Post Spring AGLCA Rendezvous

I thought I would catch-up everyone again after the Spring AGLCA Rendezvous.  We made it to Norfolk on Monday May 9 and checked into the Waterside Marina.  It is a very good marina and the dockhands are spectacular.  They were helpful and responsive to our every whim and request.

The AGLCA Rendezvous was also nice.  It ran from May 14-17.  There were some interesting speakers and the fellowship was outstanding.  We presented twice, once on the Harbor Host Program, and once on the Western Rivers.  Everyone says we did a great job.  Hope they think that after going down the Western rivers in 6 months.

We left Waterside heading for Deltaville, VA.  This is a small town with 3000 people and 8000 boats.  They have two West Marines and all types of service for just about anything on a boat.  As we approached the final major turn to get to Deltaville, we noticed that we had no control over the direction of the boat.  We had no steering.  So, we motored about 4 miles using the engines to control direction.  Betsy did a great job of avoiding the crab pots using the engines.  At the entrance to Deltaville harbor, we decided to call SeaTow.   The channel was narrow and we had no idea of the traffic in the harbor.  Took about 45 minutes and we were safely tied to the dock at Doziers Regatta Marina.  This is a favorite stop for loopers as they are a sponsor of  AGLCA and give 3 nights for the price of 2 nights.  The marina arranged to have a tech to meet us as we pulled in and he, Tom Hale of Zimmrmans, quickly diagnosed our problem as a leak in the hydraulic hose in the steering system.  Fluid was covering the area under the helm station.  

On Thursday, Tom called to tell us he could not work on the problem until next week as he is booked up.,  He did recommend Chesapeake Cove and gave us the number.  We called, they sent a couple of techs over and they found the source of the leak, a fitting between a motor and the autopilot.  They left to go find the appropriate part.  So, that is where we are at this minute, enjoying historic Deltaville and waiting for a call about the part.  Not a bad place to be stranded.  This afternoon, we head to the West Marine and the grocery store.  We will certainly be here tonight and maybe longer.