Heading South: NEB to Norfolk VA Nov 15 -18, 2013

Let's try again to start our Journey south.

Friday Nov 15: At 7:30am we start South again, our destination is Norfolk, we leave on an outgoing tide, with 19kts of  SSW wind. At the Newport entrance the waves were stacking up from 3’ to 6’ft Plus.  Halfway to Block Island the wind picked up to 23kts and the occasional 12’ wave made for a rough ride.  At long Island we were at 30kts and going a slow 4 kts, as the waves crashed over the bow. Everything was getting wet inside and out, all hatches and many portholes leaking. The rocking and rolling helped spread around any loose stuff below.  There was a 60' Oyster heading south also so we got to watch him bounce around for a while.  Nice to have company I guess.

Sat Nov 16:  the light couldn’t come too early, the winds and waves started to slow, the skies were as gray as our spirits.  We had not eaten and it made for some queasy times.   Instead of going along the coast we headed directly across to Norfolk to make up for lost time. We had to adjust the main sail, it was stuck.

 Lots of draggers were out and pods of dolphins kept us company.  As the day progressed we lost all the wind and got rain and 2-3’ rolling seas.  Off Atlantic City the seas calmed to about 1 to 2 ‘ rollers, it was overcast, wind at 6kts, and we were traveling at 7.9kts, the lasagna was in the oven, Bob reading a book, no one in sight.  

A little dark colored bird landed on the railing and tried to figure out how to get in out of the rain. He hopped around the stern and back to railing and would look at us and chirp, with attitude.  Time for the bird feeder!  

This all sounds like a very relaxing sail, with not a care in the world, the worst is over; 

BUT WAIT, it’s just about to begin.  

At about 5pm near Cape May we decide to transfer the 40 gals of fuel from the aft tank to the main tank.  The fuel pump made all the correct sounds so we thought it was successful.

11/17/13  2:00am:  Apparently the fuel transfer pump was no longer working, bummer!  OH and by the way the fuel gauge is not working. 

So time for calculations, and dip the tanks, which requires taking apart the salon bench and floor and pull the mattress(s) off the aft bunk, and unscrew the tank access.  We confirm that the 40 gallons did not transfer, not going to make it without the 40 gallons.  

So let’s fix the pump, nope, impeller melted, all efforts fail (Bob spent a lot of time on this) 

How about cutting up the fresh water hose and using the Dewalt drill pump and run it from aft tank to main tank, good idea, burned up that pump.  

How about just use the hose and suck the end to get the flow going, bad diesel taste, spit spit, and only a trickle comes through. Not rewarding at all.  

How about using the 6 gal gas can and grey hand pump from dinghy (to fill gas can) and transfer the fuel by hand.  OK, that was annoying but there is more fuel in the main tank. The boat reeks of diesel.

To get all the fuel out of aft tank lets use the bigger blue dinghy pump and tape the end to the hose to keep it from leaking, that worked, too bad we didn't think of that earlier.  
This is the only time I thought it was OK to take a picture.  

But by now, no sleep, boat is a major mess, and we still don’t think there is enough in the tank. sooo time to call BoatUS for a gas delivery, OK they can do that at 2 pm.

Now there is fog (less than 1/4 mile vis) and we are in the middle of the Cheasapeake bay channel at marker C2 with a coast guard cutter coming up the channel blowing his horn.  I did contact them and advise of our situation; they didn't run over us.

After we found BoatUS in the fog, the fuel was quickly and successfully transferred and we headed into Willoughby Bay for the night.  Heated up Lasagna, and crashed. OMG, What a night...

11/18/2013 We went across the bay and fueled up at Blue water Yacht Ctr, the closest one we could find and the most expensive, of course,  and then headed to Ocean Marine Yacht center in Portsmouth VA.  We pulled up to the facing dock on the canal side. 
Time for laundry, showers, and the required 50hr new engine check in the afternoon, all good.  Decided to go out for dinner in Norfolk at Hell’s kitchen and had a great meal and a fun ride on the ferry.  Alls well that ends well.  ;-}