Test #1

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by boatman61

See what you mean Ping.. then he gets visited by the friendly CG as a result of being inside the limits as he rounded the island.. one of the reasons I dislike the W Atlantic.. paranoia on steroids..

Seriously if you do something fishy, in particular, acting like a drug smuggler, you should probably expect a CG visit.

[Messing About]

Seems as though he hasn’t moved much in the last 24 hours.

By the way, anyone know what system he is using for broadcasting these periodic blog entries and how much that costs?

During my off-shore, small craft, fishing years I used a SPOT locator that had check-in and emergency features but something like he’s using to type blog stories would be great for my upcoming sailing years.

I blogged for much of 9 years and can’t wait to get back to it.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Messing About

Seems as though he hasn’t moved much in the last 24 hours.

By the way, anyone know what system he is using for broadcasting these periodic blog entries and how much that costs?

During my off-shore, small craft, fishing years I used a SPOT locator that had check-in and emergency features but something like he’s using to type blog stories would be great for my upcoming sailing years.

I blogged for much of 9 years and can’t wait to get back to it.

I suspect he has an iridium package from Predictwind.
https://www.predictwind.com/iridium-...rchase-options
Don't know why I suspect that but I think he may have mentioned it.

[garyfdl]

Originally Posted by ArmySailor

I'm implying that the weakest link is me, as a rank amateur.

Well after all, you are ex-Army (ex-Navy guy )

Fair winds and smooth seas!

[Messing About]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

I suspect he has an iridium package from Predictwind.
https://www.predictwind.com/iridium-...rchase-options
Don't know why I suspect that but I think he may have mentioned it.

Thank you for that link. Not a low budget tool by any means but I sure like what it does for our OP in this thread.

[thomm225]

I'm thinking he caught so much rough weather because he left in early to mid May.

May many times gives us some strong and unpredictable winds. Things usually settle down in June.

The Annapolis to Bermuda Race will begin next Friday June 3rd and they will sail almost ArmySailor's exact same course except starting just a bit further up the bay in Annapolis.

They usually have a tracker also so those that have followed ArmySailor can also follow them.

Now you must understand they won't be sailing boats like the Shannon 28 or like mine either with a water line of 22 feet or so.

Last time I saw them I spotted a Navy 44 and an XP-44 leading the race at about 0830 as I left a crappy anchorage. Wind had rotated and brought in the waves.

Last time there were 4 Navy 44's in the race. Displacement is like 30,000 lbs with 7.7' draft and almost 37' LWL. PHRF 78. SA/Disp 16.82%

the XP 44 was just ahead and had position on the windward side of the bay that day but the Navy 44 was ahead on Handicap PHRF.

The XP-44 has a PHRF of around 28 or so. LWL 39', displacement 19,000. draft 7.55 with bulb on bottom of keel. SA/Disp: 25.65 %

[thomm225]

So we have weather coming in tomorrow night.

This will bring Northerly (NW) winds on Friday so I don't know whether he will be across the Gulf Stream by then or not.

The North winds though will help the Annapolis to Bermuda Racers coming down the bay but may last long enough to make their Gulf Stream Crossing rough as well.

[Messing About]

To our OP Skipper, ArmySailor:
Thank you for your service to an all too often ungrateful nation. Your 24 years of service and sacrifice has not gone unnoticed.

Fair winds, calm seas, happy landing and a very happy retirement. Keep on blogging. I’ve enjoyed your writings and your trip.

[Retirement home]

You're awesome bro.

Wishing you many marine life playtimes during your adventures.
I saved a Moth from drowning, he sails all his life, simplicity language beyond English wording.
Next swim I thought I'd saved a dragon fly. But after 5-10 minutes waiting on seat on pool edge, I thought he had recovered. He was convulsion of body, dried wings to fragile to verify, etc.
He didn't but next swim afew days later a baby dragonfly slowed down to swoop I.
Leaving a clean path is beautiful aye. Free use of natures energy.
Wishing you best anchorages too for rests in-between.

[thomm225]

Looks like Spellbound is about 30 miles out.

Winds are predicted to go NNW-N at 10-15, so he should be in maybe by 1 pm or so......

No AIS Vessel readout yet but you can see him on Marine Traffic AIS at his present coordinates.

Interestingly, the Annapolis-Bermuda Race will begin at about the same time .....so they may pass through here at zero dark thirty or just after Sunrise depending on the wind

[h20man]

Congratulations... Almost there: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais...909552/zoom:10



(I think that is you......)

[thomm225]

There was a lot of shipping traffic out there today.

I was trying to get some video of his arrival, but I was North of the shipping channel and he and another sailboat came in together on the South side near Cape Henry.

They contacted several ships on their way in so I heard all that and finally located Spellbound on AIS after he popped up

I was holding position for a while and the motion was doing a number on me as it was my first day out in a while especially when I went below to check my AIS (OpenCPN/SH VHF)

One ship came out the Northern Channel and pulled a U turn in front of me and went back in the Thimble Shoal Channel.

I did get some video after he and that other boat crossed the tunnel then my engine conked out. This was at maybe 1430 or so as they made their way toward Little Creek.

It took an hour or more to fix.

I had planned to cross the bay and get video then head North but the wind dropped off a lot from the morning

[pesarsten]

Looks like he's in the marina at Little Creek

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by pesarsten

Looks like he's in the marina at Little Creek

That's right.

He and that other boat both came into Little Creek.

Spellbound is at the Base Marina I'm thinking and probably had to stop for the patrol boat to check ID etc.

It sort of freaks you out when a navy patrol boat with a Machine Gun on the bow approaches but he being military is probably used to that

[ArmySailor]

So. Guess what. I made it! What a ride. I'll peruse this whole thread and respond to what I can. Thanks for all the support.

First, I need to make up for about 30 hours straight of no sleep at the end. Going through Norfolk waters is a tough ending. It's a hornets nest of ships over 200 meters.