We left Newport with medicine in hand
at 1715 which will allow us to exit the Narraganset Bay before last
light. We chose to take Block Island on our starboard to avoid the Race
between BI and Long Island. Our route took us by the 5 wind generators
off the coast of BI. We couldn't see the generators, just their
lights. Our Garmin maps did not yet have them but our latest NOAA
charts on OpenCPN displayed them proudly.
Once we cleared BI, we headed for Cape May. It would take
almost 36 to arrive there and the GRIBs were not painting a pretty
picture with winds on the nose at S-SW@10-15 kts with seas S@4-6' plus a
wet and noisey cold front was scheduled to meet us as we approached CM.
Fortunately for us the wind stayed from the South for the first 18 hours
but then freshened and veered as the GRIBs had promised. Good idea?
The third day saw us abeam of
Atlantic City before daybreak while the radar and XMWx showing a real
mess approaching. We were lucky that most of the cells did not pack
lightning. Jule got several baths, some distant lightning, and then a
weakening of the SW winds. We passed through the Cape May canal by 1150
yesterday with favorable current and wind (SW). The forecast had pretty
strong NE winds and foul currents forecast before we would get to the
C&D canal.
And so it was. As we approached the power plant on the
Delaware River before dark, the wind veered convincingly to the NE as
the current now opposed us. Life got a bit better after we entered the
canal. The current turned in our favor before we left the Canal. It
was another 3 hours at 0146 today before we anchored at the mouth of the
Bohemia River and we were not alone. A catamaran beat us to our desired
anchorage. Oh well.
Later that day, we weighed anchor and headed up
the Sassafras River (1000) to Georgetown (1415). We took one of their
more stout mooring balls, and took the launch to the office (only
launch that we know of on the Bay [how kewl]). The beginnings of TS
Hermine were felt two days ago. We stayed on the boat that day and much
of yesterday when Hermine left us. We had dinner with Jim and Laurie of
SV Kismet (Chruisheimer colleagues) before they left today. Tomorrow we
will head South to continue our trek to our winter port. `
Hermine was mostly gone but the wind was
forecast to 15-20 gusting to 30 out of the NE. Off we went with reefed
sails down to Whitehall Bay near Annapolis for an overnight anchorage.
We were one of the few boats in the Northern Bay. As we went under the
Bay Bridge, we had a bit more traffic but not the usual Annapolis
afternoon. We headed up to Whitehall Bay and dropped the hook at 1540
two days ago.
We left the anchorage at 0720 (why so early we do not
know) and headed for Shipwright Harbor in Herring Bay. It was a
beautiful motor sailing day. After a 'long day', we arrived at
Shipwright at 1120 (a 4 hour passage). We stayed here to stage
ourselves for the next day's haulout rather than possibly getting grief
from the HHN front office for getting to the haul-out area too 'early'.
Today we got our haul-out. Everything went as
planned. The yard crew is (and always has been) friendly,
professional, and willing to work with us. It is a first class boat
(yacht) yard. We were here for Buster Phipp's expert craftsmanship on
Jule III. Phipps Boat Works and Osprey Composites are our
go-to-places. This time, Buster cleaned up other people's messes on
our rudder stuffing box. No leak after Buster. Tomorrow, we continue on
our way South. Our next weather interest is TS Julia where we hope to
be in Elizabeth City before she hits us.
;
