Sunday 9-26-10

We've ended our seventh day of our cruise south on the C & D Canal which connects Delaware Bay with Chesapeake Bay.

We started out on Monday with a long, rough, FANTASTIC sail from Mystic to Port Jefferson. Best sail in years. Longest sail ever.

Tuesday we motored in no wind to Port Washington. The last few miles the water was a dark red. Like a gazillion gallons of blood was in the water.

Wednesday we left our comfort zone and headed through NYC. Turned out not to be too bad. Ended up at Atlantic Highlands where we had a 45 minute adventure as a really bad storm went by around 8:15. We were fine but two boats that were not as well prepared came close to hitting us. Close doesn't count. 

Thursday got us to Atlantic City after dark. A challenge but all went fine.

Friday got us to Cape May after a late start due to dense fog. We got underway after visibility improved to 1/4 mile.

Saturday was a nice day and we stayed in Cape May for sightseeing and fuel. We should have left.

Sunday was way worse than forecast. We went around Cape May in 20+ kt. winds, 6 ft seas and 10 ft depths. Then it got bad. A major bash for more than 15 miles; a decent motorsail for 15 miles; a minor bash for 10 miles; then an easy go of it for the last 5 miles and the first half of the C & D Canal. Second half of the canal starts tomorrow. So does three or four days of stormy weather.

People in Delaware are not very helpful. Or friendly.

A long week and a lot of miles. A lot of fuel burned, too.

Shorter travel days planned for the next few weeks.