06/17/2026
June 15 – 17, 2026
From: Safe Harbor Bluewater Marina, Hampton, VA – Safe Harbor Stingray, Deltaville, VA
Departed: 7:45 AM | Arrived: 1:15 PM
Time Underway: 5.5 hours
Wind: 5 - 12 mph
Speed: 7.5 - 8.5 varies
Temp: 75-80 degrees
Visibility: Sunny with a few fluffy clouds
So Long, Skinny Water...
We had a wonderful stay at Safe Harbor Bluewater Marina. The staff was fantastic, the facilities were excellent, and the timing couldn't have been better. The first day was so hot that we happily spent some time cooling off in the pool. The next day, temperatures dropped into the mid-70s with a nice breeze. And for anyone visiting the area, the Surf Rider Restaurant is definitely worth a stop. Super yummy!
On Monday, Bob's cousin Sarah, her husband, and some friends came by the boat for a visit. They even brought dinner and wine, which automatically moves guests to the top of our favorites list! We had a great time catching up and sharing stories from our adventures. Thanks again, Sarah!
Tuesday, we walked into downtown Hampton to do a little sightseeing. We visited the famous vintage Hampton Carousel, checked out the Virginia Air & Space Science Center, and wandered along the waterfront docks. Unfortunately, we missed the Blackbeard Pirate Festival by one day. Apparently, our pirate timing still needs work. There was plenty more to see, though, and Hampton earned a spot on our "visit again" list.
Wednesday marked our official arrival on the Chesapeake Bay.
Goodbye skinny water. Goodbye bridges every few miles. Goodbye wondering if there is enough water under the keel. Hello Chesapeake Bay!
The weather was beautiful, and as we entered the Bay, a very large container ship was heading out to sea. We gave it plenty of room. Those ships always remind me who the real professionals out there. Their wake is really big.
After spending so much time on rivers and the ICW, it felt strange to suddenly have all that open water around us. I probably routed us a little farther offshore than necessary—not in the shipping channel, but farther out than I needed to be. I'll likely tweak future routes and stay a bit closer to shore.
Of course, every boater I talk to immediately says, "Watch out for the crab pots!" We didn't see a single one today.
Which means they're probably all waiting for us.
Coming into the marina was a little tricky, but thankfully Harbor Master Mary had sent detailed arrival instructions. We're always extra alert when entering a marina for the first time, and this one definitely kept things interesting. At one point, we missed a turn and found ourselves wondering why things didn't quite look right. Oops. Fortunately, Captain Bob worked his usual magic, got us backed up, and we were back on track in no time.
Mary, along with two fellow boaters, met us on the marina's new floating face dock and had Patriot tied up in record time.
Shortly afterward, a gentleman named Bill stopped by to introduce himself. As it turns out, he's also a Fleming 55 owner and generously offered local knowledge along with a ride to the grocery store. During our conversation, we discovered that he and his wife had purchased their boat a year and a half ago from friends of ours in Charleston. Small world.
One of the things we love most about this lifestyle is the kindness of fellow boaters. No matter where you go, there always seems to be someone willing to lend a hand, share advice, or point you toward the best restaurant in town.
Tomorrow, Norfolk will be hosting the Tall Ships as part of the Sail250 Virginia and Norfolk Harborfest celebration, and it sounds like quite an event. Bill, his wife, and their yacht club will actually be helping lead the Tall Ships into the harbor. That should be fun to watch!
There's also some weather moving into the area, so we're happy to be settled into a safe marina while it passes through.
One last thing…it is Ace’s 7th Birthday tomorrow!
Life is good... ⚓🚤🌊