End of Season Fin & Tonic

X-ing File #6_A Gulf Stream Crossing & the Atlantic ICW

Norfolk to Deltaville

By the time we got tucked in to Deltaville Marina's snug dock, we too badly needed a (very) large Fin & Tonic.  WJ3 deserved one too, having grown a healthy moustache!  Indeed we were so happy to arrive we almost forgot that we had achieved quite the milestone.  There indeed, we will have "crossed our wake" of an Atlantic circumnavigation!!  Who'd have thought!

Finally at home in Jackson Creek, Deltaville VA

Let's not get ahead of ourselves though, the voyage back to Deltaville resumes.

Our departure from Norfolk went awry with the engine overheating – thankfully not in front of those vast, grey Navy warships where anchoring is NOT permitted.  Security staff have big, nasty guns mounted on the front of their boats (as do the Coast Guard).  We crept back to the anchorage and the Cap’n put to work on finding the culprit.  At least the early morning downpour had cleared somewhat.  After our Cap’n Resolute crawled all over the engine, cleaned sea creatures from water filters and took a dip in less-than-appealing river waters (to check drains), off we set again.  Only to watch the temperature gauge rise steadily again.  Oh dear, back to the anchorage and time to consult those (many) manuals.  By the time we found the culprits – two not-so-tight hose clips allowing coolant to leak into the bilge, it was too late in the day to start off for a 50 mile run up the Chesapeake.  Pity really as the next day conditions were worse; wind and swell on the nose and lots of rain.  

So, for our last 'leg" of this long, long voyage we geared up in now standard attire – thermals and wet weather gear.  We’d even taken to wearing beanies...warm yes, but flattering, no.  We waved goodbye to Warship 64 wondering if she’d remembered our 2011 encounter mid-Atlantic, then negotiated our way passed all the commercial traffic and out this busy port.   

Conditions began to improve slowly as we inched our way up Chesapeake Bay.  By the time we had reached our cosy anchorage in Jackson Creek, the sun was out, the temperature (and barometer) was up and there was hardly a ripple on the creek.  Deltaville is such a magic place and we were so happy to be back!  And content to have survived the 6,460nm journey to get there.  

A nice quiet crossing of the Turks Caicos Banks

Our figures for our 2017 & 2018 Atlantic Crossing marathon, came in as follows:

From: Lagos, Portugal Lat/Long: 37:06.60N 8:40.53W  Date/Time: 01/12/17: 1130

To: Deltaville, USA Lat/Long: 37:32.921N 76:19.772W  Date/Time: 07/05/18: 1555

Time Taken: (2017-18): 1122 hrs  Distance: (2017-18): 6460nm

Distance Total: (since 2008): 24,744.5nm  

Longest Open Ocean Distance: (2017&18): 2181nm (Cape Verdes to Antigua, Caribbean)

Weather: Challenging weather throughout with the Caribbean unexpectedly blowy too.  Lots of wind action off the US east coast kept us pinned in the ICW; at least we had a good run there.

Fastest Speed: We didn’t set any speed records but had good winds to sail (no motoring) across the Atlantic.  This was followed by a mixed bag in the Caribbean with some really great sailing weather then motoring when things weren’t going our way.  We bumped along the ICW doing the standard 5 - 6.5kts with the occasional burst from tidal currents.  

 
We will be “readjusting” to our regular cruising schedule in 2019, all things being equal, so there will be little to report until about April/May next year.  Yes, a long break but it really does snow here in winter and ice skating’s not for us.  Besides, we’ve paid our winter dues having just completed two, repeat two, winters in a row….  We (or should I say certain crew members) also need time to get over all that blue water excitement.  So, it seems fitting to end with this quote: 

“Once you have travelled, the voyage never ends, 

but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers, 

that the mind can never break off from the journey.”  

Pat Conroy

Amen, and a couple of Stugeron to that!

Unforgettable blue waters. WJ3 on a mooring at Warderwick Wells, a land &
sea park in the Exuma Cays, Bahamas. We did have some good weather days!