We were hauled out on Wednesday and we were done by Friday afternoon but we have to wait before we head to Annapolis for two weeks. In the mean time we are watching sports on TV. NASCAR and WNBA playoffs. Nice lounge here.
Getting here was pretty painless except for the day we left Mystic. The first time.
We headed out on Monday, 14 September. Didn't get far. We went out into Fisher's Island Sound and found at least four foot seas right on the nose. That's pretty rough. We've had bigger seas but when they're coming right on the bow it's very uncomfortable. And slow. It took almost 30 seconds of thinking to decide to turn around and head back. Instead of going to our mooring we went to anchor inside the bight at Ram Island, right outside of Mystic Harbor. Comfortable in the lee of the island.
The next day winds were lighter. We started off sailing but it faded quickly and it was back to our normal motoring. We had the current with us so we got to Port Jefferson before 1600. We picked up our usual mooring there. Wonder who owns it? We've never dragged while on it and it seems to be maintained well. More importantly it's always empty on the weekdays we come to it.
The next day was nearly calm and as we motored we were calculating our arrival time at Hell Gate if we decided to by-pass Port Washington. Our next calculation was the current heading up the Delaware Bay. It looked like our timing was going to be good so we motored on through the City and then out into the ocean off New Jersey. Current was with us so the passage through the City was quick, not as quick as last fall, but quick. It was calm in the ocean, a very light breeze from the south east and seas of about 4-6 inches, so we motored on through the night. The most interesting event was sighting a large meteor as it passed overhead. It was green and appeared to be the size of a softball. Of course it was much bigger. I watched it break apart and then vanish after travelling at least 40 degrees across my vision. That's a long way. It was amazing!
We got to the mouth of Delaware Bay at Cape May a little before 0900 the next day and flew up the Bay fairly quickly with the current and no seas. We got to Chesapeake City on the C&D Canal about 1600 and actually got a spot on the free dock. The anchorage was full and moving on would have been an issue due to the time. We think the monohull sailboats that were anchored could not squeeze into the spot we took between two boats because of their lack of maneuverability. A tight spot is easier for us because of our two engines that are about twenty feet apart. We also had help from the people already there.
It was Wednesday and we had a week before out scheduled haulout in Pasadena. We waited for a more favorable current in the canal the next day and only went to the Sassafras River. Then it was two days at Worton Creek before heading to Bodkin Creek to wait for our scheduled day and time to start our annual work.
Except for a nasty, bloody cut while changing engine belts our maintenance and clean up went fairly well. Our only disappointment was the canvas work we scheduled was cancelled at the last minute by the vendor leaving us no time to find another canvas professional. We can no longer recommend The Cover Loft of Annapolis. Too bad. We'll have to find someone in Marathon.
After we leave Pleasure Cove Marina here we will head to Annapolis until the boat show on Columbus Day Weekend, about two weeks. Then our next work stop should be Wrightsville Beach, NC.
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