Mystic to Norfolk, 2026
- captfrank
- Jun 5
- 7 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
June 6, 2026: Navigator is at Mystic Seaport Museum Marina awaiting the arrival of the crew. They should be on board later today for discussing the plans for the training cruise and then get to know each other over dinner.
June 8, 2026: Weather forecast from Captain Tursi - Looks like all of those northerly winds of last week have turned SW for next few days, but nothing too serious 15 or less. No tropical storms expected for next 7 days
Have a great trip!
June 9, 2026: A message from Captain Frank - We are all set to get underway this morning. We plan on getting off the dock about 9:15 and passing through the bridge in downtown Mystic on the 9:40 opening. The wife of one of our crew plans to be on the waterfront, to record our transit and send it to us. So, look for that, hopefully.
We will be taking on fuel as we depart, then it is off into the Long Island Sound, where we will set our sails and head for the ocean.
Our SPOT tracking device is active, so you should be able to watch our progress. Remember, though, that it can be temperamental, so if it doesn't always show our passage, it doesn't mean anything bad.
The SPOT link is:
https://maps.findmespot.com/s/NRNV You do need to refresh for updates.
We should be in Norfolk by the weekend or a little later. we will have a better idea after Thursday, as there is some weather forecast for then, which may impact our travels.
Until we see you all again, stay safe!
June 9, 2026: Photos courtesy of Holly Ager
Wednesday June 10, 2026: Weather report from Captain Tursi - Your SW winds increasing overnight Wed-Th to SW 20-25 and moderating to SW 10-15 by mid day Thu. Turning W-NW overnight Th-Fri 10 kt and below. No tropical storm activity expected next seven days.
Heave to early if needed
Sail On!
Thursday June 11, 2026: Weather report from Captain Tursi - As you know winds in your area continue SW 20-25 tonight, abating overnight to W 10-15 by midday Thu then fluctuating between SW to NW 10-15 and sometimes lower depending on your location until Fri. Tropical Depression Christina developing near El Salvador but course direction not yet clear.
Sail On!
June 10, 2026: Message from Captain Frank - After getting underway from Mystic Seaport Museum Marina and passing through the Mystic bridges, we traveled down the river and stopped at the Noank Shipyard fuel dock. We took on diesel and headed out. Once we were east of Fisher’s Island we set the mainsail and, a little later, the headsail.
We were able to sail out of the Block Island Sound and into the ocean, but once we were in the ocean, the southwest wind really began to assert itself. Since our next waypoint lay right in the eye of wind, we are having to tack toward it. We have been doing four hour legs, but this morning, as the wind has backed more southerly, we are going to take a long leg to the west and try to get back to our original course. The crew is doing well, although the lumpy seas do have heads poking up from the companionway periodically to “grab a little fresh air.” Last night’s dinner, chicken and dumplings, was a hit with the crew and, as with the northbound trip, no leftovers were found.
Our first dolphin sighting was this morning about 6:30. This, of course, means today will be a good day.
We are not far along on the trip yet to predict an arrival time, but we hope to be home before too much longer!
June 11, 2026 Message from Captain Frank - There are times when the ocean is beautiful. Deep blue under a cloudless sky or obsidian black as the sun first comes over the horizon, sparkling a trail of flaming diamonds. Yesterday was not that day. The sea was sullen, gray and lumpy. We knew some bad weather was coming and we got ready for it.
We had a pod of dolphin meet us about noon, dozens of them, with young pups just learning to hunt. We took that as a good sign, but hedged our bets.
We put the second reef in the mainsail, and were already on the staysail, at 1600. At 1800, the first big gusts starting hitting us, so we lashed the wheel and hove to. Initially, the wind rose, then dropped back down and we thought that maybe the forecast was wrong. It wasn’t.
By 2100, the wind was back with a vengeance and we were very glad we were tucked in, nice and secure. The wind sang in the rigging all night, finally starting to drop about daybreak. We were underway again about 0500 and at 0700, we kicked the second reef out of the main, set the Genoa and were fully underway again. The wind is still South of West, but we hope it will clock today and allow us to finally get headed to our waypoint off the Delaware Bay.
By the way, dinner last night was “eat what you think will stay down.” We hope for a heartier meal tonight.
We are moving so we might be able to predict our landfall in tomorrow’s message.
Stay safe, all!
June 12, 2026: Message from Captain Frank - Another exciting day at sea…well, maybe not. Given the boring nature of the weather forecast - winds from the southwest, 10-15 knots, seas 3 feet - we finally bit the bullet and started motoring directly to our waypoint off the Delaware Bay. Between the wind on our nose, the waves coming from the same direction and a foul counter-eddy to the Labrador Current, we weren’t going fast, but every time we tried to sail, we ended up going in the wrong direction! Finally, about 5:30 this morning, the wind went west enough that we could reset the staysail and we are now motorsailing at a much better speed. Depending on what the wind does, we will do our best to get back to actual sailing today.
Dinner last night was chili and rice, with raw veggies as an appetizer and rustic sourdough bread as a side. Yum! The last vestiges of queasiness have left the crew and we decided to have something with flavor.
Our daily dolphin sighting came late, almost at sundown. We were worried that we would have a day without, but they came through at the end.
Just before sunup this morning, we could see the loom of the lights over the New Jersey coast. It’s the little things that let you know there is a world beyond the boat.
It is beginning to look like our arrival time is going to be early Sunday morning, but we may be close enough for phone communications Saturday evening. We will see you all soon!
Friday, June 12, 2026: Weather forecast from Captain Tursi - Looks like the winds will clock around to the west overnight tonight and to the north by Saturday all below 15 knots. TD#1 in southern Gulf near Guatemala forecast to travel north but cyclonic formation not expected in next 7 days; less than 20% chance
You're doing well. Sail on!
Saturday, June 13, 2026: Message from Captain Frank - As I write this, we are about 50 miles northwest of the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. If we were driving, we would get there in time for a late breakfast. However, we are on a boat, so it will take us most of the day. We are back to motoring. While the wind has finally turned to the NW, it has also dropped to about 5 knots. This is the joy of an ocean trip. The wind is diabolical most of the time.
Dinner last night was the Suzanne-sponsored white chicken chili. A very hearty meal which was enjoyed by all the crew. Finally, a meal with some flavor!
We had multiple dolphin sightings during the day and the gray bottle nose dolphin eventually became the predominant over his smaller, black and white cousin. We hope to see some today to wrap up the trip.
Did I mention that we expect to be near land tonight? If possible, we will get into Cobb’s marina late this evening. This is dependent on us being able to get the OK from them. If we can’t, then we will go in first thing in the morning. Either way, you should hear from your sailor tonight.
Sunday, June 14, 2026: Message from Captain Frank - We arrived at the marina last night about 2030, just as the sun was going down. We had enough light to get to our slip and get tied up, although, by the time the crew had packed their gear, cleaned up the boat, said their good-byes and departed, it was well onto 2300. David and I fell into bed - with the air conditioning running for the first time since we got underway. It is true that we could not run it offshore, but we truly did not need it this trip.
After the first long sleep for a week, we arose the next morning, went to breakfast, and picked up our rental car for our return to Rock Hall. Initially, I had thought a "small SUV" was overkill but after loading our personal gear, our professional gear and the ocean passage making sails and equipment into the car, there was not a lot of room left over!
Mystic was a great place to visit, the underway period both directions was the proper balance of effort and tedium and we are sure that the crew will have stories to tell. You can see the excitement - and the fatigue - in the picture below.
Until next year -
Captain Frank Mummert
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