Day 1, Sunday, Oct 28, 2007

At 0740 hrs, Ninkasi departed the Portsmouth Yacht Club with Dick, Donna and their cat, Smokey (a.k.a. Buddy), on board. They rendezvoused at Mile Marker Zero (MM 0) with Whisper and Day-0 and all began the trip southward. On board Whisper were Larry Bryant and Jeanne Steffanelli. On board Day-O were Walter and Maggie Short and their dog Toby. Our friend David Bennett aboard Aeolian sailed along with us as far as the Jordan Bridge. He then came alongside Ninkasi and passed over “Bon Voyage” bags for each of the boats.

Lifts at the Jordan and Gilmerton bridges went smoothly and we made good time until we reached the Steel Bridge on Dominion Boulevard. We had made such good time we arrived early and had to wait for the scheduled opening. The river was a parking lot of snowbird boats and tugs when it finally came time for the 10AM opening. After the bridge finally opened the race was on to Great Bridge and the lock there. Thanks to the use of both sides of the lock, seventeen boats were locked through and then proceeded to pass through the new bascule “Great Bridge”.

Jan Washbourne drove to the lock and passed over more “Bon Voyage” bags to Ninkasi. Don and Beryl Wade and Nana Leonard also drove to the lock and waved to us as we passed. Lots of the “Big Boy” cruisers passed us on the way to the Turnpike Bridge. We were moving slowly as we waited for Whisper to stop in Great Bridge and pickup a third crew member, Judy Rose. There was no delay at the Centerville Turnpike Bridge, but we were forced to wait for an opening at the North Landing Bridge. The delay there allowed Dick’s sister, Patricia, to arrive, waive goodbye and hold up a sign as we passed through the bridge opening.

Despite a couple of delays, we were still making good time so we decided to push onward for Coinjock, NC instead of stopping at Pungo. We arrived at Midway Marina in Coinjock about 1730 hours. The wind and current combined to make docking exciting, but we were able to dock without incident. After docking we delivered the “Bon Voyage” bags to the other boats and attended a happy hour and group spaghetti dinner aboard Whisper.

Location: Coinjock, NC, ICW MM 50. Today’s progress: 50 Statute Miles.