Annapolis to Home 2021

     As mentioned in my last posting, we pushed on our last day to get to Annapolis and had about 4hrs of uncomfortable seas (out of 12hrs). The next day, our first at Annapolis, was fairly breezy and the wind was from a poor direction. Had we not pushed the day before we would have had 7hrs or so of rough conditions not the 4hrs we actually had. An okay trade-off, I guess. We picked up a city mooring in Back Creek, Eastport, a part of Annapolis, and then got fuel our first day there. Each day we were visited (harrassed) by geese. They climbed all over the boat, leaving 'presents' and making noise. They also decided our dinghy was a good spot to lay an egg. No, it's not.

      

     The person who measured us for a new sailcover last fall came out again to measure for corrections. We were unhappy with the results and the company promised to make it right. Re-make it right. We won't get the new cover until after we are home. 

     We made some minor repairs, changed engine fluids and got some shopping, restocking and dining out done. The weather was nice, cold, windy, nice, cold, warm, sunny, cloudy, warm, windy, and cold. Springtime. 

     We stayed a bit more than a week hoping to time the weather and winds the rest of the way up the east coast and to maybe get warmer weather. Maybe not. 

     When we left Annapolis on a Saturday it was not quite as freezing as last year. Cold, very cold, but not freezing. The wind was fairly light out of the west and later faded to near zero. Minor ripples on the Bay. It became a nice day so, even though the current was not in our favor, we decided the planned short passage to Worton Creek could be extended to Chesapeake City on the C&D Canal. There is a free dock there but on the weekends local powerboaters tie up there for an afternoon. Sure enough, one tied up in the middle of a space for two just as we arrived. And only stayed an hour. This meant we had to anchor and our trouble with our windlass continues. We could have gone to the dock when the daytrippers left but we were concerned with low water when we would want leave on Tuesday. This looked like the day when wind direction and direction of the current would combine to make the best possible passage down the Delaware Bay/River. This meant a 3 night stay and only 24hrs is allowed at the dock. It's nice to walk around on land but we are used to staying on the boat without touching land for many days in a row. There are no re-stocking options in Chesapeake City so nothing was missed by not going ashore. Okay, there is a nice ice cream shop. 

     We could have made it an only two night stay by going to Worton Creek previously but we took advantage of the benign conditions to get more miles under our keels. We are always making choices like this based on weather forecasts and other variables. Sometimes the guesses work. Sometimes........

     After 3 nights at anchor we headed out early. Very early. We often leave in the dark because the C&D Canal is well lit but because we're here much later in the Spring than in past years we had plenty of predawn light. Of course it took 40 minutes to raise the anchor due to the failed windlass. I got the method down pat using a halyard winch to help but it is slow. The current in the canal was in our favor so it we were quick but once in the Delaware River we were slowed down for the middle part of the passage. We had 1-2 ft. of chop for a while but it wasn't all that bad overall. The current improved a little in our favor and then the passage around Cape May was okay. Not great. Not as awful as past trips through the area. Just okay. We took the near-shore route very close to the beach which shortened our passage around the Cape.  

     We then continued up the east coast of New Jersey. Seas started out as 1-2 ft. on our stern quarter so it was a little rolly but not uncomfortable. After sunset the wind and waves eased to near calm but there was an occasional large swell. No problem. Going through New York City was very quick as we had great current (up to 13kts SOG) and we went all the way to Port Jefferson, L.I.  where we borrowed one of the few moorings that were in. 33+hrs from start to finish makes for a long day. Not a bad day. Just long. Getting old. Sigh. 

     Our last day on the road was rainy but calm. It was the first passage this cycle that had rain. We generally stay put in adverse conditions but this was not adverse, just wet. We completed our cruise in the rain because the next day was forecast to be gale conditions. Not good. That we avoid at all (or nearly all) cost. 

   

 So we are back in Old Lyme. We're at a dock as our mooring is not in yet. We'll move to it within a week or so. Now it's time for Carol's second vaccine injection, a trip to Long Island to get our car and see Cobbe. Oh, and our daughter and her husband, too. We will also start our usual round of medical visits. Routine. Well, we hope they will be routine. One never know do one? 

     Everyone, enjoy the summer! Come see me at Mystic Seaport Museum where I'll be a docent again, usually on the weekends.