Mockhorn Island

• Mockhorn Island is a Virginia State Park and Wildlife Management Area.

• Some basic info on the island is to left in a PDF file you can view.

• You can read about a visit to the island here.

• And here is another visit to the island documented with some history

• Another trip review to Mockhorn Island here.

I planned on sailing to Mockhorn after passing Skidmore Island. Initially the winds did not look good for going to Mockhorn and I thought I would rather head to Smith Island to see the lighthouse, but the wind shifted and I had a gentle beam reach in about 5 knots or so to Mockhorn. While crossing the bay I had a pod of dolphins swimming by me while some F22's were flying overhead from the east to the west, presumably on their way to Langley. Spent a hour and half or so exploring part of the southern most tip of Mockhorn getting some pictures and drone footage you can see in the adjacent YouTube link. Departed from Mockhorn about 1 or so and had a tight reach / close haul run all the way back to the ramp. Wind piped up with 7-10 and puffs to 15 or so. Some tacking up the channel was needed, but because I got the tides right, the current was in my favor on the way out and the way back so all was good.

Landing on Mockhorn Island it was difficult as the on shore breeze with mild waves across a shoreline littered with the broken up remains of rebar re-enforced concrete bulkhead. I dropped the anchor out and drifted down setting the flukes and snubbing the line to hold the transom in calf deep water. A line from the stern to the shore kept it from swinging. Worked perfectly for a two hours around high tide, but for over night I'm going to use a pulley to haul the boat out beyond the low tide line. The problem came when heading back. The first time I set the rig I was standing next to the boat and could hold it into the wind while I raised the sail. Doing this for the first time in about 10 knots was made more challenging as I had to row the boat off shore far enough to have time to put the rudder on, lower the center board and raise the rig without drifting back into the shallows. I also had to avoid going out too far for being too deep in case I dumped over. In water that cold, I had to be able walk back. Timing was critical, it all worked out fine.