Dagny's Winter Cruise

17 December 2022
14 December 2022
12 December 2022
07 December 2022
02 December 2022
28 November 2022
25 November 2022
22 November 2022
20 November 2022
17 November 2022
14 November 2022
13 November 2022
09 November 2022
02 November 2022
30 October 2022
28 October 2022
24 October 2022
21 October 2022
18 October 2022

Bonus Picture

02 November 2024
Allan Gray
Today's bonus picture is from The Navy Yards.

ICW Mile 0, Here We Go Again

02 November 2024
Allan Gray
After two days of glorious sailing our luck ran out and we had to resort to motor sailing the rest of the way to Norfolk. Although it was a shorter day than the previous 2 we wanted to get a jump on the crowd so we could secure a good spot in the Hospital Bay Anchorage. So,with coffees in hand, we were off by 7:30 for thé 44 mile run to Mile Zero of the ICW. The wind teased us a bit in the morning as it tried to fill but it eventually faded away to nothing as the motor pushed us along at 7 knots. We managed to take advantage of the ebb tide until Fort Munro but as we turned the corner onto Hampton Rhodes we had to fight adverse currents until we were passed battleship row and entered the Elizabeth river. No matter how many times we pass the Navy yards we are always impressed by the sheer size of the base and the amount of ships in various stages of readiness. We were rewarded for our early start as we were only the 5th boat to arrive in the anchorage.

Once the dew was cleaned off the windshield the next morning we were on our way as we passed mile marker 0 and headed down the ditch. The first ten miles can always be frustrating as we have to negotiate a couple of bridge openings as well as a lock at Great Bridge. However, things went smoothly with minor delays and by days end we had covered 62 miles before dropping the hook at Buck Island. We had several large powerboats pass us during the day and Bev and I were surprised by how polite everyone was on the radio as overtaking arrangements were negotiated. It can be a little intimidating to watch a 70 foot sport fishing boat approach from behind at 25 knots with a 4 foot high bow wave, suddenly chop the throttles and idle by with minimal wake. I guess things will change after a few days when patience wears thin. After all we're used to hearing some pretty colourful language that can't be repeated here.

Our plan was to push hard until we got to Belhaven NC where we could take a well deserved break. We had stopped here on our first trip and we were so well treated we have made it a point to stop here whenever we have a chance. By the end of day two on the ditch we had reached the bottom of the Pungo River canal after another long day of listening to the motor. We spoiled ourselves by not setting an alarm as Belhaven was only 10 miles away. After a very leisurely breakfast we finally set off for Belhaven at 10 a.m. under bright sunny skies yet again. The plan is to take a 2 day break here while I finish a few boat chores which include some exterior varnishing. But first was dinner at The Mariachl restaurant, home to great margaritas and delicious homemade Mexican food.

Today's picture is of our neighbours in the Pungo River anchorage.

Bonus Picture

29 October 2024
Allan Gray
Today’s bonus picture is of our new genny set for the first time.

Champagne Sailing on The Chesapeake

29 October 2024
Allan Gray

Our new sail was finally delivered on Friday afternoon so we busied ourselves with last minute preparations for our Saturday morning departure. As mentioned in earlier posts we haven’t had the best of luck with good sailing conditions on the Chesapeake, however, this time the wait was worth it. We dropped the mooring ball at 9:30 and motored out of the anchorage in a building north wind. By the time we set the main sail the north wind was a steady 15 knots, gusting to 20 in bright sunshine. We wove our way between a couple of dinghy race couses then set a south bound course for Solomon’s Island. As the wind filled in dead astern Dagny was in her element as we rolled out the new genny, strapped the main out with the preventer and settled in for a great downwind ride. Mill Creek in the Solomon’s is one of our favourite anchorages and we were relieved to find it empty as we rolled in after a busy day.

The weather here has been unbelievable, sunny every day, a little cool over night but we haven’t seen a rain cloud in a week. Once we wiped the dew of the windshield in the morning we were off with coffee in hand for the 45 minute motor back to the bay. As we cleared the entrance to the inlet we were able to set the main and after a 45 minute motor sail around a headland, we bore off, set the sails and we’re off again for a great day of sailing. Destination, Fishing Bay. As the day wore on the wind gradually eased off forcing us to motor sail for a while, but considering our past luck we were ecstatic with our progress. By day end we had covered almost 100 miles in two days of sailing. The only glitch of the day came when we dropped the anchor, we couldn’t get it to bite on the first set, which is extremely rare for Rocky. Bev tried twice to back down but to our surprise it wouldn’t hold. However, when I hauled it up I discovered we had fouled on an old anchor line lying on the bottom. Third time lucky as we reset in a different area without an issue and settled in for peaceful night sleep.

Today’s picture is of a duck blind at the sunrise in Fishing Bay, notice we anchored outside of shotgun range, just in case.

Finally On The Move Again

26 October 2024
Allan Gray
After a two month break at home Bev and I returned to Dagny last Saturday to prepare her for this year's Bahamian excursion. Although we had left her in good shape there are always a few things that need doing before launching. I spent Sunday doing my imitation of the Karate Kid, wax on, wax off and after 5 hours Dagny looked like new again. Once we launched on Monday we spent the rest of the day putting on the sails and then while I busied myself reinstalling various pieces of equipment Bev got the interior organized. Tuesday was maintenance day, first order of business was an engine oil and filter change followed by a general check of the engine bay to be sure everything was in order. We discovered our water tanks had some pretty nasty looking things floating around, this was a first for us. Fortunately my new shop vac made quick work of emptying them and after a couple of rinses with water and diluted javex they were good to go. Although we won't be drinking from them until they've been refilled a couple of times. The last and least favorite job of the day was to change the big hose that goes from the toilet to the holding tank. Over time the inside slowly gets clogged with build up from using salt water to flush. Needless to say we weren't looking forward to this nasty job but it's one of those things that had to be done and as long as I remembered not to breathe through my nose it wasn't too bad. By day's end we were tired but happy to be able to cross everything off our to do list.

Although Herrington Harbour is a fantastic Marina complex the only draw back is the lack of a nearby grocery store. Without a car you're out of luck if you need to provision for any length of time. Fortunately for us a close friend from Annapolis had offered us her car for a couple of days to run errands. So under bright sunny skies we cast off Wednesday morning for the leisurely 20 mile trip north to Annapolis, unfortunately as is often our luck on the Chesapeake light winds forced us to motor sail most of the way. We decided to grab a mooring ball near The City Dock, this central location gave us easy access to the dinghy dock, showers and laundry as well as nearby restaurants.

Annapolis truly is the Center of sailing on the east coast and there always seems to be at least one regatta being hosted by one of the area clubs. This time it was the J22 World Championships and there happened to be a boat from our home club, HYC, competing. Bev and I treated ourselves to dinner ashore and met up with the crew of Ruckus for a few refreshments while trading sailing stories.

Just like old Mrs. Hubbard's cupboards, Dagny fridge and freezer were bare. Before leaving home Bev had made a couple of trips to Costco and the car was packed with all sorts of dry goods, from coffee to cereal, peanut butter, crackers etc. It's a good thing I had rented a midsize car as we barely had room for our luggage in the back seat. However we needed to load up on meats, vegetables, fruit and dairy products before heading out. So after enjoying a leisurely coffee in the cockpit we set off for a day of shopping which also included mandatory stops at various boat stores. Luckily when we returned to the harbour it was nice and calm as we slowly motored our heavily loaded dinghy back to Dagny. Once everything was stored our last trip of the day was to pick up our new sail and drop off the old one for winter storage. And just like that a good plan gone bad, the sail wasn't ready which meant we would have to stay in this beautiful town one more day. Certainly not the end of the world but we do want to get moving while the weather is still on our side.

Today's picture of Annapolis is one that never gets old.

To Be Continued!

29 August 2024
Allan Gray
Despite making great time down the coast we still had a few miles to go before this leg of the journey was over. So, once again we were off fairly early once I got all the slimy muck off the anchor, good thing the new anchor wash down pump is working well. The plan was to do a touch and go in Annapolis for fuel and to pick up some parts I had ordered, then proceed on to Herrington Harbour. By now you know our plans frequently change and today was no exception. Once we met up with our friends from Sandbox we elected to relax and treat ourselves to dinner out in Annapolis, after all we were only 20 miles from our destination.

After a short 3 hour trip on Saturday morning Dagny eased into her slip at Herrington Harbour and we set about preparing for our haulout. We will be heading home until late October and it's better to have the boat out of the water during hurricane season. By the time we left on Tuesday afternoon, the sails had been removed, all equipment secured and the Bimini and dodger removed and stored. Once Dagny was hauled on Monday afternoon it was time to wash the hull, first with vinegar to remove the baked on salt, then with boat soap to get everything else off. While I sanded the bottom in preparation for a fresh coat of anti fouling upon our return Bev did the final loads of laundry. After a very busy couple of days we bid Dagny farewell and headed home. We'll be back in late October to splash the boat and continue south for the winter.

Stay tuned.

Today's picture is of the Sunset on the Sassafras River.
Vessel Name: Dagny
Vessel Make/Model: Sabre 402
Hailing Port: South Lancaster On
Crew: Allan Gray and Bev Bethune
About: Allan is a retired Montreal Air Traffic Controller and Bev is a retired Elementary School Principal.
Extra: After many years of local cruising and Etchells racing we are living our dream of sailing to the Bahamas. Allan enjoys golfing, cycling and skiing. Bev is an active cyclist, runner, aerobics participant and cross country skier.

Who: Allan Gray and Bev Bethune
Port: South Lancaster On