19 May IP Rendezvous and Concert

The Belle holds a nice close haul as we head to Portsmouth VA for the family party, Derks Bentley concert, and overnight at Ocean Marina.  Great fast sail down. As we pulled into South Landing for link-up with family, 3 other Island Packets lay in wait for the passing storm to continue North.  An unoffical IP Rendezvous with folks we'd exchanged email, and now an all-smiles get-together.

Secured well in Ocean Marine (Amplitheater Pavalon just off bow  to port), family and friends rally up for the concert, great dinner, and fun-time. The sail home in 18-22kt head winds and 6' seas was another story, but for The Belle...another great day underway.

23-24 April The Belle supports Sea Scouts

On 23 April, The Belle, along with 4 other sailboats from the Norfolk Naval Sailing Association got underway to Coast Guard Base Portsmouth to support the annual ND-VA-NC Sea Scout Jamboree. We passed behind the Coastie Cutters up the narrow channel in Coast Guard Creek to the docks that support the USCG and local marine authority pursuit boats. A busy weekend. With a crew of 10, two scouts as navaigator/tactician, another at the helm, one on each of the headsail sheets, another on the main traveler, another on the sta'sail and a couple holding the rail, The Belle filled her sails in the 18kt winds and made-way into the busy Hampton Roads channel for a fun race to round -out a day full of anchoring, man-over-board, navigation, and sailmanship training.  It's all about having fun, and the several crews that boarded The Belle over the weekend, all walked away with big smiles.  They sailed!

29 Mar 2012 - Spring haul, paint, and ready to cruise

The lady prepares to get back underway after a week on the hard at Ocean Marine in Portsmouth, VA. New bottompaint, prop-speed coatings on shaft and prop, brightwork cleaned and recovered, new refrig keel cooler, and a blop back into the Chesapeake - ready for another year of great family cruising

25 Feb 2012 Whale Watching off Virginia Coast




Sunday afternoon we sailed The Belle across the Chesapeake Bay, and then about 5mi offshore into the Atlantic for some incredible whale watching. Alli and Brent were glued to the pulpit and foredeck as we approached these beautiful animals. With Staysail and Mainsail full, we quickly became part of the water way as a pod of humpbacks passed by.

 

We kept about 20 meters distance from the pod, they seemed to welcome us as part of their world. The water was thriving with fish, for the seagulls were diving all around making huge splashes all to similar to the air blows that some of the whales made as they barely broke surface. Most of the whales had 3-4 feet of body clear the water as they leisurely swam by while others blew air gysers like Old-Faithful. The moderate 9-10kt southeasterly wind made it nice!

 

2-3 Dec 2011 Hampton Lighted Boat Christmas Parade

The Belle prepares to get underway for the Lighted Boat parade in Hampton with a Pineapple marque as the main sail, light trimming, and Kenny Chesneymusic playing "All I want for Christmas"

Karen checks the fixin's for the Dock Party that rolled til midnight.  Plenty of Glu-Wein, Oktoberfest Bier and food...mixed with great friends aboard made the night a great time!

9-11 Sept Hampton Bay Days

The Belle takes up anchorage center stage across from the Hampton Public docks, and just down the channel from the massive evening fireworks.  With anchors out fore and aft we're set for the raft up as Al and Nickie connect with their Maxim 3200.  Three days of great fun in the fun with the best of friends.

John and Ken stand guard to the Port-side keeping drifting monsters at bay as the striper fishing stories about the 2d and 3d island continue

Al has his Maxim 3200 to port; John and Barb join us via dinghy ride from the Crown Plaza Hotel pier-side from fun that stretched til midnight...enjoying the dock-side bands, beautiful weather, and great night-lights

Barb, Nickie and Karen do what ladies do all too well...enjoy talking about...hmm whatever that is.






Chess enjoys a great evening with friends...the many dinghy runs from ship to shore, and the wonderful setting "The Belle of Virginia" provided as the setting for family and friends to gather

20 Aug Fun in the Sun and Line Dancing

Karen cools it on the foredeck, head well under the Stays'l hoyt boom, on a long slow tack across the Bay for a slow evening of grilled tuna and asparagus, chilled wine, and soft music at the Hampton Dock...again.  Dockmaster Kate guided and helped secure us well...AC on, and then the crew just cooled it.

With dinner down, it's a short walk to the Hampton Queen-Street block party and the ladies (Karen on the front left) take to the street for back-to-back line dancing fun.