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Published: November 20th 2006
Schooner Virginia
Here is a dream boat! , this absolutely beautiful 126 ft wood schooner built in 1917 is something to see. Who knows maybe one day Ann & I will some day sail somewhere far on a beautiful schooner just like her. Of coarse you will all be invited to join us we wouldn’t have it any other way.. Monday November 20th 2006
The third storm hit us as predicted on Wednesday night and all was mostly over within a 48 hours. We did get up to gale force winds for a good part of the day, and we where all happy to be safely in port being nicely tucked in at the Tide Water Marina in Portsmouth VA.
Sadly we are not in the West Indies as planned!, guess what!! We have arrived in Charleston South Carolina at the city municipal marina!! Why well! on this past Friday everyone was up bright and early stowing final lines and tying down for our crossing. To our surprise the phone rings and it’s our weather forecasters Nycole & Jean Yves partners of the Reseau du Capitaine who very skillfully give us our daily offshore marine forecasts. The word is there is an other storm building and this one is a major weather system building on the Gulf of Mexico and this was going to hit is hard during our crossing to the West Indies. The forecast is for offshore gale winds over the 50 knots range and seas building to near 30 ft. After running all the scenarios with
Schooner Virginia
Here is a dream boat! them like sailing to Bermuda first or sailing around or south of this storm, the collusion was finally the risk was too great to chance it. Seeing we had no choice but to keep to the east coast of the United States. As we where not able to use the Intercoastal water way as our mast flying height is 78 feet and there is bridges with a clearance of only 65 feet on the ICW. We set sail at 10:30am on Friday to go some 450 plus nautical miles offshore along the east coast around having to go around Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout and Cape Fear before pulling in to Charleston SC. We ended up sailed around Cape Hatteras just after midnight, Cape Lookout in the early morning and Cape fear the following night. Sailing as fast as we can as to get to Charleston before this storm catches us. Arriving in Charleston City Marina at 9:30 Sunday morning an incredible 47 hours later,, you do the math! Believe me this was nice and fast thanks to this very skillful crew. You can see our route as I have updated our position reports regularly, go to our web site at
Sunset
Sunset, the calm before the storm www.WeBeSailing.com and click on LOCATE US.
During our wait in Portsmouth VA we meet five other sailboats headed to the West Indies, an oyster 82, oyster 56, Moody 46 and two offshore 66ft carbon fiber racing sailboats. All of us trying to find a weather window, and with each making their strategy. There final strategy was to head to Charleston and during our crossing we had been in sight with three of them. Confirming this morning three of them are here with us at the Charleston City Marina. We think only one boat the 83ft oyster went offshore headed to Bermuda, we wish them calm seas.
Take a look at our offshore video.
We will wait the passing of this new storm here and then we will set sail as soon as possible for the West Indies.
Send us your comments, we love reading about them.
Cheers from all us onboard,.
Eric and crew: Caroline, Marcel & Miro
www.WeBeSailing.com
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Cindy
non-member comment
Wow
Great pics. I love your travelblog, we are seeing everything through your eyes. Take care and continue to be safe!