Day 1 Chesapeake to Nova Scotia

These Blog entries are edited versions of the messages we sent back as we completed the passage. They were sent by radio using a laptop that controls a modem and the HF/SSB radio, using the SailMail system. We sent the messages daily to Charlotte and she then forwarded them on to a list of family members.

2359 (AST, GMT-4) 22 Jul 2018

Dear All,

So, we're off again.  After rather longer than we had anticipated in the Chesapeake, and primarily in and around Deltaville VA, due to the problem we had with our engine injectors, we are now heading north and hoping to make up some of the lost time.  We've decided to route direct to Shelburne in Nova Scotia, a town that several people have recommended for the ease of checking in with the Customs and Border agency and for its general attractiveness and useful services.  As a bit of a last minute thought, Nicky emailed the OCC (Ocean Cruising Club) Port Officers in the town yesterday evening and they replied almost by return offering to show us around when we arrive, drive us to a nearby town where buying provisions is better and help out generally.  They also passed on some handy information about the port itself, such as warning us about aquaculture areas in the approaches to the town - information that will be particularly helpful should we arrive at night.  Once again, the OCC Port Reps are acting above and beyond - we had emailed inviting them for a drink on board when we have arrived not expecting to have such an extensive offer of help.

Passing under the eastern bridge on the Chesapeake Bridge/Tunnel

But that's for a few days hence. Today we set off from Cape Charles Town Harbour, which is about 9nm from the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay on the eastern side.  With the wind from the southeast we made best use of the tide and motored all the way to the Bridge/Tunnel where we crossed under the eastern-most bridge. Interestingly, there are none of the usual buoys or marker boards on the bridge showing the centre of the highest span, so we took a best guess (not that difficult) and made it through OK. However, the vertical clearance on the bridge is only 75ft (at high water) and BV's air draft is about 65ft so it's a lot closer than most of the bridges we have done.  Unfortunately, Reg's camera chose that moment to stop working properly so whether we have any decent pictures of our departure from the Bay we don't know yet.

Not sure that our Praying Mantis stowaway is going to enjoy the passage!

After that we had a rather lumpy motoring bash into some good stopping waves (wind against tide in the shallows outside the Bay - not fun), which upset Reg's internal gyros and didn't do much for mine either.

Happily, that final motoring bash was over in under an hour and we soon raced off with 2 reefs in the main and similar in the genoa in about 15kts of SE wind, heading ENE for a point well east of the Nantucket Shoals.  More about that and the hazards we are trying to avoid in the next update.

And so, that's about it for now. BV's now trogging on nicely at 6.5-7kt through the water, a little bit more over the ground, and, so far, we have dodged all the ships that have been pointing directly at us.  I'll call Reg for his watch in a few minutes - hopefully his gyros will have reset whilst he was asleep - and he will send this once we've passed midnight and we have all the figures to report (should you be interested).

And finally, here's another big thank you to Charlotte for running the email communications for us and for making sure that this gets to all your inboxes.  Assuming everything keeps working well at our end, and depending on Charlotte's workload, you should get these daily updates every day or so for the next, about, 5 days.

Love to all,

Reg and Nicky

Passage statistics:

Position at midday 22 Jul: N37 06 W75 52

Position at 2359 22 Jul: N37 48 W74 20

Midday to midday distance: n/a nautical miles

Midnight to Midnight distance: n/a nautical miles

Total miles covered:  100 nautical miles

Approximate distance to go: 575 nautical miles

End of Day 1  Chesapeake to Nova Scotia