On the way South

Helping an Island Packet owner move a 380 to Miami.  Spent 4 days doing cleanup on the boat (what a mess) and went over as much preventive maintenance as possible.  Replaced a badly chafed staysail outhaul.  Left Baltimore on Thursday about noon at the beginning of our trip.  Had 35 knot winds on the stern as we moved down the bay to Hampton, Va.  The owner nearly hit a yellow research buoy while at the helm because he panicked and could not remember how to turn the Autopilot off! 

Early the next morning we entered Old Point Comfort Marina after a trip of 23 hours with some rain and cold temps but nothing of any concern.  The owner ran out of the channel and I took the helm and got us into a slip.  Once in our slip we had time to tour the Casemate Museum here at the soon to be closed Fort Monroe.

Left the next morning headed for Coinjock in blustery conditions with heavy rain and strong currents.  The bimini and dodger on board leaked like a sieve so I used the Autopilot remote and steered the boat from the leeward caprail.  The outside dodger glass panels were so badly worn that visibility was extremely limited.  Only the center panel was reasonably new with good visibility.  The weather cleared some as we approached the Great Bridge lock but due to high tidal water the lock was not opening on schedule.  Once we locked through we had lost about 3 hours so we stopped short at Atlantic Yacht Basin for the evening.

I was at the helm and managed to kiss the dock pretty hard trying to dock in winds and current.  The owner and a helper were on the bow but did not alert me or try to fend off.  Pulpit is badly bent and bow light is pointed down and to port.