Norfolk, VA

We made it to Norfolk, Va about 47 hours after leaving New York City.  The wind was offshore and often blowing around 20 knots so we were able to sail about 6-7 knots most of the way down.  We took three hours shifts at the helm which was nice at night since you got to sleep almost a full 6 hours at a time.  This was my first time doing an overnight shift.  The first night I had the 9-12 shift as well as the 6-9 in the morning.  The next night, I had the 12-3.  I kind of like being at the wheel all by myself at night, especially with the full moon. 

 Leaving New York we sailed right by Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

 I missed my sunrises and sunsets being on the Erie and the Hudson for so long.

 Every once in a while we get these little guys who come hang out on our boat for a rest.  They'll plop right next to you within a foot and just hang out.  I think they're trying to catch a free ride south.  Anyways, this one was brave enough to fly into Jim's cabin in the front of the boat.

 There are military stations everywhere in Norfolk and this one is actually right in the same harbor as us.

We leave Norfolk for the Islands on the 2nd and we might have company.  There is sort of a race/cruising group that head's down south on the Caribbean 1500 so we're going to try to leave with them.  In the mean time, Jim and Dave both flew home to see their wives so I've got the boat to myself  :)  There's not a whole lot close to where we're docked, so I took a couple buses over to Virginia beach yesterday to rent a bike for the week (purple beach cruiser).  Still not sure exactly what I'm going to do the whole week, but I'm in the library right now scoping out the area.  Weather's been sunny and 80 so far although I know it's supposed to cool down later in the week.  Still it's a great change from the cold weather we've been having.