Grey Fox Is Heading South Again!



Hello Everyone! 

This blog is being written to share my 2024 journey South on the sailboat Grey Fox with friends and other interested persons. Grey Fox is a 38ft Alajeula cutter which I sold in 2021 to my friend Greg. I had owned her since 2012 and had previously spent 3 winters in the Bahamas on her. She was a wonderful boat but as I got older (now 70) I found she just too much for me to handle. My friend Greg had let me know if I ever wanted to sell her that he was interested. So when I was ready so was Greg and he is now the happy new owner of Grey Fox. He has taken wonderful care of her with upgrades to many of her aging systems.

Greg figured out a way to work onboard and decide to make the big trip South for the winter. Fortunately for me he needed an experienced crew person so I signed on to help with the trip. My plan is to help him on his trip for the next 6 weeks.

I am a rather poor writer so this blog will be a bit of an expanded boat log. There will be numerous grammar errors but I hope it will be written well enough for the content to be understood.

The trip will include both travels in the ICW and short off shore passages. I will try to keep this updated daily and hope it will continue til my flight home. I will invited readers for questions and comments. 

Nov 2nd - day 1

I slept on the boat and was awaken by commercial fishermen at 5:30. After a quick breakfast, Greg and I quickly loaded up and we were under way by 8:00. The wind was blocked to the North so we started out with a full jib and motor sailed around 6kts. As we approached the mouth of the York the wind block was less so we raised a reefed main and cut the motor. We were sailing at around 5- 5 1/2 kts in 13kt winds with higher gust. Wave were 2.5-3ft as the flooding tide was against the wind. Grey Fox was loving it and we made good time to the mouth of the James. The wind was blocked again so we motored sailed up the Elizabeth River and eventually dropped the main. 

We fought the current for most of the day but still made Great Bridge for the 5:20pm lock. Just beyond the lock we tied up to the wall across from the dock. I did a walk and Greg got in a run and after a satisfying meal we went to sleep early.

Total 50 nautical miles


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