Full Gale In Norfolk
Trip Start
Dec 01, 2007
1
31
35
Trip End
May 31, 2008
Norfolk,
Virginia,
United States
Sunday, May 11, 2008
We left Ocracoke, at daybreak with the idea of running 12-13 hours to get all the way to a place called "Coinjock". Coinjock is the Indian name for a bush (not a name for athletic wear the president may have). Its a small village directly on the ICW and home of the restaurant known by cruisers for its 36oz prime rib. As Sue knows, this is something I am willing to stretch for. So not only did we need to run for safe harbor due to the approaching weather system, but the thought of that massive piece of meat had my attention!
Our first hours were routine. We exit the 'dicey' channel off Ocracoke by following the 'breadcrumb' line our charplotter left from our nervous entry 4 days ago and for the next 6 hours we move at our usual 7kts over the water under blue skies. By 4pm we entered a place called Albamarle sound known for potentially rough conditions. And, true to form the winds piped. We watched the wind Gauge climb toward 25 then 30 kts as the waves began to grow to 4'. I hear a sound and scramble down the 5 steps to the saloon as the flat panel TV falls down on the seat below.....no harm done but an indication I had not expected the roll.
Another 3 hours and we were looking to see how far we would get. We radioed Coinjock Marina and make sure they had a tie for us. We were tired and even though we could have anchored 3 miles short of the marina decided that a prime rib and a good bottle of wine were well earned. After having some waves break over the foredeck it was calming and by the time we got back into the ICW proper winds had abated somewhat.
Of course we were not the only ones running to get positioned for the upcoming gale, the marina was full and had only two slots left on the long wharf. So after covering 100 statue miles we came along side the long wharf at Coinjock and later enjoyed that great rib and that good bottle of wine. This was about the biggest daily run we have ever had.
Over dinner we heard others talking about their strategy to get in position for the upcoming blow. Sue and I decided we had better hit it hard again tomorrow and try to get to Waterside Marina in Norfolk before the winds really pipe up. The NOAA forecast called for winds over 30kts tomorrow afternoon and even up to 40kts the next day. Gale warnings were on the Chesapeake for the next three days.
The next day we left Coinjock at 8am. While Sue and I enjoy Norfolk, the ICW run in that area is very nerve wracking. It is laden with badges, bridges, war ships and big currents. I have many stories from this area and most all of them from bad things. We have been both skillful and lucky in some cases. Even getting there involves timing of some bridges and getting through the big lock at Great Bridge. We time one properly (even though I had to run wide-open to make it and avoid the 30 minute 'penalty box') and have to wait for the bridge before the lock. By the time we get into the Norfolk commercial shipping area I was getting edgy. Some of the bridges run 'on request' since its Sunday but a couple we still have to wait for. There are so many boats going north that the bridge tenders tell us to "wait until the rest get here and Ill open Capt". Hovering our boat is not fun and in a current its uncomfortable.
I'm waiting at one of the steel bridge and soon the current is blowing us into the bridge little by little. The bridge op is due to open any second but we get closer and closer. I start to turn us around and do a time-killer "donut" when the bridge starts to open. Here comes a 'stupid thing': I hit the engine and find i have the wheel hard over. Dumb. We start to roll hard to port and we are heading fast into the wooden bulk head. Our wheel takes 7 full turns. I start turning the wheel and we keep moving. Finally I think "cut power dummy" and pull back on the throttle. No issue. Its always a reminder that we not immune to doing stupid things.
By 4pm I see the wind building to over 20kts and I can see the marina. I had a bad 'high wind' docking experience at this marina some time ago. I knew I had to confront this and get us safely in. Things would only get worse. By the time we were off the marina the wind Gauge was hitting 25kts. Sue got the lines ready and I call the marina to see which slip is ours. Instead of our normal back-in approach I told them I wanted to go bow in. It was comforting to hear that they would have 3 dock hands at the ready to take lines. As I enter the marina, it was easy to see boats rolling back and forth in the winds now gusting over 20.
I can see we have only one chance to get the bow into the slip as the wind is behind us. I turn early and let the wind blow us down...in seconds the three hands are taking lines and we are in the slip. I shut down and open a beer. In the next half hour, we see the winds build to over 30kts and the sea froth fly outside the marina. I was glad we had not delayed even that extra half hour.
That afternoon, evening and next day were full gale in the area. Winds hit over 40kts and temps dipped to the 40s. We were glad we had a good tie and a nice, big, fat 50 amp cable to power our heater.
While we originally had planned to stay only one night in Norfolk, we ended up spending 3. We always enjoy Norfolk as there are lots of restaurants and museums. While we have been here several times, we enjoyed the stay waiting for better weather.
