Day 199 - May 9, 2013: Departing Portsmouth for Dozier's Regatta Point Yachting Center in Deltaville, VA

Leaving Portsmouth/Norfolk is a bit intimidating. There are Navy ships everywhere, some in for maintenance, some in mothballs, and some in recommissioning. We saw destroyers, tankers, surveillance ships, aircraft carriers, floating dry docks, and a hospital ship. If you get too close, beware, as a security boat will dart out and direct you to the other side of the channel.

Navy Hospital Ship

Surveillance and Communications

The USS Enterprise

This was the chart plotter display as we departed Norfolk and headed into the Chesapeake Bay. Each of the dark triangles represents a commercial or Navy ship. Great Laker is in the middle with the curved sides. The red line is our heading, the green line is the course over ground, and the blue line towards the stern is the direction of the tide. We really had to pay attention in these waters!

Chart plotter displaying Navy and Commercial Vessels

The Chesapeake Bay was calm and sunny, and we ran comfortably north passing the Wolf Trap Lighthouse. It was completed in 1894, replacing several smaller earlier structures that didn't survive. The small vertical shape on the right side is - yes, the outhouse. The weather was perfect for sitting on the bow and getting some sunshine.

Wolf Trap lighthouse

Privy is on the right

Anne enjoying the sunshine on the Chesapeake Bay

We continued on towards Dozier's Regatta Point near Deltaville. Many of the loopers are gathering here for the weekend. It turns out this marina is an AGLCA sponsor, and they are offering a wine and cheese party, special games and events, a potluck dinner, and a free third day on the docks if you pay for two. After docking, a margarita, and grilled salmon for dinner, we went out and enjoyed the quiet darkness of the marina and a most beautiful star-filled sky.