Norfolk to Ocean City

On Monday we did our usual "on land" stuff like going to the library, which took a better part of the day. I also took some time with my digital charts to come up with a game plan and write down our waypoints for the journey ahead. Next morning we fueled up in the marina and Tobi did some provisioning, taking our folding bike for a spin to the Food Lion. We had some lunch in pink on black joint with bad music and shifty prices after which we toured Norfolk on a ferry, before heading back to the boat It was time to continue our sail. We took the waterway known as Hampton Roads that took us by the Navy base once again. Dodging couple of ships we were soon under the Chesapeake Bridge heading out to the open water. Thankfully the wind picked up and changed its direction just enough to fill our sails on a close haul reach. Day was at its end and light was diminishing very quickly. Soon it was only sporadic lights of the buys and approaching ships.

We had good sailing conditions, but neither of us could get any sleep. Just as you start to relax and fall asleep, it's your turn at the tiller and you have to get up. We arrived to Ocean City at 9 pm next day. It was surreal to approach an inlet at which banks there is an amusement park, literally in full swing. Ferris wheel, screaming kids, tones of people everywhere. The inlet was very choppy and almost dangerous. The tidal current was moving so fast that it seemed like we were going 10 knots over the ground. The place I was planning to anchor for the night turned out to be impossible torrent of water way too close to the bridge for comfort. We took a turn into an opposite direction and keeping very close eye on a depth sounder we were able to navigate shallow inland channel and tuck into a quiet corner for some much needed sleep. It was a great spot. Away from the inlet and very wide - the current didn't seemed here so bad at all, we were a safe distance from the channel and away from the noisy town. We were out in no time and there was nothing that could wake us up that night.

NEXT (Saling Towards NYC)