24 October 2010

We accomplished a lot this week. It started in Annapolis and ended in Belhaven, NC.

We went to Solomons Island, getting about 3hrs of motorsailing in before stopping at the dock of Jack and Kathy Locher. Mill Creek is very nice.

From there we went Deltaville, VA. Jackson Creek. It was a 9hr trip with nearly 4hrs of sailing. A very small, narrow entrance but a nice anchorage.

Tuesday we got to Hampton, VA. 3hrs of motorsailing out of a 7hr day. No place to anchor so we got a slip at a marina for 2 nights. 2nd day was forecast to be rainy so we did some laundry, got fuel and water and then took down wind instruments and lights off the top of the mast. We went to the Virginia Air and Space Center. Not the Smithsonian but very good.

Then: a big day. We went across Hampton Roads to Norfolk. Very busy habor and river. This area makes NYC look like the CT River. Many Navy warships and restricted areas. Passed by freighters and barges before getting into the ICW and going under a number of 65ft bridges including one we touched with our antenna. We also went through Great Bridge Locks. Neat. We ended up anchoring just over the boarder into North Carolina. 

Friday we had an engine belt for cooling break. Changed it while underway before we stopped at Coinjock for fuel. Crossed Albemarle Sound into the Alligator River.

Saturday was a long canal run with a 64ft bridge at the end of it. We got under it just touching it with the antenna a bit. Thursday we touched a so-called 65ft bridge and Saturday we had less trouble with a 64ft bridge. We still don't know what we can trust or how tall our mast really is.

Another day of good weather forecast and we hope to be to Beaufort before a rainy period sets in.

17 October 2010

It's nearly 1000 as I write this (10am) Sunday morning.

We are finally heading south again. We left Annapolis before 0800 and we're now in the middle of the Bay, L 38 43.9 N, Lo 76 26.6 W. We are motorsailing because the wind angle is too close to the bow but the RPMs are reduced. May be able to shut them off later. Blue skies. Cool. Very cool. Gloves and heavy coats on but not our mid-winter coats. Hope it's warmer south.

We are headed for Solomons Island. Pretty area but we won't be staying long. Tomorrow we have to move on because Tues and WWed are likely rainy days. Not stormy we hope.

We are collecting many boat cards, and giving ours out. We'll see if we meet up with any of these people as we.get further south.

We'll, my turn to take the helm.

TTFN

Sunday 10 October 2010

We're in Annapolis. West Annapolis to be precise. Anchored in Weems Creek.

It's a little noisy because the highway bridge is kinda close but it's within walking distance of groceries and other supplies and services and it's biking distance to downtown.

The only negative is the free trolley doesn't run out to here anymore.

We got here Friday after being put back in the water on Thursday. An easy trip. Not too far. Boat seems faster without all the growth on the bottom.

We went to the boatshow yesterday. We go every year but first time by boat.

Tuesday Carol flies out again. This time to Texas. Next weekend we get underway again. Weather permitting.

3 October 2010

A second week of cruising comes to an end. I realized that I did not ID the photos in my last blog. I started taking pictures of all the bridges we have and will be going through.

We went through the Throgs Neck to exit L.I. Sound and the photo of the lift bridge is the Roosevelt Island Bridge. We had to go through it on the east side of Roosevelt Island because the UN was in session closing the west side of the East River. There is a photo of the UN as we went past. We went by the Statue of Liberty as close as the security zone allows. Took a photo of the Brooklyn Bridge and finally, the Veranzano-Narrows Bridge, the exit from NYC. The last photo is two bridges in the C & D Canal.

So much for last week.

This week we finished the trip through the C&D and ended up at Worton Creek. Our first Chesapeake creek anchorage. We spent two nights there, almost a day of it in the rain. We also caught a crab pot when we were approaching Worton Creek. It shut down our starboard engine as we dragged it more than a mile before it cut free. I had to do a dive to get the rest of the line and float free.

On Wednesday we had a 3 or 4 hour break in the rain and went to Bodkin Creek. It's in Pasadena, MD, not too far from Baltimore. It rained from Wed. afternoon to Friday morning. On Thursday alone it rained more than 6 inches. Major flooding. The marina we were going to had 6 inches of water over the docks. We put off going there until Friday because of this. On Friday we got our boat hauled and then it was moved to another spot on Saturday. Fri, Sat, Sun we got a lot of work done. Had to hurry because Sunday afternoon the rain started again and it's forecast to continue through Wednesday. Won't get much work done outside if it's raining. :>((

Carol is off to Cleveland to work for the Joint Commission and we hope to head for Annapolis on Friday and then attend the Boat Show. Until then it's me and Cleo working on the boat. Well... one of us.

We don't start pushing south until after the 17th of the month.

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.

Thursday, 9-23-10

As I write this were about 5nm off the coast of NJ motorsailing between Manasquan and Barnegat. Haven't decided how far we'll travel today/tonight.

Yesterday we went through NYC. About 3 hours not counting the delay at the Roosevelt Island Bridge. West side of the East River closed due to the UN being in session. All in all not bad and we were lucky not to have any major traffic conflicts in any narrow spots. First time through Hell Gate went well.

We went to Atlantic Higlands, Sandy Hook, NJ and anchored. A major T-storm just missed a direct hit and we "only" got 40kt winds. We stayed secure but two boats in front of us dragged anchors and came close to hitting us which would have been very bad. Very, very bad, but nothing happened. Our prep payed off and we went back to bed after 45 min. Almost an adventure.

Next adventure is deciding what our next harbor is and when. After dark???

Underway at last

After many years of planning, hoping and working towards this day we are finally underway. So far it's not much different than other sailing trips since we will still be in L. I. Sound until at least Wed. Today is sunny but it's pretty boisterous with winds over 20 kts. Seas are choppy but only about 1 ft. Due to the direction of the wind.

I plan to update at least weekly, on Sundays, or as often as interesting things happen.