BEST & WORST : #ChesapeakeBayAnchorages #catamaransailing
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WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL SAILING AROUND HATTERAS?
Just go way out around those reefs and enjoy the ride! We had downwind sailing, following seas and great weather for our trip. We sailed 34 hours from Cape Lookout to Hampton Virginia in the Chesapeake Bay. It was in the wind getting out of the Cape Lookout Bight and around the tip of the Cape. Once we made the turn we had good wind to get around Hatteras. When we turned from Hatteras to head to the Bay we were in the wind shadow from land and eventually had to motor sail through much of the night. Once daylight broke the wind came up and we hoisted full sails to sail into the Bay. Across the Bay and through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge -Tunnel was a lot of freighter ship traffic. No problem staying out of the main channel and giving them plenty of berth.
WE ALSO REPORT ON SIX ANCHORAGES IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.
PHOEBUS VA - MILL CREEK - Easy stop after entering the bay. Busy trafficked bridge nearby, but cute little town with easy access to town dinghy dock, groceries, hardware store and restaurants. We loved Fuller's Raw Bar. We also were able to get an easy uber to Newport News for a museum visit and any retailer you would need.
MATTHEWS VA - MOBJACK BAY - Beautiful spot, but you can only take dinghy to town on low tide. We did not know this in advance and ended up getting a kind offer from a couple on the river to dock our dinghy there as well as borrow their car for a quick trip to town hardware and the Seafood Shack for the freshest catch around! Thanks to Tom, Ally and their kids, Helen, Sammy, and Charlotte - you were too kind! Also well known for it's Zimmerman Marine boatyard. They pull the catamarans out of the water with a truck and trailer on a boat ramp. We visited the yard and there were at least 60 catamarans there from all manufacturers. Many are there for work, some for storage while their owners return home and come back later for another departure.
REEDVILLE, VA - Cute town, but restaurant only open on weekends right now. Had to dinghy by the Menhaden plant just to see it. The smell was a little overpowering. Menhaden have a long history in the Chesapeake Bay harvested for animal food, fertilizer, food additives and Omega fish oil. Extreme overfishing of menhaden effected the ecosystem of the bay. Today there remains only one Omega fish oil plant and it is this one.
DELTAVILLE, VA - FISHING BAY anchorage was a pure joy. Fishing Bay Marina offers $25 daily passes to their facilities - pool, laundry, bikes, and sometimes a courtesy car. Yacht club nearby offers sailing camp lessons. Our friend Grace Parker made a visit for a day. We really enjoyed having her bubbly, positive personality on board.
SOLOMON ISLANDS, MD - Crowded anchorage and no convenient dinghy docks - not a favorite.
KENT ISLAND, MD - Beautiful, full of nature but we didn't stay long.
TIMELINE:
0:00 Introduction: Sailing from Cape Lookout NC, Outer Banks and around Hatteras, then through Chesapeake Bay
0:15 Downwind Sailing - Wing on Wing - 9.5 knots SOG
1:20 Boom Vang on Catamaran
2:00 Sailing - Following Seas Wake and Cargo Ships
2:47 First Stop: Phoebus, VA
3:06 Newport News Maritime Museum
3:39 Phoebus to Matthews VA - Chesapeake Bay 25 knot wind
4:38 Soft-shell Crab Sautéed
5:25 Matthews to Reedville, VA - Menhaden Processing Plant
5:57 Fishing Bay - Deltaville, VA
6:45 Sailing to Solomon Islands, MD
8:53 Kent Island, MD - Duck Blinds, Blue Herons, Shellfish Harvester
10:56 Work Break - Zipper Pull Replacement with Speedy Stitcher! https://www.sailrite.com/Notions/Sewing-Needles/Brand/Dritz,Speedy-Stitcher
LINKS:
FULL BLOG POST: https://bluedotvoyages.com/dawn-stephens-most-excellent-full-time-sailing-adventures-begin/
SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfh_pM48xnJ7dr4jTvt8cw?sub_confirmation=1
WEB SITE: https://bluedotvoyages.com
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/bluedotvoyages
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/bluedotvoyages.sailingpilar
COMPLETE PLAYLIST: SAILING & CRUISING VIDEOS
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz8Z8h1MloaPq2o05r6wnJqaqyeABUKiu
CATAMARAN MAINTENANCE VIDEOS:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz8Z8h1MloaOcpGajnaH0DPm1U0otTJtc
Blue Dot Voyages is a Sailing Adventure Company. We recently packed up our belongings, sold our house and moved on to our Leopard48 Sailing Catamaran PILAR, where we are traveling the world. We offer travel advice as well as boat maintenance tips. We offer charter sailing experience trips when we can. Watch our videos and live vicariously through us!
Master Captain: Stephen Bell
First Officer: Dawn Bell
