Lumps, bumps and things that go squeak in the night

We left Annapolis early and shot out of the river in a chilly but lively breeze and had a lovely sail until about 5 pm just off Solomon's Island. The rest of the sail was not quite so enjoyable but we sailed through the night and made Norfolk about 2pm the next day after 150 nautical miles.

However we learned some things.

1. When the right sequence of sheets are pulled the Jiffy reefing systems really does reef - in a jiffy. 

2. Mast spreader lights are a wonderful invention

3. 'Bounty' handles brilliantly even under very trying conditions

4. Down below was an oasis of calm and warmth and both Gary and I went down at different times to have a rest. The problem was that lying in the sea berth, just about to drop off, when a horrendous groaning would start up, it sounded like something out of a Hammer Horror film. You'd get up, check the table and all around in the dark but nothing seemed loose. Recline again and it would start again. Both of us were mystified as to the source until we noticed that the port side berth would start slowly creeping out and then stop and every time we got up we automatically pushed it back to get past. Much relief not to have some sort of vampire dwelling in the bilge.

At about 5.30am I was on watch and even though conditions were rough and there was still a long way to go the promise of dawn was comforting. It came with a sudden separation of sea and sky and the promise of light and warmth. In the modern age we have AIS, GPS, radar and all sorts of night penetrating gizmos but the sun is still a wonder. Nearly every ancient group of mankind had a name for the sun. The Greeks had more than one, Apollo and Helios and I always wondered whether they time shared the chariots - odd thoughts from the late hours of the night.

We surfed into Norfolk harbour with the sounds of people calling the Coast Guard about sinking and overturned boats. No doubt all seduced like us by the weather forecast of 15 to 20 knots and 1 to 2 foot seas only to discover that the sea was more like a mix master than a mill pond.

Our reward for all this was to catch up with Steve, Bob and Judy, all of us back at Rebel Marina - well we were anchored outside and Dave once again kindly let us dock the dinghy. We repaired to the Thirsty Camel and were initiated into Football Sunday. I finally am starting to understand American football. We had a great time and hopefully we will meet again in the south.