before Beryl would be passing Hatteras behind us. Monday morning off Charleston was squally, and seas were still running high. Knowing conditions were due to moderate, we headed out and laid a course to head around the cape, keeping Beaufort, NC, as an alternative if conditions dictated. Strong southerlies kept us on a fast broad reach. We flew, averaging well over 10 knots for the next 24 hours. It was a magnificent downwind sail, enjoyed by all onboard. We also landed a dorado, satisfying Keith’s hope to catch our dinner at sea. Approaching the mouth of the Bay, the wind died. Low, ominous clouds moved in, bringing with them the kind of rain that makes one pull off the interstate. Ticking off the buoys along the shipping lanes, we sighted the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel just about the same time we passed over it. By evening, skies had cleared, and Elcie was swinging on her anchor off of familiar Reedville, VA, back in the Chesapeake and just a day from home. While not the trip originally planned, the crew onboard appreciated the challenge of changing weather conditions and letting the conditions dictate our ultimate route.
##On the third day at sea, I woke to brighter skies and felt relief.
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##We also landed a dorado, satisfying Keith’s hope to catch our dinner at sea.
About the Author: Jessica Rice Johnson and her husband Richard own and operate Elcie, a 62-foot expedition charter catamaran, based out of Oxford, MD. Berths are available on 10 legs between Oxford and New Zealand via the Panama Canal and South Pacific starting in November of 2012. elcieexpeditions.com Follow us!
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