Cross the Chesapeake Bay at night, yikes...
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:48 am
Well I had the bright idea to break in spring with a trip to the concrete ships at Kiptopeke this past Saturday Night 4/18/09. The forecast called for southwest and south winds 5 to 10. Perfect for the concrete ships to block the wind. We left Little Creek, Norfolk, a little before 5:00 pm on Saturday. Dropped anchor at 6:30ish.
The winds at the concrete ships didn't read the same forecast that I read. They were more southeast and coming right up the shore line so there was no protection. We ate dinner, played some cards and decided to try and get some sleep. 10 minutes of rocking and the waves pounding the side of the boat, we decided to pull up anchor and head home. At 10:45pm we left the concrete ships. We stayed at 8 kts and used a spot light to look for crab pots. We headed out perpendicular to the shore line to avoid all the net pilings and shoals along the shore. We then got to the channel and headed straight for the Chesaepeake Bay bridge tunnel still at 8 kts. Once we got to the bridge we went between the bridges and used the lights along the bridge to guide us home on plane. We finally made it to the first small boat channel and hung a right and went back to the 8 kts and spot light combo toward the little creek entrance. We pulled in to the slip at 1:00 am, tied up the boat and went to sleep. It was a 18 mile run from the norfolk to kiptopeake and a 22 mile run back. What an experience.
Boat ran great, but the captain's tired. Next time, I'm gonna wait for 5kts or less wind before going to the concrete ships, or better yet, head up into Broad Bay in the Lynnhaven to anchor out.
Ken
1972 Trojan Express Hardtop F-26
The winds at the concrete ships didn't read the same forecast that I read. They were more southeast and coming right up the shore line so there was no protection. We ate dinner, played some cards and decided to try and get some sleep. 10 minutes of rocking and the waves pounding the side of the boat, we decided to pull up anchor and head home. At 10:45pm we left the concrete ships. We stayed at 8 kts and used a spot light to look for crab pots. We headed out perpendicular to the shore line to avoid all the net pilings and shoals along the shore. We then got to the channel and headed straight for the Chesaepeake Bay bridge tunnel still at 8 kts. Once we got to the bridge we went between the bridges and used the lights along the bridge to guide us home on plane. We finally made it to the first small boat channel and hung a right and went back to the 8 kts and spot light combo toward the little creek entrance. We pulled in to the slip at 1:00 am, tied up the boat and went to sleep. It was a 18 mile run from the norfolk to kiptopeake and a 22 mile run back. What an experience.
Boat ran great, but the captain's tired. Next time, I'm gonna wait for 5kts or less wind before going to the concrete ships, or better yet, head up into Broad Bay in the Lynnhaven to anchor out.
Ken
1972 Trojan Express Hardtop F-26