We’re nicely tucked away in Tidewater Yachting Marina in Virginia after a late start from Doziers Marina in Deltaville. There was a “small craft advisory” with forecast winds of 15-20 knots gusting 25. We had been told that a good rule of thumb for the Chesapeake was to add the 2 numbers together to get a truer forecast wind speed. So 15+20=35 which is above our usual comfort zone!!
However after spending a miserable night at Doziers, we looked at the longer range forcast and decided that if we didn’t leave we would be stuck there for 4-5 days with winds of 25kn from the south (where we were heading) and wave chop of 3-4 feet. Doziers is a lovely marina in a beautiful setting but when the wind changed direction in the middle of the night it became very noisy and bumpy even though we were tied up!! Mary couldn’t sleep in the forecabin and at ~1.30am I found her in the salon reading the Herald online. Later she went to sleep there and said it was much better. Me, I slept like a log!!
So, we bit the bullet and headed out and had a fantastic run south, the wind and waves were from behind us and we were “surfing” at times!! I have been cruising at around 1200rpm doing 8-9kn but we were hitting speeds of 11.5 at times.
It was as hot as hades with a cloudless sky and the sun beating down upon us. It feels strange to be heading towards the equator with the sun rising on my left and setting on my right!
The Chesapeake bay is a vast expanse of water and at time we were unable to see land anywhere except to one side. Norfolk harbour is absolutely massive and houses the world’s largest naval installation. Home port for aircraft carriers, Destroyers, Cruisers, Frigates and Nuclear submarimes. It was quite interesting to see all the navy vessels behind massive floating booms and gates!
So, here we are at Mile Zero of the Intracoastal waterway. The weather is good.
Tomorrow we’re off early again – this is the norm; up early for a first light departure. Visitors, be prepared 
Did have a bit of a scare this morning when I couldn’t get the starboard engine to start 
It was as dead as a doornail. So put on my thinking cap, mentally ran through some diagnostics and found that the engine was still in gear!!! It won’t start unless it’s in neutral. We live and learn:)
Oh yes, changed my very first diesel fuel filters today!! took about 20 minutes, but next time it’ll be more like 5 minutes, now that ive done it once
Hmmm…no-one mentioned anything about sunrise departures before I booked and paid for the airline tickets for the boys and I to come visit! Still looking forward to it but hoping it will be a relaxing holiday!