1 November Salt Ponds, Hampton

In 2010 we crossed the Pacific from Panama to New Zealand with a rally called the Pacific Puddle Jump sponsored by Latitude 38 magazine and met some great people, people we've stayed in touch with like Frank and Karen Taylor of Tahina. Tahina and Jackster sailed together from Tahiti to New Zealand, a memorable time in Fiji with the Stray Kitties and diving, lots of diving together, parties, shared meals and Wi dancing. Fun.

me with Frank and Karen

Frank has been reading this blog for years so knew when we'd arrived in America. He got in touch and now we are meeting face-to-face for the first time in eight years. Tahina has moved to Salt Ponds Marina in Hampton this season. We thought the marina was too shallow for our draft, but we were assured we'd get in in high water, and Karen and Frank insisted on the very generous Halloween gift of three nights alongside. Thank you guys.

Following the channel into the marina there is a sharp left turn with the advice to stay wide, don't cut the corner because there is shoaling. We were fine until the corner where we stayed wide and went aground on the shoaling on the outside of the corner! Some nifty reversing and bowthruster to turn our bow back into the channel and we were able to continue to our slip where the Tahinas were waiting to catching lines.

It was a happy two day reunion with dear friends; riding in Frank's amazing Tesla S electric car (which I filled with food shopping), lunch in Hampton, Langley air museum with a display of fighter planes, rockets and lots of reminiscing. The time passed far too fast and soon it was time for K & F to leave for their next social engagement and for us to prepare for our passage to Charleston.

Before leaving the marina we went out in the dinghy to depth sound the channel and found deeper water on the inside. This time we went out without touching bottom, spent a night in Old Comfort Point bay and then sail the road south.

Polly checks Tahina's sail bag