December 12/27/2025
0630 Leave free dock at Great Bridge in Chesapeake, Va with frost on the decks. Plan is to leave early so we can get a full day of travel in.
0700 Captain OhNo calls for a bridge opening at Centerville; bridge tender responds that they are on restricted hours and won’t open for another hour and a half. Captain OhNo responds to the bridge tender “Oh no” thus sealing his call sign for the trip.
0710 Tie up at closed fuel dock just north of the Centerville Bridge. First Mate Popcorn makes roasted potatoes, broccoli, squash, kale and onion breakfast slam
0815 Sailing Vessel (S/V) Southern Cross approaches from the north and we all freak out thinking we might miss the bridge opening
0831 Bridge opens
0930 North Landing Bridge opens 35’ of the bridge. We squeak through with 3’ on either side and S/V Southern Cross at our stern
0930 - 1030 Popcorn at helm. Uses the radio for the first time during trip to call Motor Yacht (M/Y) Vienna to pass on port side, which they do. Here is a transcript of the conversation: Popcorn: “Motor Yacht Vienna, Motor Yacht Vienna this is Sailing Catamaran Pisces off your bow on channel 16.” Motor Yacht Vienna: “Pisces this is Vienna, go ahead on 16.” Popcorn: “Good morning, Captain. We would like to keep our current course. Would you like to pass on our port side?” M/Y Vienna: “That would be just fine for us, Pisces. We’ll give you a slow pass on your port side. Standing by on channel 16.” Popcorn: “Thank you, Captain. Pisces standing by on 16.” (*many times this is pronounced as one six instead of sixteen)
1030 - 1130 Lt. Swabs on watch. Immediately goes off course after being left high and dry by Popcorn. Captain OhNo helps redirect Lt. Swabs.
1130 - 1230 Popcorn at helm. Brings boat into Coinjock for showers and fuel.
1230 - 1315 First fuel up; diesel spills and one fuel tank doesn’t take much fuel. Everyone showers in the men’s bathhouse because the two men aboard M/Y Vienna have taken over the women’s room. Everyone is in and out in 45 minutes! Pisces shoves off fuel dock and continues.
1415 Crew has a pizza party!
1517 team meeting decides to take on the Albermarle Sound which means traveling in the dark for 2 - 3 hours. ETA to anchorage is 2000.
1700 Lt. Swabs and Capt OhNo watch sunset from starboard deck
1730 Full dark. Popcorn on watch.
1830 Popcorn on bow with spotlight watching for potential navigational hazards, Lt. Swabs and Capt OhNo at helm.
1845 Lt Swabs installs fairy lights at stern of Pisces
1915 Anchor in the dark at the top of the Alligator River near entrance to East Lake
1945 delicious dinner by First Mate Popcorn
2030 Lights Out
