Sep 04 2009
Excerpts from my sailing trip South
Hi Mom, Ben, I’m on my way South, have been for a week. Haven’t made it far though, contrary winds, crap breaking and cold, along with lack of money have slowed me to a crawl. I’m actually having a good trip somewhat, but alot has gone wrong. I’m having to earn as I go, which is slowing me ridiculously. I had a good time in Solomons Island, great town, very friendly people, made a new good friend, a fellow sailor; we spent Thanksgiving together and had a good dinner aboard my boat. Just got into this town (Deltaville, VA). It’s a beautiful day out and I got an early start watching the Sun rise over the Chesapeake, but I didn’t make it far as the wind veered and strengthened to a near gale, I couldn’t hold my course and control the boat; had to heave-to and reef, but took an accidental jibe and got smacked in the head. This is not good that I am making mistakes like this. It’s a very dangerous thing and I know better, yet this is the second time in less than 2 weeks that I’ve taken a severe blow to the head from the boom. I was strapped in at the time, I always strap in when I leave the cockpit and I was heaving – to in order to go forward and reef the mains’l. I thought the tender had filled with water again when I lost control of the boat and turned to look – it happened very quickly. I have to maintain constant awareness of many things, but this should be the first and foremost – the boom that is. I was dazed and covered with blood, got the reef in, the waves were picking up fast and I was not making the time I needed because of the wind veer. I had to head in to Deltaville, the next available anchorage was ~ 38 miles away and I don’t wan’t to try most of them in the dark, especially with the temperature dropping throughout the day into the 30’s. Once it gets cold, everything becomes more difficult and my hands dont work so well, after awhile it affects my thinking. Too bad it didn’t go better, today started so nicely with a perfect fair wind and a beautiful sunrise and 60 degrees, I sailed out of pretty little anchorage thinking I would cover 43 miles or so. Yesterday I didn’t go anywhere even though it was really warm out because the winds were contrary and it was foggy. The fog would come and go, and I could have motored into the wind and made Deltaville yesterday, but I am short on gas and out of money. I’ve been burning alot of fuel fighting tide and wind and thought that with a favorable forecast for the next day, I could save the fuel and avoid the fog and sail farther the next day. I have to go, I’m going to try to make money tomorrow and then sail either way the next day. Love, Dan
<strong><u>From Mobjack Bay to Hampton Va. Nov. 30 2007:</u></strong>
Hi Doctor Rudy, sorry not to have kept you updated but I haven’t had any access to a computer.
I’m OK, just having a really hard time earning money here in Hampton VA. I made a little raking leaves my first day and then got sick for a few days and unfortunately caught on fire while trying to stay warm which my belt burned through and my lighter exploded. These are the worst burns I’ve ever had, but I’ve cleaned and dressed them and will be fine in 6 weeks or so. There doesn’t seem to be any work available here, everyone is laying off. I’ve tried over 100 places easily. I can’t leave without fuel and go further South as I am now at the end of the Cheseapeke and ready to enter the canal into the Sounds of North Carolina. I’m real excited about getting into the Carolina’s but instead I’m freezing and walking about worthlessly each day begging for work. I’ve some exciting moments sailing down here and had some enjoyable ones as well. I’ve also met many friendly and interesting people. Hampton Roads might be the Worlds busiest Sea Port. I had a hell of time getting in here. I got set by a current far more than I was able to realize from my bearings or they were incorrect. When I finally realized I wasn’t going to make it in the daylight and with a favorable current I started the motor; but it is running rough because the boat got layed over and the prop came out of the water, I checked the plugs but they look perfect, I also have noticed gear oil leaking around the prop, so I have to deal with these things before the canals. So the motor is using more fuel. I didn’t have that much left anyway and didn’t want to run it too much in it’s current state, although I didn’t know about the gear oil yet. I decided I would sail until I got close enough that I knew I could motor in case I had to for some reason as there was no reasonable place to anchor for the night. The current turned and built against me and the wind veered against me and the channel coming into Hampton Roads is narrow with Giant Ships of all types and barges with tugs; more than a dozen an hour. I haven’t been here before and had a hard time with the backround of lights. I looked for differential movement in the lights as I tacked and had to constantly look for ships and barges appearing out of the backround at hi speed leaving with the tide. I stayed as much out of the lane as possible but had to go into it some; timing it between ships. There are many lighted and unlighted fairway markers and such along the outside of the shipping channel and the current and wind would try to set me upon them, the really usable wind was in the channel and I have to tack anyway to upwind. A longer tack is more efficient than a short one, especially in a strong current ~3 knots, but the damn ships wouldn’t share the channel. Several times my boat stalled out against the wind and started falling very quickly towards an obstacle. It was nerve racking, but at least I didn’t notice the cold. I wasn’t making any head way for several hours, just holding my position waiting for the tide to change. I probably had enough fuel to just motor in, but didn’t get around to a stick measurment right away becuase I was so busy. When the gauge gets low it’s hard to tell how much is left and I just didn’t trust it. Anyway once I rounded Old Point Comfort it became easy and I just sailed the rest of the way to in and dropped my anchor without even having to start the motor. I know I annoyed several ships, one even blew its horn at me as I was trying tack out into the channel, I was timing it tack cross his path behind him and get the hell out on the other tack before the next ship. I wasn’t even into the channel quite yet and coudn’t have got in front of him if I wanted to; maybe could have rammed his port quarter, but it would have taken a real effort. Anyway I tacked immediately to put him at ease, I’m glad these guys are nervous and whatching out. I also heard A collision warning somewhere a few miles away but couldn’t see what was going on against the lights I don’t think it was for me as nothing passed for 10 minutes, the only break I got in the traffic. I just shut off my VHF and did what I had to, I had my hands full. I hit some heavy weather farther up the bay last week also and it is amazing how the lower bay will pick up and generate large waves, in the shallower areas they get very steep and the current builds, it’s difficult to control the boat and I was worried I might violently bump the bottom in a trough, so I sheared off for deeper water even thought the chart indicated 10 feet or more. If I hit the bottom hard my keel could break free and then its probably over. Single handing a sailboat that isn’t equipped for it is very difficult, everything must be thought out in advance so your ready to deal with it and it’s very important to reef in time or you lose control of the boat. I saw the Christmas boat parade here in Hampton and went to the party, it was fun and so were the people. Hope you’re doing well, thanks so much for all you’ve done to help me. Take care. Sincerely, Dan