[Public-List] Op Sail 2012

[gordon white]

   I sailed (single-handed) from Deltaville to Hampton on Thursday and 
accompanied the tall ships fleet Friday, from near the Naval Base to 
Nauticus, where it ended. My Alberg /(Brigadoon II)/ was invited to join 
the "escort fleet," but since I did not have three days to stay in a 
raft-up near the /USS Wisconsin/ pier, I declined.

     Listening to the parade commander on ch. 74 herd his cats into 
position was a hoot. One of those boats was "Lucky Ducky." Instead of 
getting into that traffic jam I motor-sailed along with the parade about 
100 yards off, just fast enough that by the time I reached downtown 
Norfolk the parade has mostly sailed majestically by at a good distance 
for picture-taking.

     Water traffic downtown was predictably chaotic. Being solo, I 
decided it was too crowded for me to leave the helm to go forward and 
drop anchor and there was very little room to swing, plus I was a bit 
uncertain of water depths outside the shipping channel.

     As you would expect, most of the boaters had no idea of the rules 
of the road and it was like turning your car around in the middle of the 
Beltway, but I did reverse course and beat it back to Hampton at the end 
with no collision. As far as I could tell, mine was the only A-30 in the 
parade.

     After showering and dinner at the Hampton Public Pier I had a good 
sleep and got underway home early Saturday. It is about a 60 mile motor 
& sail cruise from Hampton home to Deltaville, which took nine hours, 
mostly against the tide. No problems doing it all on my own.

     Incidentally, the Hampton Public Pier is an excellent stop-over 
place in Hampton Roads. (Next to the north end of the bridge-tunnel) 
Charged me $81 including 30 amp power for two days. Helpful dock hands 
took my lines and the place, including the showers, was neat and clean.

     The Op Sail fleet is headed to Baltimore sometime this week. Don't 
miss it.

   - Gordon White, /Brigadoon II/, A-275