12 May, 2021. YoYo around the waterfront.

 

8 SM; 1.8 hours

Slow, unhurried morning as winds were brisk from the north, small craft warnings issued for the southern bay, no need to rush.  A great 3 mile walk in the very cool and breezy air, followed by oatmeal breakfast back aboard.

Local fish market—wholesale only 😕

Topped off the water tanks, inspected Serenity to make ready for sea and completed the untie the lines checklist.  Weather reviewed and was not good for entering into the bay and heading north.  Electronic charts reviewed, route plotted and anchorage location verified.  We could have paid for an additional night at the marina, but we both wanted to get underway and go to an anchorage.  Underway at 0950, Yanmar diesel purring as she warmed up.  Exiting the protected harbor, actually even before getting there, sea swells were apparent.  Serenity was beginning to bob up and down.  Probably 2-3 feet but with a decent interval and no wind waves on top. Generally, we remained within the lee of land from the 20 mph north winds.  Briefly in the open waters of the James, Elizabeth, Chesapeake and Atlantic which combine and forms this gigantic body of water.  As soon as we entered and went over the I-64 tunnel we turned north and entered protected waters of the Phoebus/Fort Monroe harbor.  Ft Monroe anchorage

A short four statute mile (sm) trip, we anchored in 10 feet.  Cloudy, 55 degrees with northerly winds.

Windy.com has predicted decreasing winds and the national weather service (NWS) had removed the small craft warnings.  We wondered if maybe later this afternoon, conditions would improve enough where we might round the corner and enter the big bay and head north if only for a hour or so and find another anchorage.  So with confidence, improving weather forecast, and regional airports reporting local winds northerly less that 15 we decided to give it a go.  Upped the anchor at 1505 and retraced our electronic bread crumbs back out into the open water.  Significant swells, but no wind chop on top, we decided to round the corner and take a look.  Rounding the corner and watching an accelerating big commercial ship head out to sea, this was not the dismal swamp anymore.  We continued eastward in confused and building seas.   

We know where we want to go—weather dictates

The Chesapeake bay opening to the Atlantic Ocean is 9 miles wide.  Ocean swells were headed west and in the 3 foot range.  The past 12-15 hours of 20G30 northerly winds had blown down the entirety of the Chesapeake forming 3-4 footers.  The ocean and bay swells met exactly where we needed to go.  While not totally unsafe, rounding the corner we needed to head more northerly and that put the swell mess on the beam.  Way too rolling for our little boat.  

USN cruiser going out as we were returning

So, completing a u-turn we proceeded back to our anchorage, same place, arriving at 1550.  Four miles traveled in 0.8 hours.  A secure area, good holding and a couple of hours later the sun came out.  I had made rice, broccoli and canned meat in the thermal pot this morning.  An excellent supper was had while swinging on the hook watching the sun march toward the western horizon.  Probably will remain here tomorrow as winds forecast to be blustery out of the NE 15G20.  Not a good direction or velocity to head up the bay in our little boat.

3550 SM traveled; 1661.1 hours Hobbs