Day 70 – N 37° 39.042’ W 76° 26.055 Yopp’s Cove, VA

We finally got our opportunity to cross the Bay from Crisfield, MD to the Rappahannock River today, after 9 days in Crisfield.  Memorial Day weekend was ruined for Somers Cove Marina by the same terrible weather that kept us here so long.  Friday and Saturday featured northwest winds of 25 knots, frequently gusting to over 35 knots for the entire time, day and night.  To top it all off, it also rained all day on Friday and the temperatures were in the 40s and 50s.  A large yacht club group had planned to travel to Crisfield from the Potomac River on Friday for the weekend, but under the cold, gale conditions decided to cancel their trip.  Only 3 sailboats arrived here during the weekend, and 3 powerboats.  They have space for over one hundred.

When we walked back from a trip to the ATM at around 09:30 Saturday morning, we passed by the marina office building and noticed a group of people gathering.  As we walked by them, one of the ladies asked us if we wanted to join them for breakfast.  She explained that they were the local yacht club and had planned to host a breakfast with the visiting yacht club that never showed up, so they had plenty of food.  We had already eaten, but it seemed about the right time for 2^nd breakfast, so we joined them.  The food was homemade and delicious, the mimosas were refreshing, and we enjoyed a nice social morning getting to know a few of the members and some of the activities of the Somers Cove Yacht Club.  The sailors among them said that they cruise often to Florida – Vero Beach to the Keys, and some occasionally crossed to the Bahamas.  Several of the members offered to drive us up to the grocery store if we needed anything.  Although we were delayed by weather a very long time in Crisfield, we found the people there to be very friendly, welcoming and helpful. 

Rough seas crossing the Bay

Last night’s weather forecast for today called for northwest winds 15 to 20 knots, diminishing to 10 to 15 knots and becoming westerly in the afternoon.  Our destination is southwest of Crisfield, so we decided that this was marginally OK, and we were anxious to finally resume our exploration of the Bay.  We were up with the sun at around 06:00, checked the forecast one more time, no change, so we left the dock at about 06:50.  We motored about half way out the channel and had an opportunity to raise the sail right then, and we started sailing in brisk winds.  The wind was exactly as forecast, maybe a little more towards 20 knots than 15, but we were going with it for the first 15 miles, so it just made us go faster.  We had reefed both sails to about 80% of their normal size, and that was just about right.  When we got to Tangier Light (the 15 mile point) we had to turn more westerly for the 18 mile trek across the Bay and we were sailing at about 50° off the wind.  That is about as high as we can point upwind.  It slowed us down a bit and was rougher, but we were still making good time.  Our strategy in leaving early was to take advantage of the wind for as long as possible until it became westerly, when we would have to start motoring. 

Calm waters in Yopp's Cove

As it turned out, we got almost all the way across the bay, when the wind died down completely, so we had to start motoring, and then it picked up again but from the west.  By that time we were in the mouth of the Rappahannock River, and we had only 11 miles left to our destination.  The current was favorable as we motored up the river, but the wind was blowing 15 knots against us and that combination makes for a rough ride into choppy water.

When we arrived at Yopp’s Cove, our anchorage destination, it was just the opposite.   It is so well sheltered that the water is nearly smooth, and the nearby trees break up the wind so it is not as strong.  Our stay here should be pleasant – calm waters and little wind to deal with.  Tomorrow, we plan to explore the area by dinghy.  And Lyn wanted to wish everybody a wonderful Memorial Day.