Cape May (NJ)-Ocean City (MD) today. We left Cape May around 8am while the tide was going out. Didn't have much trouble getting out of slip but had a guy help us with holding the sternline just in case. Got some pics and video of the fishing fleet on our way out. Then had great 20kt gusting to 25 following winds so got both sails out and hand steered past the Delaware river to Ocean city. The current coming out of the river and the waves and everything made hand steering preferable to avoid an accidental jibe. We do not currently have a preventer, but I talked to Mal about it and we think there is a way to have an eyelet or something installed in the track on the underside of the boom so runs don't have to be so stressful. Well, maybe not stressful but, less extremely vigilant and cautious. Coming into Ocean City inlet wasn't too bad, the markers were good. We came in around 2:30. HOWEVER. Docking at sunset marina was a nightmare even worse than Rock Hall. The pilings with a short dock on the side was the same set up, only I was totally unable to heave our extra large (HEAVY) lines the distance to get over the piling. Plus there was a 10-20kt adverse cross wind shoving us hard off the side we needed to tie up to. Finally a dock hand came on to show us how to "lasso" the pilings, and even he failed half a dozen times which made me feel better. Also, I really don't think lassoing was the best option because it is going to be unnecessarily tricky to get the loops back off. If we had just thrown the line over and cleated it back on the boat, at least when we leave I could let the line go and pull it back in quickly. Mal is confident it won't be a problem when there isn't so much wind, and I hope that is the case. We are planning to leave tomorrow at midnight when the wind is projected to die down to just 4kts so fingers crossed. Then we will do the full stretch to Norfolk in one go with just taking turns having 10 minute naps. I think this is going to be good night watch training even if we don't actually trade off shifts. I'm excited to see the sunrise out off the coast, and also the stars. I have only sailed at night on full moon sails up until now so there was quite a lot of light actually, but we will have a waning crescent moon tomorrow with only 17% illumination and moonrise isn't set to happen until 2:39am, so I am curious to see how hard it is to see in the complete dark. Lucklily there aren't lots of buoys and obstacles out there off the coast. Albert says to keep the coastal lights to starboard and tack if you hear surf sounds. lol We should get into Norfolk during daylight hours this way.
Century Club: Rebekah Bromwell
Barnegat to Cape May today. We left Barnagat inlet at sunrise (7ish). There were significant breaking waves as we left so that was a bit exciting, but it calmed down right away as we got out and into deeper water away from the seawall. The wind was around 20kt from the north so we were able to sail a bit with the jib. We got to Cape may around 4. There was a huge fleet of i think fishing boats that looked super cool as we came in the inlet, I wish I had time to draw them. I did get some pics and video as we left though. The current coming into South Jersey marina was "light" according to them, but was still a challenge to dock in. We had to fend off a very nice 50ish foot classic wooden ketch (I think? cutter rigged with 2 fore sails but also 2 masts.) but we got in ok. Got diesel and did a pumpout on the way in. Engine didn't start at the fuel dock after that, and Mal tried the remote starter switch again and it failed after a little cough. He got it going with the screw driver though. Really nice marina. Had an excellent shower upstairs in the building over the shop. They had nice laundry machines too but I don't have enough dirty laundry to bother yet. We walked about a mile into town on Washington St. There were tons of really neat victorian houses that reminded me of toronto in murdoch mysteries. A couple offer tours. (Physik house and Southern Mansion?) Definately would go back for a longer visit. The center has a neat open mall kind of area with lots of cute shops. There was a horse drawn carriage in front of a big church with very nice stained glass right at the start of that area too, and lots of fairy lights. We ended up eating at George's (BYOB Greek restaurant) and tried to find a liquor store to buy something to celebrate Mal's successful docking but no luck. Still dinner was excellent. I had shrimp saganaki and Mal had a whole branzino which was huge and looked awesome.
We got up a little after 6 and I made a coffee and got started. Casting off was easy, and we motored out past the statue of liberty and avoided some super fast ferries, saw cony island, and went under the verrazano bridge. Then we put up the jib to take advantage of some amazing 25kt wind at a perfect angle for a broad reach and surfed all the way down the jersey coast to barnagat inlet. The wind was great, but it was quite chilly most of the day. In the afternoon the sun warmwed up a bit and the wind dropped to mid teens which was more comfortable. I was really regretting not getting the HH jacket top that went with my new foulies. The inlet was a little tricky because of the shallow areas but we used the core or engineers survey overlays on aquamap to double check our position and made it through to the wrong bayview marina (why would they have 2 without more clear signage?) but backed out in time and got settled into bayview north. We docked around 4pm. Then we were recomended to go to the restaurant Kubel's a few blocks away which we did and had some good seafood.
Took the Acela up to Stamford at 7:30 and even with a delay ended up getting in just past 11am. Then Uber to Norwalk and hopped on Mal's Gals to begin our trip south! There wasn't much wind and when there was any it was pretty much on our bow so we just got the job out a bit to try it and mostly motored down to Brokklyn. I took lots of pics, it was incredible seeing the city go by from the water. It warmed up a lot as well so was an absolutley beautiful clear fall day. We stayed at the marina just past the Brooklyn bridge (https://one15brooklynmarina.com/) overnight. It was a little rolly but not uncomfortable. I only noticed occasionally when a rope would creak hard or something like that. Definately worth it for the location.
Steve gave me a chance to mess around with a boat at port Covington that has dual main sheets and I get it now. Phew! I had to do a few tacks and jibes to have the routine with the limited winches click and also had to feel what happens on both sides of the line with the jam cleats open, but now I can manage it. I still don't get why you would want that system on purpose, but at least I can use it. Nice short evening sail with a couple new guys. (Well, not new but new to me.)
Last practice before checkout! (Not really, just thought so at the time sadly. Zero wind the next day so have to reschedule after my trip.) We went over everything! The wind was lousy so spent most of it going over systems and inspecting rigging, engine, bilge (he fixed the float so
oump works now.) checked transmission fluid which doesn't look right so need to change when doing other overhaul stuff. Figured out how to run the bilge pump manually. Went over full checkout list orally. Then did a terrible miserable bit of attempted sailing/pob and gave up. Did anchor at edge of turning basin and got fouled on crab pot line or something. Felt the boat jump when it finally gave. Eeek. Docked ok at the end.
Helped out Steve at port Covington on crazy love for a work event that he needed a first mate for. It was really fun, and I finally got to see what some of the old DSC feet was and how they are set up over there. I wouldn't like to maneuver in their dock area but the way they don't step off with the initial line is clever.
Then we ran back to DSC for the full moon sail and Santosh let me skipper akimbo and it was so stressful! Everything went ok, but keeping an eye on everything in the dark is something else. There are just too many buoys and instructions that are either junky or have very long periods between flashes. Ugh. It feels a lot harder to gauge distance and perspective to plan tacks and even dock too, have docked twice in the dark now and both were fine but I don't like it. Santhosh was super encouraging though and gave me great advice to remember when stressed. "It's just a boat." lol (I'm going to use that one!)
Went over all systems, did great reefing practice (really needed that) and docked. The shallow bilge under the shower in the head was dry but the pump and float don't work. They went on the list with the impeller, belts, pivot (clutch), fuel and air filters, etc. I think we figured out that the black water tank is under thing birth next to the head and the fresh water tank is in front of it. Gross. It does smell when you lift the plywood off the black tank area. Tom also gave serious talk about managing people and handling my emotions as the skipper. I didn't think I looked that "down" when stuff doesn't go right but James says my face doesn't hide much well and I guess this is part of that.
Mark very kindly took me out with James as crew for some practice before my Saturday checkout. We did a good amount of docking and general maneuvering under motor, plus some POBs. Wind was higher than I'm used to so that was really good. It wasn't super adverse for docking though, mostly straight on, only slightly pushed the bow out a couple of times. Really how Saturday isn't crazy conditions. Need to practice reefing and more POBs. Also backward steering. Sometimes it goes great and sometimes it seems to just take off and I can't get it back on track. :-(
Did some docking/undocking and a heave to, and a neat trick heave to where you back the jib without tacking which helped reduce the power enough that we didn't need the main to counter it, and also some POBs. And it was an absolutely beautiful evening. Had a great time. I need to speak up louder and more clearly for crew direction though.