbanna. The wind had shifted (SW) to again give us a decent reach and the occasional drizzle, but it was still enjoyable. Luckily the gusts to 25 either did not happen or the boat is built for it. On a couple of occasions we saw 7.2 knots SOG on the chart plotter, and confirmed by BlueCharts on my iPad - if I calculate correctly hull speed is about 6.96 knots for a CD-36 so finally the tides were helping us
. We made it back around 3:30 to BBQ some NY Strip to medium rare, after which I fell asleep either early or very early depending on which clock you looked at (it was the weekend for the time change). I was exhausted, but satisfied with our adventure.
The next morning I thought I had overslept only to find that the clocks were still on the wrong time, so I got to use the extra hour on the morning that I really could appreciate it.
If I could write a script for a perfect adventure, the only thing I would have changed would be a few degrees of wind change to make it a beam reach on both Friday and Sunday instead of a pinched reach or close to the wind... but honestly that would be being greedy.
This one goes in the win column. A great sail on a great boat with great friends.
3 days, 93.9 nms (35.2 nm + 16.5 nm + 42.2 nm):
