January 7/08-Got to Norfolk, Virginia

The Wisconsin

Spot the Sub

Container Ship

We started the engine at 7:30 a.m. There were some strange squeals from it, but Chris tightened some belts and that seemed to solve the problem.
We have also had problems with our head (toilet) since we got the boat, which are gradually getting worse. At the moment we can't put any solids down it, as it cannot pump them through. It sort of sprays them about instead. Not desirable. So we aren't using the loo. Chris found some impellers for the toilet today and fitted them, and we are hoping this might help.
We got all the way to Hospital Point in Norfolk today, a total of 41 miles, and official northern starting point of the ICW. In practice the ICW extends north all the way to New Jersey, but Hospital Point is Mile 0, down to the Florida Keys.


Norfolk is a large naval base and container port. The naval boats have fast little boats that patrol back and forth in front of them, keeping other traffic at a safe distance. On our way into Norfolk we were passed by two large container ships (pretty scary). They have right of way in the navigation channel, so we kept well to one side. However, our preferred route was also blocked by a submarine (with their little security boat) so we couldn't go that way either, and in the end we zigged and zagged our way in.
On anchoring at Hospital Point we had our disaster for the day. Our boat is a catamaran, but with a single engine. A lot of modern cats have two engines, one in each hull, but ours has a single one in the center. It has what they call a "sonic leg" which you raise out of the water when you are sailing or at anchor. When you are motoring it is locked in the down position with the propeller in the water. Very like the leg of an outboard motor that you raise up or down. The raising and lowering is done by hand, pulling on a line which leads to the leg. Unfortunately our leg must not have been locked down, so when we reversed during anchoring the leg flew up and the line which leads to it got chewed and snapped by the propeller. This isn't the first time this has happened to us, so we are getting into the habit of being absolutely sure the leg is locked before we reverse. It took a lot of contortions to get the chewed up line out of the propeller and a new line set up, but fortunately that was the only damage done. It could have been a lot worse!
On the plus side we have not seen ANY crab pots yet on this trip.What a bonus! I guess that is because it is too cold. On the way up they were everywhere - even in the official ICW channel. If you get one of those tangled around your propeller it can do serious damage - even rip a hole in your boat!