12/07/2017 – N36˚22.70 W75˚41.12 Hatteras – 181 nm
We’re out of the Chesapeake and Ka Lani Kai is dipping her first curtsies to the Atlantic!
Yesterday we spent the whole day motoring with a few hours of augmentation with the sails.
After passing under the Bay Bridge I took an amazing four hour nap, waking up to panini and lentil soup. Chris and Gary had put the sails up and turned one engine off, cruising with 2200rpm at 9 kts. Cheryl and I took over and let the others take their break. The sails were doused.
Cruising over the slate gray water in full ski gear to keep warm, we stayed out on watch monitoring the autopilot and looking around. White boobies and seagulls and a few pelicans were out and about plus one slow motion heron flew by. We saw one fish, but it was in the claws of a sea gull trying desperately, but unsuccessfully, to stay airborn. No other sailboats in sight, just tugs, barges and an 1100´ tanker.
Dinner at 18:00, Panko Pork, stuffing, green beans and salad. After doing the dishes we split into watches for the night. Cheryl and I took the first watch from 19:00 to 22:30. Cloudy with just the main up, but bearing off slightly to keep it from slatting. We finally turned back on course into the wind and dropped the main. Into the Chesapeake Separation Scheme.