Finally OUT of the Chesapeake Bay - Wow

We picked up the hook at Deltaville, VA Monday  morning....

I'm writing this from our anchorage at MILE Zero, in Norfolk /Portsmouth (Monday PM).
However.... the forecast of 5 to 10 knot winds... and 1 to 2 foot seas turned out to be a bit OFF !!!!

The reality was 12 to 23 knot winds from the EAST, and 3 to 5 foot chop....

We carried a double reefed main, stays'l, and 3/4 of the Yankee most of the day....

but we kept the engine running at just above idle....
(mainly because the winds would shift to JUST into that area, of close reaching, where you could only motor/sail, or start to TACK).
I can can say that the engine had 'an easy day of it'.... because the sails did most of the work... it just kept the batteries charged'.

It's busy here in the Elizabeth River (Mile Zero of the ICW).... the anchorage is FULL...

The restrictions on the bridges, to the south are now extensive...with rush hour lockouts, and hour or half hour openings.... that boats go through in giant "packets" 

The most thrilling part of this leg... was Norfolk Harbor, and the Elizabeth river.... upon entering the harbor, we had to dodge around a US Navy cruiser trying to dock.... (very slowly)... then avoid two container ships, and a bunch of tug/barges... busy place!!!!!

SO.... anyway... Today (November 1st) begins the slog down the ICW...

The nice thing.... you can "go" almost regardless of the weather.... and the scenery is, for the most part, gorgeous.