The morning came gray damp and cold. We were up early enough and got our act together and before long we’re raising anchor and starting the motor out of the harbor. Tabasco fell and behind us and we made our way down the river towards the Chesapeake.

The morning came gray damp and cold. We were up early enough and got our act together and before long we’re raising anchor and starting the motor out of the harbor. Tabasco fell and behind us and we made our way down the river towards the Chesapeake.

We passed by many naval ships and commercial ships and tug boats and barges along the way there was quite a bit of traffic taking pictures and just enjoying the scenery of the cool morning. Then it was out into the Chesapeake proper across the bay bridge tunnel, and then down towards the mouth of the bay itself. It was a little afternoon as we rounded the lighthouse and made our way out into the ocean and along the coast.

 It was a little afternoon as we rounded the lighthouse and made our way out into the ocean and along the coast.

Our original plan was to head down the coast and then we decided no the winds looked like they would be more favorable to just head straight offshore and we started doing that. Before long the twins had swapped around again and we returned to our original path to head down along the coast to Cape Hatteras and then head out to cross the gulf stream at its Narrows point. This would save us some time as the winds turned out to be much lighter than predicted and we made slow progress. Fighting against the gulf stream would have taken a very long time. Going the coastal route allows us to dodge much of that current until we absolutely have to make the crossing.

 Fighting against the gulf stream would have taken a very long time. Going the coastal route allows us to dodge much of that current until we absolutely have to make the crossing.

The day went on with your mom and I doing most of the sailing of the boat in fact your most pretty much is planted at the helm and I’m quite happy to have him there he’s good at that job. I’ve been helping with rigging the different sales and working out all the little things that come up and was quite pleased to have a first time experience this afternoon. With the wind off our Stern quarter and progress slow Dana brought out the spinnaker and I got my first experience rigging raising and flying a spinnaker although it was in barely enough wind to keep it filled for a while. It helped for a couple hours and we had speeds of 5 to 6 kn which really wasn’t much better than with the engine but it did save a little fuel. Ultimately though the winds died away and we had to take down the spinnaker and now we’re just motoring along as the sun is starting to go down over the coast. Serendipitously we also got to see you well that came up quite near the boat. So it’s been a pretty good day.

 Serendipitously we also got to see a whale that came up quite near the boat. So it’s been a pretty good day.

Dean is whipped up a nice dinner for us I can smell it cooking. I’m looking forward to going in and then I’m going to try to get some rest and sleep a little bit before my watch comes on tonight as I’m pretty bleary-eyed and tired already. 
 

So far so good we are at sea.