SHIP'S LOG:
Thursday:
I left Little Neck Bay for a run up to Milford, CT where my cousin, Bob, lives. I must be getting use to this type of sailing for the wind was blowing a stead 20 knots and I didn't think a thing about upping the anchor and heading out. A year ago, heck 6 months ago, even three month ago I would have stayed put and read a good book. After the Delaware Bay and the run up from Atlantic City to Manasquan, the 20 knots of wind and the accompanying waves really didn't bother me much at all. In point of fact, the sailing was tremendous though exhausting. Lots of waves over the stern port quarter and the wind did gust occasionally to 35 but ABISHAG was made for this type of weather and she took in stride, probably better than me.
The toughest part of the whole trip was cleaning the salt off my glasses in what seemed like every five minutes. After awhile, I took to simply licking them clean and waiting for the wind to dry them which took about 30 seconds. Over the 8 hour run to Milford, this added up to a lot of licking!
It was a bit of a chore getting into Milford as I had to turn such that the wind and the waves came over forward of the beam. This put a lot of waves onto the boat, getting me a bit wet and causing the boat to roll more that I would have liked. But once passed the breakwater, the waves calmed down though the wind was still blowing. Thank goodness for dockhands and a nice straight run onto a "T" dock head.
Bob came by when all was secured and we ran up an $80 bill in the Yacht Club Bar. I also present Bob with his bucket which he promised to take to his studio and do something spectacular with it. What, neither her nor I had any idea!
Friday:
The wind was pretty much the same as on Thursday but basically it was a straight shot sail, once out of Milford, all the way to the Thames River. It was a broad reach but in reality, it was a "screaming reach!"ABISHAG put her shoulder into the water and just took off. I hit sustained speeds of 8.5 knots for must of the trip and even ran for about 30 minutes at 9.3knots! I actually didn't think she could go that fast. Of course the wind and tide helped a bunch and even the waves contributed as I surfed down some at over 10 knots. It was one spectacular sail.
It was strange to see old and familiar sights as I closed on New London. I really knew I was home when I had to dodge two crossing ferries at the mouth of the river. The only thing missing was a transiting submarine surrounded by Coasties in rubber boats with machine guns! I got in about 5:15 and was spent. After tying up the boat at the end of the dock, I walk to a restaurant for a celebratory dinner and ran into two club members who celebrated my accomplishment by buying me dinner.
IT is really good to be home at last. Some people have already asked if I plan to do it again next fall. While I am glad I did it once, I think once is enough, at least by oneself. If I can swing it, I would be willing to help someone else, perhaps do the trip outside, but not alone in my boat. ABISHAG is pretty used and next rest and recuperation and I really have to tackle the endless list of projects which has grown in the last 9 months. The again, summer is just beginning!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Another Day Closer To The End
SHIP'S LOG:
Current Location: 40'47.815N/ 073'45.672W Little Neck Bay, NY
When I left Manasquan this morning, it was sunny. The NOAA boys and girls got the wind right(finally) and it was 15 knots out of the SouthEast. And it was a great sail, though more than just a little rolly as the waves were right on the stern starboard quarter. After a while, it was tough to keep the boat one course and I took anything within 20 degrees of the desired course as a bless. Still it was a great sail.
All up and down the Jersey Coast there were flocks of helicopters. At first I didn't understand what they were for but as I entered the Ambrose Channel which leads into NYC, I came face to face with the answer, United Sates Warship #21. IT was an aircraft carrier but which one I don't know for they never identified themselves by name, only by number "21." They didn't like that I was within five miles during their transit and they let me know about it, by radio and with one of those helos who came and checked me out personally. at the time, I was working hard enough just trying to stay on course and out of the way of barges and tankers and cargo carriers. As I entered the lower harbor I was greeted in typical New York fashion - passed by two tugs towing barges of garbage.
I found out that I am going to have to get new charts of this area as the markers in the Ambrose channel; have all be re-numbered. Thank goodness I wasn't searching around in a fog for a buoy. It would really have been confusing.
Entering the Narrows with me was "The Pride of Baltimore," She is a brigantine or barkentine and was really quite lovely. It would have been spectacular to see her in some real wind but by that time the wind had pretty much gone away.
Passing under the Narrows bridge was like stepping into a sauna. It got very hot and humid and heavy. NOAA had been calling for rain and thunder storms and it felt like there would be one but up til then, nada.
I was hoping to hit the battery around 3pm when it would be dead low tide for that would mean that the trip up the East River would be made on the incoming tide and that would mean I would get to Hell Gate at slack. And it worked out perfectly. I have now been through all three "Hell Gates" on the East Coast, the one in New York, the one north of the Little Mud River in Georgia, and the one on the St. Lucie in Florida and none of them has been anything but a pussy cat. The inlets at Manasquan and Atlantic City were far worse, as was the Delaware Bay, though Elliot's Cut out side of Charleston still takes the prize for the nastiest stretch of water.
I was blessed in that I was missed by the storm that roared through New Jersey, NYC, the South Coast Of Long Island and part of which nailed Springfield with two tornadoes. I guess God still feels that I have credit in the storm bank
Hopefully tomorrow, I will have dinner with Bob and Fred. I haven't seen them since they exercised their common sense and jumped ship in Harve de Grace back in October. I will be presenting them with the bucket in which they had their heads during those first days of storms. While both share ownership, I think that pride of place, and so the bucket, with reside with Bob. And tomorrow, God willing, I will sleep in Connecticut for the first time in 9 month short a day. Times flies when you are having fun!
Current Location: 40'47.815N/ 073'45.672W Little Neck Bay, NY
When I left Manasquan this morning, it was sunny. The NOAA boys and girls got the wind right(finally) and it was 15 knots out of the SouthEast. And it was a great sail, though more than just a little rolly as the waves were right on the stern starboard quarter. After a while, it was tough to keep the boat one course and I took anything within 20 degrees of the desired course as a bless. Still it was a great sail.
All up and down the Jersey Coast there were flocks of helicopters. At first I didn't understand what they were for but as I entered the Ambrose Channel which leads into NYC, I came face to face with the answer, United Sates Warship #21. IT was an aircraft carrier but which one I don't know for they never identified themselves by name, only by number "21." They didn't like that I was within five miles during their transit and they let me know about it, by radio and with one of those helos who came and checked me out personally. at the time, I was working hard enough just trying to stay on course and out of the way of barges and tankers and cargo carriers. As I entered the lower harbor I was greeted in typical New York fashion - passed by two tugs towing barges of garbage.
I found out that I am going to have to get new charts of this area as the markers in the Ambrose channel; have all be re-numbered. Thank goodness I wasn't searching around in a fog for a buoy. It would really have been confusing.
Entering the Narrows with me was "The Pride of Baltimore," She is a brigantine or barkentine and was really quite lovely. It would have been spectacular to see her in some real wind but by that time the wind had pretty much gone away.
Passing under the Narrows bridge was like stepping into a sauna. It got very hot and humid and heavy. NOAA had been calling for rain and thunder storms and it felt like there would be one but up til then, nada.
I was hoping to hit the battery around 3pm when it would be dead low tide for that would mean that the trip up the East River would be made on the incoming tide and that would mean I would get to Hell Gate at slack. And it worked out perfectly. I have now been through all three "Hell Gates" on the East Coast, the one in New York, the one north of the Little Mud River in Georgia, and the one on the St. Lucie in Florida and none of them has been anything but a pussy cat. The inlets at Manasquan and Atlantic City were far worse, as was the Delaware Bay, though Elliot's Cut out side of Charleston still takes the prize for the nastiest stretch of water.
I was blessed in that I was missed by the storm that roared through New Jersey, NYC, the South Coast Of Long Island and part of which nailed Springfield with two tornadoes. I guess God still feels that I have credit in the storm bank
Hopefully tomorrow, I will have dinner with Bob and Fred. I haven't seen them since they exercised their common sense and jumped ship in Harve de Grace back in October. I will be presenting them with the bucket in which they had their heads during those first days of storms. While both share ownership, I think that pride of place, and so the bucket, with reside with Bob. And tomorrow, God willing, I will sleep in Connecticut for the first time in 9 month short a day. Times flies when you are having fun!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
The SecondMost Fun Day of The Trip! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
Current Location: 40'06.416N/ 074'03.044W
I don't know if I could have stood another such "fun" day as happened today. I had planned to skoot to Sandy Hook, NJ, so that I would have a good and fairly easy shot through HELL GATE the following day. I supposed that I was just too ambitious for my own good.
The day was beautiful and the boys and girls from NOAA promised, they really did, that there would be wind out of the Southwest of 9 t0 13 knots which would have been perfect. When I left Atlantic City, the wind of course was right on the nose out of the Northeast, but I figured that it wold clock around. Even NOAA could be that wrong two days in a row.
I slogged for a couple of hours in a gently rolling sea until the Atlantic Ocean decided to do its imitation of the Delaware Bay. I got 15 knots of wind on the nose and waves to match. Fortunately it only lasted a couple of hours but that was putting me into Sandy Hook at 7:30pm. The wind slackened but the waves continued and it was clear that I might be making Sandy Hook in the night. Not a pleasant thought considering that it borders one of the busiest waterways in the world.
Still it wasn't a bad day. I even got to see my first(and hopefully only) shark of the trip. It looked to be about 8 feet and I have no idea what kind it was. Still, it did give me a bit of a chill. Aside from that, the trip was rather uneventful until I was about 10 miles south of Manasquan Inlet. That's when the fog drop down like a egg from a tall chicken. It wasn't there and then it was. A real Pea souper! Thick enough to" cut with a knife." This unseen event pretty much negated any chance of getting to Sandy Hook. Even with radar, those prospects took on an air of "No, I Don't Think So!" That left Manasquan and not much else.
I had planned Manasquan as a fall back position but really hadn't given it much thought. Now I had to get in in the fog. Great! The entrance into the Manasquan Inlet is rather narrow compared to most and is line with huge piles of riprap, large rocks that keep the channel straight and fairly free of shoaling. But for some reason, they also really act as a funnel and the first 50 yards of so of water bear a striking resemblance to a washing machine in full operation. It was probably the roughest patch of water I have seen on the trip, and I was negotiating it in the fog. And yes, there were guys in boats floating in the entrance in the fog, FISHING!
I had no real plan once I got in, which I did unscathed. With the fog, there wasn't a real chance to cruise around and find any spot to drop a hook. Plus the current in the river was running at a nasty clip so I pulled into the first marina I found and tied up for the night. I am glad I made it safe and sound and boy, will I sleep well tonight.
Good Night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are!
Current Location: 40'06.416N/ 074'03.044W
I don't know if I could have stood another such "fun" day as happened today. I had planned to skoot to Sandy Hook, NJ, so that I would have a good and fairly easy shot through HELL GATE the following day. I supposed that I was just too ambitious for my own good.
The day was beautiful and the boys and girls from NOAA promised, they really did, that there would be wind out of the Southwest of 9 t0 13 knots which would have been perfect. When I left Atlantic City, the wind of course was right on the nose out of the Northeast, but I figured that it wold clock around. Even NOAA could be that wrong two days in a row.
I slogged for a couple of hours in a gently rolling sea until the Atlantic Ocean decided to do its imitation of the Delaware Bay. I got 15 knots of wind on the nose and waves to match. Fortunately it only lasted a couple of hours but that was putting me into Sandy Hook at 7:30pm. The wind slackened but the waves continued and it was clear that I might be making Sandy Hook in the night. Not a pleasant thought considering that it borders one of the busiest waterways in the world.
Still it wasn't a bad day. I even got to see my first(and hopefully only) shark of the trip. It looked to be about 8 feet and I have no idea what kind it was. Still, it did give me a bit of a chill. Aside from that, the trip was rather uneventful until I was about 10 miles south of Manasquan Inlet. That's when the fog drop down like a egg from a tall chicken. It wasn't there and then it was. A real Pea souper! Thick enough to" cut with a knife." This unseen event pretty much negated any chance of getting to Sandy Hook. Even with radar, those prospects took on an air of "No, I Don't Think So!" That left Manasquan and not much else.
I had planned Manasquan as a fall back position but really hadn't given it much thought. Now I had to get in in the fog. Great! The entrance into the Manasquan Inlet is rather narrow compared to most and is line with huge piles of riprap, large rocks that keep the channel straight and fairly free of shoaling. But for some reason, they also really act as a funnel and the first 50 yards of so of water bear a striking resemblance to a washing machine in full operation. It was probably the roughest patch of water I have seen on the trip, and I was negotiating it in the fog. And yes, there were guys in boats floating in the entrance in the fog, FISHING!
I had no real plan once I got in, which I did unscathed. With the fog, there wasn't a real chance to cruise around and find any spot to drop a hook. Plus the current in the river was running at a nasty clip so I pulled into the first marina I found and tied up for the night. I am glad I made it safe and sound and boy, will I sleep well tonight.
Good Night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are!
Monday, May 30, 2011
What A Difference! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
Current Location: Rum Point Cove, Atlantic City: 39'23.268N/ 074'24.611W
Up at that crack of dawn, I had to handle a few things before I could go anywhere. Figuring that a dinghy with one oar(again) was pretty much useless for my needs, I hauled it up onto the sock and deflated it. I rolled it up in a nice neat package and then stored it on deck . . . right where it was after it got puncture ion the way down. A nice touch, going in just like it was going out. And yes, I carefully stored the one remaining oar down below in the forepeak.
It took an hour or so to get the davit system to a place where it could no further damage to itself. Lots of unbolting and re-bolting but nothing that was anything more than boring. Even that early in the morning, it was already hot and humid and the toughest thing was not loosing tools overboard due to sweaty hands.
Eventually all was done and ABAISHAG was made ready to" go to sea" for indeed she was. The wonderfully accurate boys and girls at NOAA "promised" clear skies and 10-15 knots out of the Southwest. well, it was hazy but the skies were basically clear( I had the radar on just the same). The winds were not from the Southwest but from the Southeast. (I check several times and they kept saying "Southwest") They were not 10-15 but more like 5 to 10 and inconsistent. But hey, I'll take it and it was a great day to sail!
Compared to the Delaware Bay, the Atlantic Ocean was a mill pond. A nice rolling sea but no real waves. IT was just a great sailing day and that's why it surprised me how few people, and I mean "few", were out on the water. It was fine with me, fewer boats to "run into," but a bit strange nonetheless for the "beginning of summer!" Even the beaches that I could see along the shore were thinly populated and the temp ashore had to be in the 90's.
The most "exciting" part of the whole day was the run into the Abescon Channel at Atlantic City. The incoming tide jacked the speed of the flow to 8knots and the waters swirled around between the breakwaters. Atlantic city is, sadly, a profoundly ugly city. It had a striking skyline but it looks garish and tacky. It looks ugly at least from the sea.
I pulled into Rum Point Cove/Pond/ Lagoon or whatever they call this little spot inside of Rum Point. We stopped here on the way down after having been battered by the storm. All of us were so tired that we crash for the night foregoing food in favor of sleep. ( Then again, I am not sure Bob and/or Fred could have managed to eat anyhow.) It was sort of over run with people on PWC and speed boats doing their thing and the shores were line with grills and beached boats. It was a real party - in -progress. I had no problem finding a spot and dropping the hook. Then I took a nap . . evidently the results of yesterday's bash and not enough sleep last night. In any event, it is up the Jersey Coast to some place closer to home.
Current Location: Rum Point Cove, Atlantic City: 39'23.268N/ 074'24.611W
Up at that crack of dawn, I had to handle a few things before I could go anywhere. Figuring that a dinghy with one oar(again) was pretty much useless for my needs, I hauled it up onto the sock and deflated it. I rolled it up in a nice neat package and then stored it on deck . . . right where it was after it got puncture ion the way down. A nice touch, going in just like it was going out. And yes, I carefully stored the one remaining oar down below in the forepeak.
It took an hour or so to get the davit system to a place where it could no further damage to itself. Lots of unbolting and re-bolting but nothing that was anything more than boring. Even that early in the morning, it was already hot and humid and the toughest thing was not loosing tools overboard due to sweaty hands.
Eventually all was done and ABAISHAG was made ready to" go to sea" for indeed she was. The wonderfully accurate boys and girls at NOAA "promised" clear skies and 10-15 knots out of the Southwest. well, it was hazy but the skies were basically clear( I had the radar on just the same). The winds were not from the Southwest but from the Southeast. (I check several times and they kept saying "Southwest") They were not 10-15 but more like 5 to 10 and inconsistent. But hey, I'll take it and it was a great day to sail!
Compared to the Delaware Bay, the Atlantic Ocean was a mill pond. A nice rolling sea but no real waves. IT was just a great sailing day and that's why it surprised me how few people, and I mean "few", were out on the water. It was fine with me, fewer boats to "run into," but a bit strange nonetheless for the "beginning of summer!" Even the beaches that I could see along the shore were thinly populated and the temp ashore had to be in the 90's.
The most "exciting" part of the whole day was the run into the Abescon Channel at Atlantic City. The incoming tide jacked the speed of the flow to 8knots and the waters swirled around between the breakwaters. Atlantic city is, sadly, a profoundly ugly city. It had a striking skyline but it looks garish and tacky. It looks ugly at least from the sea.
I pulled into Rum Point Cove/Pond/ Lagoon or whatever they call this little spot inside of Rum Point. We stopped here on the way down after having been battered by the storm. All of us were so tired that we crash for the night foregoing food in favor of sleep. ( Then again, I am not sure Bob and/or Fred could have managed to eat anyhow.) It was sort of over run with people on PWC and speed boats doing their thing and the shores were line with grills and beached boats. It was a real party - in -progress. I had no problem finding a spot and dropping the hook. Then I took a nap . . evidently the results of yesterday's bash and not enough sleep last night. In any event, it is up the Jersey Coast to some place closer to home.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Ever Have One Of Those Days? ! ? ! ?
SHIP'S LOG:
Current Location: Utsch's Marina, Cape May 38'57.089N/ 074'54.381W
It started off as a real good day. The weather was perfect. The wind was light. And best of all, I timed the run from Bear, DE, to Cape May to a "T", with a mid-way stop all laid in in the Cohancey River should the need arise. The trip was 57 miles but with the light wind and the current in my favor, it should have been no problem. The last 2 hours would have/should have/ could have been a little problematic because that was when the tide would turn and the tide in the Delaware Bay can be rather severe.
The first part, to the mid-way stop went off without a hitch and in fact I got there by 1pm and the GPS stated unequivocally that I would be in Cape May by 5;05pm. So when I hit the mid-way point, I called Utsch's Marina so that I would have some place to stay in Cape May. There are few if any spots to anchor as the harbor is small and rather busy and there is a lot of tidal current. It would also give me the opportunity to tank up for the run up the Jersey Coast.
About 2pm \the wind picked up, 15 knots right on the nose(of course) and it started to create those "Square wave" for which the Delaware Bay is noted. The seem to come in groups of three. ABISHAG rode over and through the first, dropped down after the second, and often was brought almost to a stop by the third. And once the tide shifted, the waves came more frequently and with a lot more force. It became a real bashing experience.The wind picked up some more and it would toss the boat from one side to the other making it difficult to hold a course with much accuracy or consistency.
About 4pm I took a series of waves on the stern quarter and I heard a "clang" and the looked back to see the dinghy filled with water and the port davit broken out of its position. The davit sits on a ball giving it movement and is also attached to a stanchion. It had slipped off the ball and the stanchion had broken almost all the way through. I was able to release the stern of the dinghy from the davit and would have to tow the dinghy by where it was attached to the other davit. The state of the "sea" was such that I couldn't do much more than that without the very real risk of "going swimming" for which I was not in the mood. In addition, the wave riped off one of the oars and it was no where to be found.
I was also in a pickle with Utsch's as they close up shop at 7pm and now, with my speed cut down by the wind and tide, I was in real danger of not having a place to stay in Cape May. I called them and made sure that a slip was available but if I didn't get in before 7pm, I would have to do the landing solo and, despite all the times I have done it on this trip, I am still not all that confident in my skills at docking, especially in wind. So I really pushed and, as a result, really pounded. I got in with a whole 5 minutes to spare.
Tomorrow, I will have to jury rig a patch for the davits and deflate the dinghy and carry it on deck like at the start of the trip. Without another oar, it is basically useless anyway .
I have come to the unalterable and irrevocable conclusion that I don't like Delaware Bay and will avoid it like the plague in the future.
Current Location: Utsch's Marina, Cape May 38'57.089N/ 074'54.381W
It started off as a real good day. The weather was perfect. The wind was light. And best of all, I timed the run from Bear, DE, to Cape May to a "T", with a mid-way stop all laid in in the Cohancey River should the need arise. The trip was 57 miles but with the light wind and the current in my favor, it should have been no problem. The last 2 hours would have/should have/ could have been a little problematic because that was when the tide would turn and the tide in the Delaware Bay can be rather severe.
The first part, to the mid-way stop went off without a hitch and in fact I got there by 1pm and the GPS stated unequivocally that I would be in Cape May by 5;05pm. So when I hit the mid-way point, I called Utsch's Marina so that I would have some place to stay in Cape May. There are few if any spots to anchor as the harbor is small and rather busy and there is a lot of tidal current. It would also give me the opportunity to tank up for the run up the Jersey Coast.
About 2pm \the wind picked up, 15 knots right on the nose(of course) and it started to create those "Square wave" for which the Delaware Bay is noted. The seem to come in groups of three. ABISHAG rode over and through the first, dropped down after the second, and often was brought almost to a stop by the third. And once the tide shifted, the waves came more frequently and with a lot more force. It became a real bashing experience.The wind picked up some more and it would toss the boat from one side to the other making it difficult to hold a course with much accuracy or consistency.
About 4pm I took a series of waves on the stern quarter and I heard a "clang" and the looked back to see the dinghy filled with water and the port davit broken out of its position. The davit sits on a ball giving it movement and is also attached to a stanchion. It had slipped off the ball and the stanchion had broken almost all the way through. I was able to release the stern of the dinghy from the davit and would have to tow the dinghy by where it was attached to the other davit. The state of the "sea" was such that I couldn't do much more than that without the very real risk of "going swimming" for which I was not in the mood. In addition, the wave riped off one of the oars and it was no where to be found.
I was also in a pickle with Utsch's as they close up shop at 7pm and now, with my speed cut down by the wind and tide, I was in real danger of not having a place to stay in Cape May. I called them and made sure that a slip was available but if I didn't get in before 7pm, I would have to do the landing solo and, despite all the times I have done it on this trip, I am still not all that confident in my skills at docking, especially in wind. So I really pushed and, as a result, really pounded. I got in with a whole 5 minutes to spare.
Tomorrow, I will have to jury rig a patch for the davits and deflate the dinghy and carry it on deck like at the start of the trip. Without another oar, it is basically useless anyway .
I have come to the unalterable and irrevocable conclusion that I don't like Delaware Bay and will avoid it like the plague in the future.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Dead Zone In Maryland ?? ? ? ? ? ?
SHIP'S LOG:
Thursday - Sassafras River 39'58.957N/ 076.58.653W
Pulled out of Bodkin Creek south of Baltimore for the run up the Chesapeake to the Sassafras River. It was an all day sail. Not a lot of speed but then I don't necessarily have(had) to be anywhere in particular. The again, when a butterfly passes you going in the same direction, you know that you are not breaking any speed records.
It was a wonderful day spent sailing, not listening to the motor drone and there was sufficient wind to keep the sails full. What more could I need? I did encounter a floating tank! Not a military vehicle but a pressurized tank. It wasn't a propane tank but looked more like an oxygen tank. It was just floating along and I though that it was another tree trunk or telephone pole. When I saw it was a tank I called the Coasties and they ran me through three or four different people to get the exact location and a detailed description of the "floating hazard." I didn't want this to become my life's work so I informed them of where it was and what it was and tried to leave it at that. I got four phone calls back from various organizations wanting to know all about it. I finally told them, :" Hey look, I am on this boat all by myself. I am just trying to be a good boater and warn others of the danger." They seemed offended that I couldn't be more exacting in my information. Hey, it's not my job. I did my part. Give me a break.
As I passed by the Aberdeen Proving ground, they were exploding something. Not only could you hear the explosions, you could feel the pressure waves from whatever it was that they were setting off. Whatever it was, It didn't sit well with the local bug population as my boat suddenly got overwhelmed with gnats and mosquitoes and horseflies and all sorts of biting bugs that just showed up. If they were creating a new bug repellent, it certainly repelled them from Aberdeen, but repelled them right o my boat. When they stopped exploding "whatever," the bugs disappeared.
I got into the Sassafras River and was followed by another sailboat, one from Denmark. They were disappointed that I really wasn't from Finland. The chaplain's pennant is so shortened now it really does look like the finish Flag. Only a short time left before it gets retired for good.
Here, cheek by jowl with the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Harve de Grace, Chesapeake City and not Internet access. Its like being back in North Carolina.
Friday: NOAA proclaimed with absolute certainty that it would rain all day so I hunkered down. Not a drop fell. I really have to learn not to trust NOAA so much.
Saturday: Bear, Delaware. 39'32.801N/ 075'42.237W
Tripped up from the Sassafras to the C&D Canal. I took the time to watch two tugs, Annacostia and Oyster Creek, man-handle a barge through the canal. It was really something to watch them work. They really know thier stuff.
Again, lots of wood in the water. I don't know where it is coming from but it is like some huge dock was busted apart and all the pieces set loose in the Bay. It is a good thing that I am moving slowly as hitting any of these pieces would ruin my whole day. I had to pull into Summit North Marina for fuel and decided to stay the night. The weather is supposed to crap out. It will also give me the chance to plan the assault on the Delaware Bay. Tomorrow I will either get to Cape May or half way there depending on the tide. The wind should not be too much of a factor. In the Delaware, the tide rules. If all goes well, I could be in New London next weekend!
Boat names: Sea-Clusion; Razamataz; Panic Attack; Final Option.
Thursday - Sassafras River 39'58.957N/ 076.58.653W
Pulled out of Bodkin Creek south of Baltimore for the run up the Chesapeake to the Sassafras River. It was an all day sail. Not a lot of speed but then I don't necessarily have(had) to be anywhere in particular. The again, when a butterfly passes you going in the same direction, you know that you are not breaking any speed records.
It was a wonderful day spent sailing, not listening to the motor drone and there was sufficient wind to keep the sails full. What more could I need? I did encounter a floating tank! Not a military vehicle but a pressurized tank. It wasn't a propane tank but looked more like an oxygen tank. It was just floating along and I though that it was another tree trunk or telephone pole. When I saw it was a tank I called the Coasties and they ran me through three or four different people to get the exact location and a detailed description of the "floating hazard." I didn't want this to become my life's work so I informed them of where it was and what it was and tried to leave it at that. I got four phone calls back from various organizations wanting to know all about it. I finally told them, :" Hey look, I am on this boat all by myself. I am just trying to be a good boater and warn others of the danger." They seemed offended that I couldn't be more exacting in my information. Hey, it's not my job. I did my part. Give me a break.
As I passed by the Aberdeen Proving ground, they were exploding something. Not only could you hear the explosions, you could feel the pressure waves from whatever it was that they were setting off. Whatever it was, It didn't sit well with the local bug population as my boat suddenly got overwhelmed with gnats and mosquitoes and horseflies and all sorts of biting bugs that just showed up. If they were creating a new bug repellent, it certainly repelled them from Aberdeen, but repelled them right o my boat. When they stopped exploding "whatever," the bugs disappeared.
I got into the Sassafras River and was followed by another sailboat, one from Denmark. They were disappointed that I really wasn't from Finland. The chaplain's pennant is so shortened now it really does look like the finish Flag. Only a short time left before it gets retired for good.
Here, cheek by jowl with the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Harve de Grace, Chesapeake City and not Internet access. Its like being back in North Carolina.
Friday: NOAA proclaimed with absolute certainty that it would rain all day so I hunkered down. Not a drop fell. I really have to learn not to trust NOAA so much.
Saturday: Bear, Delaware. 39'32.801N/ 075'42.237W
Tripped up from the Sassafras to the C&D Canal. I took the time to watch two tugs, Annacostia and Oyster Creek, man-handle a barge through the canal. It was really something to watch them work. They really know thier stuff.
Again, lots of wood in the water. I don't know where it is coming from but it is like some huge dock was busted apart and all the pieces set loose in the Bay. It is a good thing that I am moving slowly as hitting any of these pieces would ruin my whole day. I had to pull into Summit North Marina for fuel and decided to stay the night. The weather is supposed to crap out. It will also give me the chance to plan the assault on the Delaware Bay. Tomorrow I will either get to Cape May or half way there depending on the tide. The wind should not be too much of a factor. In the Delaware, the tide rules. If all goes well, I could be in New London next weekend!
Boat names: Sea-Clusion; Razamataz; Panic Attack; Final Option.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
What A Difference A Day Makes!
SHIP'S LOG:
Current Location: Bodkin Creek(Main Channel) 39'07.546N/ 076'27.451W (South of Baltimore)
Whereas yesterday was rainy and gray and pretty much a total bust, today was completely different. The day was warm but sunny and there was even some wind. You really couldn't ask for much more, could you?
It was "sail off the anchor", then sail out Harness Creek, they sail down the South River, then sail into the Chesapeake Bay (proper), and then sail into the wind and all the sailing stopped. Sigh! The wind in October had been pretty much on the nose on the way down the Bay, I would have thought that the opposite would be true this spring. It just isn't working out that way. Sigh!
I went passed Annapolis about 10:45. It was there, in Back Creek at the Port Annapolis Marina where I bought ABISHAG. There was a lot of low haze so it was difficult to make out the Naval Academy but I could just pick out a couple of buildings. I had no trouble, on the other hand, seeing all the tankers and cargo ships swinging at anchor south of the Annapolis bridge. It is amazing how many come from Panama! That country must have one of the biggest merchant marine fleets going, right up there with Liberia. Let's hear it for "flags of convenience!"
It was interesting( and heart-warming) to hear commercial captains "slamming " some of the crazy fishermen who were out today. In the low haze, the smaller fishing boats can be a bit hard to spot and, despite what you have heard, radar isn't close to being that good. Commercial captains, some of some rather large vessels, were calling to the "crazy fishermen" who were scooting around all over the place, crossing the shipping channel thither and yon, and not responding to any radio calls. It did get up the ire of the commercial captains and some gave vent to their feelings in some very colorful terms that rarely get heard on channel "16" as the Coast Guard disapproves.
To get into Bodkin Creek I had to cross Bodkin Shoal. When I did this back in the fall, I followed my carefully plotted course, not deviating the slightest bit from the Magenta Highway, which guaranteed that I would go aground. And that I did, a first soft kiss and then, after a lot of screaming, I got off. Today, it really was a piece of cake. I did lay in the course and followed it carefully, but I also kept my eyes out of the cockpit and on the water. This allowed me to notice that in some places on the way into Bodkin Creek, the locals have use "Reduce Speed " buoys as channel markers to enhance the official one and get you in through a rather shallow spot or two. I had no problems but I do hope that they get the channel dredged sometime soon.
I anchor in the same little cove I did when I was here in October. It is a nice little spot but you can tell that the boating season is already underway here in a big way. Lots and lots of traffic, even in this rather same creek. Then again, it will be commissioning day up at TYC this weekend, so summer can't be that far off.
Current Location: Bodkin Creek(Main Channel) 39'07.546N/ 076'27.451W (South of Baltimore)
Whereas yesterday was rainy and gray and pretty much a total bust, today was completely different. The day was warm but sunny and there was even some wind. You really couldn't ask for much more, could you?
It was "sail off the anchor", then sail out Harness Creek, they sail down the South River, then sail into the Chesapeake Bay (proper), and then sail into the wind and all the sailing stopped. Sigh! The wind in October had been pretty much on the nose on the way down the Bay, I would have thought that the opposite would be true this spring. It just isn't working out that way. Sigh!
I went passed Annapolis about 10:45. It was there, in Back Creek at the Port Annapolis Marina where I bought ABISHAG. There was a lot of low haze so it was difficult to make out the Naval Academy but I could just pick out a couple of buildings. I had no trouble, on the other hand, seeing all the tankers and cargo ships swinging at anchor south of the Annapolis bridge. It is amazing how many come from Panama! That country must have one of the biggest merchant marine fleets going, right up there with Liberia. Let's hear it for "flags of convenience!"
It was interesting( and heart-warming) to hear commercial captains "slamming " some of the crazy fishermen who were out today. In the low haze, the smaller fishing boats can be a bit hard to spot and, despite what you have heard, radar isn't close to being that good. Commercial captains, some of some rather large vessels, were calling to the "crazy fishermen" who were scooting around all over the place, crossing the shipping channel thither and yon, and not responding to any radio calls. It did get up the ire of the commercial captains and some gave vent to their feelings in some very colorful terms that rarely get heard on channel "16" as the Coast Guard disapproves.
To get into Bodkin Creek I had to cross Bodkin Shoal. When I did this back in the fall, I followed my carefully plotted course, not deviating the slightest bit from the Magenta Highway, which guaranteed that I would go aground. And that I did, a first soft kiss and then, after a lot of screaming, I got off. Today, it really was a piece of cake. I did lay in the course and followed it carefully, but I also kept my eyes out of the cockpit and on the water. This allowed me to notice that in some places on the way into Bodkin Creek, the locals have use "Reduce Speed " buoys as channel markers to enhance the official one and get you in through a rather shallow spot or two. I had no problems but I do hope that they get the channel dredged sometime soon.
I anchor in the same little cove I did when I was here in October. It is a nice little spot but you can tell that the boating season is already underway here in a big way. Lots and lots of traffic, even in this rather same creek. Then again, it will be commissioning day up at TYC this weekend, so summer can't be that far off.
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