4/23 - 5/5/23 - Norfolk , VA to Delaware City, DE (CHESAPEAKE BAY)

Sun, 4/23/23 - Norfolk, VA to Yorktown, VA - Riverwalk Marina (35.4nm).  Port-A-Gee & Kayak coordinated a 9:00 a.m. departure, with the hope that the forecasted calm seas on the Chesapeake were correct.  We headed out to the Elizabeth River for 15 miles until it met Chesapeake Bay.

  • The Chesapeake is a huge body of water - 200 miles long.  It took us over a week to navigate (with weather delay). The widest point is at the junction with the Potomac River at 30 miles across.
  • The Norfolk news was excited to report the return of the USS George HW Bush's return after an 8-month deployment.  We caught a couple shots of what I suspect was some kind of return ceremony.  Love all those sailors in their dress whites.
  • We also spotted the USNS Comfort, which received a lot of attention during the Covid shutdown.
  • Our course crossed through a sailboat regatta or race - they were so pretty!
  • Around 3:00 p.m., we arrived at Riverwalk Marina, Yorktown, VA.  The first thing we noticed was the 3/4-mile of beach front adjacent to the marina.
    • I've never seen so many jellyfish in 1 place.
  • Docktails followed by dinner at Yorktown Pub with:
    • Kayak, our current buddy boat;
    • At Last II, Mary Beth & Scott - they are 3 weeks into their Loop trip; and
    • Gypsy, Bill and Carolyn - they are locals, and are planning to start the Loop in June on board their Cutwater-28.
      • Bill was familiar with Brian from Tug Nuts.  He reached out when he saw we were nearby.  They gifted us with a nice bottle of Portuguese wine - nice!
  • Passages was also in the marina but weren't able to join the festivities.
  • Wishing our grandson, Charlie, a happy 6th birthday!
  • Shortly after leaving the marina on Monday morning, the crew of At Last II was hailed by a US Submarine that was coming up to the surface.  They were instructed to keep their distance!  They alerted us at the marina, and we were able to see it coming through.  THAT WAS REALLY COOL!
  • We spent the rest of Monday checking out Yorktown.  Another East Coast City that was instrumental in our country's history.  Unlike the southern states, Virginia touts the Revolutionary War.
  • We bicycled to the Yorktown Battlefield - site of the George Washington-led victory over the British in 1781.
  • In the late afternoon, the winds shifted, and it got rough in the marina.  Brian put out more lines to try and keep Port-A-Gee from tossing so much.
  • We had planned to eat on board, but the motion was uncomfortable, so we joined John & Kim for a nice dinner at Yorktown Grille, followed by a visit to Ben & Jerry's
  • Yorktown is very walk/bike friendly, but there are some pretty steep hills!
    • Main Street is closed off to motor vehicles.
  • Riverwalk Marina:
    • Great location - so long as the winds are favorable.
      • Also, in the heart of town and next to the beach.
    • Nice floating docks
    • Showers were clean - the walk wasn't any further than a lot of marinas, but it felt longer because it was off the marina property.
    • Dockmaster was helpful.
  • Tues, 4/25 - Yorktown, VA to Deltaville, VA - Dozier's Regatta Point Yachting Center (38.2nm).  The angry waters calmed a bit overnight but started up again in the morning.  Both crews consulted lots of navigational and weather apps and determined that the seas were going to lie down around 10:00. 
  • There were 1.5' swells in the Riverwalk Marina when we left around 9:00 a.m. - Not a good sign of what lies ahead, but we couldn't sit and rock at the dock all day - Are we Gloucestermen?!
  • The Chesapeake felt like an ocean, nothing but water in every direction, and this day the water was pitching a fit.  It never calmed down, but it was manageable. Port-A-Gee got wet and salty.
  • Around 1:00 we pulled into Norview Marina for fuel, and then over to Regatta Point to join Kayak and At Last II
    • Kim secured the courtesy car for provisioning at West Marine, IGA, and VA ABC (liquor)
    • Brian stowed our groceries while I did laundry.
    • Chicken & rice out of the crockpot on board
    • Watched the Cubs beat the Pirates on Prime Video!
  • It was a quick and busy stop, but we got a good feeling from this family-owned marina.  A lot of effort has gone into boater comfort:
    • Wonderful, big clean, single-user showers
    • Nice laundry room - 1 washer, 1 dryer
    • Inground Pool - still getting it ready to open for the season
    • Big porch with rocking chairs
      • Several other "sitting" spaces throughout the property
    • Nice boater's lounge
    • Bicycles
    • Courtesy car
    • Reverse osmosis at all of the dock water lines - nice touch!
    • Very nice, accommodating staff
Wed, 4/26, Deltaville, VA to Solomons Island, MD - Solomons Island Yacht Club (55.1 nm). 
  • KAYAK
    We got an early start (7:00 a.m.), once again counting on fair seas reports. But alas, it was another day of unfavorable conditions on the Chesapeake.  After thrashing around for 2 hours, we decided to burn some fuel to get on top of the waves and get to our destination sooner.
    • Around 9:30 we crossed into Maryland!
  • While we were cruising the day before, the Solomons Harbor Host, Douglas Chandler, contacted us on Nebo to let us know he had arranged for Loopers to stay at the Private Solomons Yacht Club - $1.85/ft + power.
    • We cancelled our reservation and took him up on it - Kayak did the same.
      • Jack & Meredith on Her Idea came in later as well.
  • Around 1:00 p.m. we were glad to get off of the Bay and into a safe harbor.  Mike, a volunteer/member of the yacht club was on the dock and helped us tie up.
    • We had privileges to all of the yacht club amenities:
    • Showers (construction on the women's started the day we arrived)
    • Free laundry
    • Really nice bar - 2 free drink tickets.
  • After de-salting Port-A-Gee we took a walk around the quaint town.  It felt like a small fishing town, very comfortable.  Brian and I agreed it was another spot we could call home.
  • Every 15 minutes a variety of military aircraft flew over the marina.
    •  A little investigating revealed they were coming from the Patuxent River NAS/Trapnell Field which is the headquarters for the Naval Test Pilot School and Atlantic Test Range.  It also serves as a center for testing/evaluating acquisitions relating to naval aviation - hence all the cool aircraft!
  • The Crews of Kayak, Her Idea & Port-A-Gee redeemed our free drink tickets  . . . and paid for a few; then walked across the street for dinner at The Pier.
Thurs, 4/27, Solomons Island, MD to Grasonville, MD (Kent Narrows) -Safe Harbor Narrows Point (48.5nm).  After 2 days of getting pushed around by the Chesapeake, we gave it ONE MORE TRY!  Third time's a charm - it was an absolutely gorgeous day with completely flat seas - YAY
  • The elevation is beginning to rise again - we've been as sea level since Mobile Bay.
  • We passed a monstrosity that piqued our interest:
    • Cove Point LNG (Liquid Natural Gas). The 2nd largest export facility in the continental US.  It is recognized as being the most technically advanced and environmentally sensitive LNG facility in the world - I HOPE SO!
  • Kayak left about an hour before us because they were going all the way to Baltimore.
  • We took it slow all day (9mph) and savored the beauty of the Chesapeake.
  • Our 6-hour boat ride concluded at Safe Harbor Narrows Point - a HUGE property that feels more like a resort.
    • We were a little soured because of the less-that-hospitable "welcome" message we received:
  • As it turned out, the General Manager was at our dock to greet and help us tie up - all is forgiven.
  • We chose this location because it is centrally located near Annapolis, St. Michaels, and DC.  Stormy weather is predicted for Friday and Sunday, so we decided to rent a car and see the sites by road
    • It was odd to have my Captain on the port side!
  • On Friday, the promised winds and rain arrived, but we were determined to see the sights anyhow.
    • Enterprise picked us up at the marina around 12:30.  After completing the paperwork, we were on our way to St. Michael's Island.
  • St. Michaels lived up to its hype, even on this miserable day.
  • Because of the rain, we did a driving tour and finished our day with a great meal at Frenchy's on the water.
    • Maryland knows how to do crabcakes!  No filler, but all crab, I don't know how it holds together.
  • I accidentally deleted the pictures of some adorable homes.
  • Saturday - we visited Washington, DC 

  • Monday was spent checking out Annapolis:
  • Met Loopers for an early dinner at O'Brien's Oyster Bar.  What else should we do while waiting out the weather??
  • Port-A-Gee
    • Waterview
    • Chipmonk
    • Miracle
    • No Agenda
    • Boatniks
    • Steels Aweigh

Mon, May 5 - Happy 39th Birthday, to daughter, Alex!    

  • John & Kim gave Kayak the night off and drove over from Baltimore to have dinner with us at Harris Crab House.  This wasn't our order, but we were intrigued by Mr. Drink Wiscon-sibly!
  • Safe Harbor Narrows - We ended up staying 8 nights waiting for the weather to cooperate.  It was a little pricey, but a good place to wait out the weather:
  • Nice (but old) fixed docks
  • Huge swimming pool and picnic area - started opening the pool the day before we left
    • I'm guessing this place is rocking during season.
  • 12 heads & 8 showers - in both men's and women's
  • 4 washers, 4 dryers
  • Beautiful boater's lounge
  • Lots of restaurants in walking distance
    • Great boardwalk that leads to a nature park
Narrows Point Amenities
Fri, 5/5/23 - Cinco De Mayo - Kent Narrows, MD to Delaware City, DE (59.4nm) The weather finally cooperated, and we were on the Chester River by 8:00 a.m. until we met the Chesapeake for the final 35nm.
  • The famous Bay Bridge was at our stern, and we were back on the Chesapeake for a gorgeous cruise day!
  • 35nm to the Elk River that fed into the Chesapeake-Delaware Canal (C&D Canal), and we crossed into Delaware!
  • Our buddy boats, (Kayak & Moon Dance IV) came from different marinas where they waited out the weather, but we all met again at the Delaware City Marina.
    • The currents were wicked, and the water was skinny - Charlie gave perfect instructions and we got in easily.
    • A short walk to Kathy's Crab House to discuss our plan for navigating Delaware Bay, and beyond.
      • Crab & Wine for Cinco De Mayo - LOL!
  • Delaware Marina isn't a lot to look at, but they are a full-service gem, and a must stop before getting on the Delaware.
    • Charlie caught us, turned us around, pumped fuel and then gave us his Delaware Bay presentation - which was very helpful!
    • Fuel, showers, laundry, ship store - all good
Moon Dance IV, Kayak & Port-A-Gee @ Delaware City Marina

Leg Stats:

Miles:  (235.6NM) 35.4, 38.2, 55.1, 48.5, 59.4
Locks: (0)
Marinas: (1)  Riverwalk, Regatta Point Yachting Center, Solomon Island Yacht Club, Safe Harbor Narrows Point, Delaware City Marina
Anchorages: (0)




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