Out of the ICW and sailing in the Chesapeake!

We left Coinjock, NC, on Tuesday morning and motored up the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) to Chesapeake, VA.

Capt. Nathan shrimp boat was pulling Cassandra in the channel and taking his fair share of the middle.  There was very shallow water just outside the channel, so we passed port-to-port more closely than usual.

Strike a pose :)

Just about every channel marker had an osprey nest with hatchlings.

Even though our mast height is 57' (plus the length of the VHF antenna), I always hold my breath when we pass under a bridge that guarantees 65' of clearance from the surface of the water.

It looks like the VHF antenna is nearly touching the bridge, but it's not.

Safely out the other side :)

In December, we saw many eagles along this stretch of the ICW.  Did not see any this time around, but I'm always happy to watch the fighter jets!

We transited the Great Bridge Lock just after a rain shower.  Entering from the south, the lock dropped us about 3' before we were free to move north.

Following Bright Angel from Grand Haven, Michigan, into the lock.

David chatting about aviation with our lock keeper.

We are closed in the lock.

We dropped approximately 3' in ten minutes.

Northbound gate is about to open.

We spent Tuesday night at Top Rack Marina in Chesapeake, Virginia, where your stay is FREE if you dine at The Amber Lantern.  We obliged and enjoyed tasty seafood/pasta concoctions, dined with four other cruisers, and even met the chef.  On Wednesday morning, we timed our departure to coincide with the first post-rush-hour bridge opening up river.  The whole Hampton Roads/Norfolk harbor area is a very busy port with military, commercial, and private vessels.

Lots of bridges

About to enter the very busy area at the northern end of the ICW

Chutes and ladders?

Pretty little tug with a fresh paint job!

Railroad bridge lifting for us.

I spy a fighter jet.

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

The bow of an aircraft carrier

And we officially leave the ICW (R36) -- hip hip hooray!

Old and new 

Lots of traffic from many directions

That little tug pulled the cargo ship by its stern to the dock. 

E-2C circling Norfolk harbor

Hovercraft speeding by

Tour boat

We lucked out and timed our departure so that it didn't interfere with Warship 24 (right) leaving for the sea.  Charles Dickens (left) enters Hampton Roads.

Charles Dickens is a wee bit rusty.

Leaving Hampton Roads/Norfolk for the Chesapeake Bay.  We are directly over the I-64 tunnel that links Hampton to Norfolk.

Sails up, engine off!  Enjoyed 15-20 knot winds in the lower Chesapeake Bay as we sailed across to Cape Charles, VA.

Figure 8 knot on the headsail sheet

Sitting in the shade for a little while :)

Can't tell you how nice it was to SAIL -- happy captain!

No crab pots at this end of the bay

Sunset from the cockpit of Virginia Dare.  Dinner at The Shanty (building on right) was delicious.