Atlantic Highlands to Annapolis

Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey is one of our favorite stops, and we were looking forward to spending 4 or 5 days there. The anchorage is in a beautiful setting at the end of a large mooring field. While the high bluffs with their pretty trees provide excellent protection from southerly winds, the breakwater on the north side can be breached at high tide if a strong cold front (north winds) blows through. It was Monday and the weather was supposed to be nice until Wednesday afternoon, when the forecast called for a nasty cold front to blow in for several days. If we stayed, the following Monday or Tuesday would be our next chance to proceed south towards the Delaware Bay. The cold front was supposed to be a strong one, so we were a little nervous about sitting it out at the Atlantic Highlands anchorage--which had become quite crowded making us more nervous. At about 6 o'clock Monday evening, after many visits to our weather sites, we decided we should push on south. Because of the weather forecast, we decided to skip Atlantic City and Cape May and go straight through to the Chesapeake. If we could make it to the C & D Canal on the north end of Delaware Bay before the front hit we would be fine.

Our big concern was the timing of our arrival at Delaware Bay. As noted in a previous post, Delaware Bay has very strong tidal currents, which can potentially cut your speed over ground to less than half. If a strong wind opposes the current, creating square waves, it can be really difficult to proceed at all--and very hard on the boat and the crew's ribs. There are also a lot of ships on Delaware Bay.

At 5:40 am Tuesday, after 25 minutes of hosing the tenacious mud off our chain, we were on our way. I was informed not to start hauling the anchor until the coffee was 100% perked and in a thermos. The coffee was in the thermos at 5:15. It was another incredibly beautiful day with very light winds on the nose. The "off shore" section between Sandy Hook and Delaware Bay is a bit odd, because we are never more than 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 nautical miles from the coast. So land is in sight the whole way.

Coast Guard off the New Jersey Coast early Tuesday morning. These vessels set and retrieve sea buoys and other aids to navigation.

It was still light when we passed Atlantic City, so we weren't treated to their gaudy light display this time around.

After dark somewhere between Atlantic City and Cape May, it appeared this journey was about to end. A "vessel" suddenly appeared dead ahead with 6 very bright spot lights shining on the water, and 2 bright red navigation lights. There were no green lights visible. It was obviously bearing down on us, so I swerved 90 degrees to try to avoid a collision that very quickly was starting to look certain. The change in course didn't seem to be working. Lisa was sleeping, so I thought maybe it would be quick and she wouldn't feel anything--not nearly as bad as the gulag. After a few moments I was starting to hope that it was a Coast Guard helicopter. Then it became clear it was a military aircraft which flew right over our mast at a very low level, and at a very slow speed. I never heard the engines until it was right over our heads. After it passed us, it veered off and kept on going. I could almost hear the crew falling out of their seats with laughter as they looked for their next victim. Our Homeland Security having fun while at the same time guarding our coast. I'm all for being able to do 2 things at once. I picked my heart up off the cockpit floor and put it back where I think it is supposed to go. On our way up the coast we had a similar experience, but it was at dusk so I was able to make out the plane (it was a twin prop with one of those large disc antennas like an AWACS plane). I keep telling you Obama is stalking me.

We entered the Delaware Bay at 12:45 am. The winds were very light from the north, so the forecast was still right on. The shipping traffic was very busy, but for the most part we were able to stay just outside the shipping channel. We made it to the C and D Canal at 8:10 am. The winds had just started to pick up into the mid 20s and it had started to drizzle. As soon as we entered the canal everything smoothed out nicely. News alert: the weather report was pretty accurate--that's like lottery odds (don't know or care if the bad north winds ever hit the coast or not, but the light wind, nice weather part was right on).

The drizzle stopped and the rest of the trip was uneventful. At 5:00 pm on Wednesday our anchor was set in a beautiful cove on Broad Creek, just off the Magothy River. We stayed there for 2 nights and then made the short 13 mile trip to Annapolis.

Anchorage on Broad Creek.

On the bay near Annapolis, just off the Severn River.

Mooring field past the bridge on Spa Creek.

We plan to be on a mooring ball (first one in a long time) for 3 weeks or so. The main reason is the Boat Show, but we'll be able to order stuff we need, and do some boat projects that are easier to do when not anchored. One of those is to shorten the chain on the primary rode from 300 feet to 200 feet. We need to raise our bow a bit.

The weather seems to be turning cooler. Mid 50s at night and mid 70s in the day--beautiful. Why do I suspect it's 105 in Dallas?

Long Island Sound To Atlantic Highlands

After a few days in Oyster Bay, we weighed anchor and headed west to Manhasset Bay. The city of Port Washington is on Manhasset Bay, and let me tell you... OK, now I'll tell you--while we were there, the Canadian Geese voted to designate Port Washington a human preserve. Anyway, we had a string of nice calm pretty days, so we were able to get some boat projects done.



One of the projects was to finally varnish our cockpit table. Even though it is small, it has multiple sides which needed at least five coats each. We tried to outsmart the table and hang it from the bimini and dodger supports so that I could varnish all the sides at one time. Even though it was calm, we did get a lot of small wakes. You get the idea. Right when you are putting on the finishing touches, the boat rocks, the brush splats on your beautiful work introducing air into the varnish, and then varnish gets on your nose.


So after 2 coats I gave up and used this normal set up. In the mornings I was able to sand and put one coat of varnish on one side and the edges, then flip it 4 hours later varnish the other side. That means our cockpit was trashed out for 5 days.


The wind and rain finally subsided.

Very bad weather was on the way, so we headed back to Oyster Bay for better protection from northerly winds, and to fill up the water tanks . This time the forecast held and the rain and wind arrived as advertised. It was a bit chilly too. We had the worst winds we have seen at anchor in the Long Island area. We have seen stronger winds under way on Long Island Sound a few times, but those winds and rain always died down by the time we made it to the anchorage. This time it blew and rained for about 3 days. On our way out of town, we filled our water tanks at the fuel dock--right in front of a huge sailboat +/- 100 feet which belongs to the guy that owns the New York Knicks. We have seen it tied up there a couple of times. I wanted a picture, but it was raining.

It was time to start our trek through NYC on our way south back to the Chesapeake. We really wanted to get through the East River and NYC before Tuesday, because Tuesday the UN goes into session for a couple of weeks. The Coast Guard shuts down part of the East River while the UN is in session. There is an alternative route, but it is easier when the entire river is open. I would rather we spend money protecting the big flies that bite my leg, than those who seek to destroy us in the UN, but once again, I have been overruled.

We needed to be at Throgs Neck Bridge by 6:30am for the wild ride through the East River (hey, if you are used to sailboat speeds, it's wild). So we returned to Manhasset Bay for the evening and had the anchor up at 5:30 the following morning. We passed Throgs Neck Bridge on cue and rode the strong current all the way through NYC and then south to Atlantic Highlands on the north end of New Jersey. The anchor was down by mid morning. We made it through the Buttermilk Channel and past Governors Island before they shut more sections down for a parade of boats. Lots of stuff going on this weekend because of 911. This afternoon they will shut down part of the Hudson River for a high speed boat race as well. Stinkpotters on steroids. There were a lot of ships to dodge, but people around here deal with that every day.


Our return through NYC.


One of the ships we passed after going under the Verrazano Bridge.

There are large anchorages for large ships north of the Verrazano bridge. You have to be on your toes, because it's not always easy to tell if a ship is anchored or not. Then after you identify one as being anchored, he decides it's his turn to move. They move a lot faster than we do.

Lisa has finished her box of Tagamet, so she can go to bed now.

We plan on staying here for a few days, but have to check the latest on the weather. Until next time...