New York to Annapolis
New York to Annapolis
Several weeks ago, we traveled up Long Island Sound, passing through Hell Gate at the East River and then north on the Hudson. We stayed at the West79th Street Boat Basin just outside Riverside Park. We met up with our Georgian Bay sailing buddies, the Grundys, on Counterpoint - Ian, Carol, Katie and Mathew. We all walked around New York City the next day, going to Times Square, up the Empire State Building and visiting the site of the World Trade Centre. We had planned to stay in New York for a few days but we needed engine repairs and were trying to make it down the Jersey coast in an approaching weather window. We split up from Counterpoint and headed for a boat yard. We motored out of New York harbour and put up our sails past the Verrazano Bridge. We had quite a nice sail going into Raritan Bay, passing more fishing boats than you can imagine! We had to pass through two bascule bridges and go down a creek to get there. What an experience! We got through the first bridge, which opens on the hour, only to find the railway bridge closed for a train. We waited in a rather cramped area between closed bridges with eight other boats for the train to arrive.
Sunday, Oct. 1 was Doug’s birthday. What he wanted most for his birthday was a working Beke (Westerbeke) - our engine. Although a mechanic stopped by on Sunday to discuss the problem with the engine, he did not come to repair it until early Monday morning. Doug’s diagnosis of the problem was correct – a plugged screen on the fuel uptake. Our engine was repaired quickly and we set off for the Manasquan River, part way down the Jersey coast. After motoring to Sandy Hook, we put up our sails. We started slow but before long we were going over six knots on a broad reach. The boat was flat and the winds were offshore so there weren’t any waves, making the sail one of our best on this trip. We caught up with Counterpoint, and met Dan and Mel on Jazz and Ray on Cadana, in Glimmer Glass Bay. We left at first light Tuesday morning, passing through the very tight bascule bridge we had negotiated the night before, heading toward Atlantic City. We powered down the coast, bashing into waves. Our weather window had vanished and a storm was coming. We bailed out at Barnegat Inlet after talking to a local who guided us in. While there, we climbed the 277 steps up the Barnegat Lighthouse. Even Doug came up, making it to the top. We headed toward Atlantic City powering down the inside route, just barely making it under the Manahawkin bridge. The waters were unusually high due to the tide cycle and the Northeast winds. We made it into Beach Haven, deciding to tie up in a slip instead of anchoring behind an island of grass. We stayed four days tied up to piers in the howling wind as the Nor’easter blew through. The water covered the catwalk, leaving us stranded on the boat and flooding the town. We had some electrical work done on Thanksgiving Monday and then set off for Atlantic City.
We arrived in Atlantic City early enough to head in to town. We walked on the Boardwalk, passing Atlantic, Pacific, Oriental, Vermont, Connecticut and States Avenues, all the while thinking of Monopoly, which was created in Atlantic City. We went into the Taj Mahal and played slot machines, a first time experience. Trump made ten dollars from us but Carol won. It was quite entertaining to see her cash in her winnings, exclaiming that she had won. She collected her thirteen dollars and then we were on our way. We took a Jitney back to our dinghies and headed back to the boats.
We headed off to Cape May the next morning, motorsailing at first and then sailing. We saw our first dolphins along this stretch of coast, but they were too far away for a photo. When we arrived in Cape May we checked the heights of the bridges to make sure we could make it under them. Although only rated as 56’ bridges, the rulers showed 58’ at low tide so we got up at 5:30 a.m. to be ready to role at first light. We pulled up our anchor shortly after 7:00 and headed for the Cape May Canal and Delaware Bay. We passed under the bridges without difficulty and were soon motoring up the Delaware. We shut off the engine and were sailing up the Delaware at 8 to 81/2 knots most of the way. At one point, we reached 9.8 knots! It’s amazing what a current can do for speed! We anchored in Chesapeake City, which is in the C&D (Chesapeake/Delaware Canal) and headed off to Annapolis the next morning. We anchored in Back Creek. We spent Saturday at the Power Boat Show, looking for things on our list to buy. We were hoping to make it for the Sailboat Show but that was last week! Today Doug is installing a new head (read toilet) and we are waiting for the arrival of a new chartplotter.
***IMPORTANT NEWS BULLETIN*** Last night we were informed of the safe arrival of a new addition to the family. Mary (Doug’s sister) and John had a baby boy around dinner time, weighing 7lbs. 15 ounces. Congratulations! Please send photos soon!
Several weeks ago, we traveled up Long Island Sound, passing through Hell Gate at the East River and then north on the Hudson. We stayed at the West79th Street Boat Basin just outside Riverside Park. We met up with our Georgian Bay sailing buddies, the Grundys, on Counterpoint - Ian, Carol, Katie and Mathew. We all walked around New York City the next day, going to Times Square, up the Empire State Building and visiting the site of the World Trade Centre. We had planned to stay in New York for a few days but we needed engine repairs and were trying to make it down the Jersey coast in an approaching weather window. We split up from Counterpoint and headed for a boat yard. We motored out of New York harbour and put up our sails past the Verrazano Bridge. We had quite a nice sail going into Raritan Bay, passing more fishing boats than you can imagine! We had to pass through two bascule bridges and go down a creek to get there. What an experience! We got through the first bridge, which opens on the hour, only to find the railway bridge closed for a train. We waited in a rather cramped area between closed bridges with eight other boats for the train to arrive.
Sunday, Oct. 1 was Doug’s birthday. What he wanted most for his birthday was a working Beke (Westerbeke) - our engine. Although a mechanic stopped by on Sunday to discuss the problem with the engine, he did not come to repair it until early Monday morning. Doug’s diagnosis of the problem was correct – a plugged screen on the fuel uptake. Our engine was repaired quickly and we set off for the Manasquan River, part way down the Jersey coast. After motoring to Sandy Hook, we put up our sails. We started slow but before long we were going over six knots on a broad reach. The boat was flat and the winds were offshore so there weren’t any waves, making the sail one of our best on this trip. We caught up with Counterpoint, and met Dan and Mel on Jazz and Ray on Cadana, in Glimmer Glass Bay. We left at first light Tuesday morning, passing through the very tight bascule bridge we had negotiated the night before, heading toward Atlantic City. We powered down the coast, bashing into waves. Our weather window had vanished and a storm was coming. We bailed out at Barnegat Inlet after talking to a local who guided us in. While there, we climbed the 277 steps up the Barnegat Lighthouse. Even Doug came up, making it to the top. We headed toward Atlantic City powering down the inside route, just barely making it under the Manahawkin bridge. The waters were unusually high due to the tide cycle and the Northeast winds. We made it into Beach Haven, deciding to tie up in a slip instead of anchoring behind an island of grass. We stayed four days tied up to piers in the howling wind as the Nor’easter blew through. The water covered the catwalk, leaving us stranded on the boat and flooding the town. We had some electrical work done on Thanksgiving Monday and then set off for Atlantic City.
We arrived in Atlantic City early enough to head in to town. We walked on the Boardwalk, passing Atlantic, Pacific, Oriental, Vermont, Connecticut and States Avenues, all the while thinking of Monopoly, which was created in Atlantic City. We went into the Taj Mahal and played slot machines, a first time experience. Trump made ten dollars from us but Carol won. It was quite entertaining to see her cash in her winnings, exclaiming that she had won. She collected her thirteen dollars and then we were on our way. We took a Jitney back to our dinghies and headed back to the boats.
We headed off to Cape May the next morning, motorsailing at first and then sailing. We saw our first dolphins along this stretch of coast, but they were too far away for a photo. When we arrived in Cape May we checked the heights of the bridges to make sure we could make it under them. Although only rated as 56’ bridges, the rulers showed 58’ at low tide so we got up at 5:30 a.m. to be ready to role at first light. We pulled up our anchor shortly after 7:00 and headed for the Cape May Canal and Delaware Bay. We passed under the bridges without difficulty and were soon motoring up the Delaware. We shut off the engine and were sailing up the Delaware at 8 to 81/2 knots most of the way. At one point, we reached 9.8 knots! It’s amazing what a current can do for speed! We anchored in Chesapeake City, which is in the C&D (Chesapeake/Delaware Canal) and headed off to Annapolis the next morning. We anchored in Back Creek. We spent Saturday at the Power Boat Show, looking for things on our list to buy. We were hoping to make it for the Sailboat Show but that was last week! Today Doug is installing a new head (read toilet) and we are waiting for the arrival of a new chartplotter.
***IMPORTANT NEWS BULLETIN*** Last night we were informed of the safe arrival of a new addition to the family. Mary (Doug’s sister) and John had a baby boy around dinner time, weighing 7lbs. 15 ounces. Congratulations! Please send photos soon!
posted by The Maras at 3:35 p.m.
1 Comments:
Hi Darlene & Doug & Kids, First time reading your blog. Where are you now? We will pick some favourites from our log book for places that you might want to visit. Annapolis, of course, is beautiful. I love staying there for a few days and taking the dinghy ashore to shop for bargins,
Hugh
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