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The only comment i could make re: Norfolk to Marion is watch out
for fog and the NYC/Ambrose - Nantucket L.S. traffic lanes.
I made a passage from Delaware Bay (lower) to Block I. one June.
The weather was fine until we were within 50 miles of the shipping lane.
The fog then became so thick the bow lights on the 36' sloop were barely
decernable. The wind was also piping SW 15-25 so that we were broadreaching
at 6-8 knots (it was a wooden sloop).
We heard low throbbing sounds (propeller shafts) and some fog horns but
never seemed to get closed that 1-2 miles. Providence was kind to us.
If i were to do it again, i would either/or:
1. get/borrow/rent a radar detector.
2. display minimum 2 RA REFs.
3. get/borrow radar.
Also in hindspect, the faster the passage through the shipping lanes,
the fewer rolaids the skipper consumes.
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| As part of a longer voyage, I did that section during May. It was an open
boat, and we stayed within 40 miles of shore, but nonetheless had to deal with
some of the hazards you may face. Some observations:
1) Weather was bad through the Chesapeake; fine and generally too light till
NYC; progressively worse from L.I.Sound to Gloucester (and again beyond).
May can feel like November or March sometimes.
2) Chesapeake shipping was far and away the heaviest of any port area.
3) VHF Channel 13 was often more useful, particularly near harbors, for
bridge-to-bridge communication. If you can monitor 16 and 13, good.
Offshore, I don't know how much 13 is used, or how much attention is paid
to 16, for that matter.
4) If you hear a horn or ship's vibration, call and ask other helm what they
are doing. If they can see you on their radar screens, and you are moving
slowly (perhaps not perceptibly) they will appreciate your identifying
yourself, sharing your intentions, and usually are glad to tell you their
precise position & course. If the seas are up, you benefit from being
distinguished from sea clutter. When you're in the soup, it feels quite
wonderful to know you are clearly acknowledged by something bigger and
faster near you.
5) Radar is good, but in my opinion, at deck-level (if borrowed) in much of a
sea, it won't help enough to justify any real confidence in it. Reflectors
are good, and proven effective many times in situations like those mentioned
above (I asked, and was told). Detectors sound like the best idea, but I've
never tried one.
Good luck; sounds like a fine adventure! J.
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