The Reversal

It was a very difficult decision.

Trefoil is now on the hard in Kingston, NY, where she will spend the winter. We are at home.

When we arrived at Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City, We started checking the weather for the next few days, which would be the trip out into the Atlantic Ocean, down the New Jersey coast. We needed 3 good days to do this trip, first into Manasquan, then Atlantic City and then Cape May. We have been up and down this coast 4 times on previous trips and we knew what the trip entailed. The weather showed one good day early in the week, then higher winds and seas (winds 20 -25 knots, some days gusting to 30 knots, seas 2 -4 feet, and 3-5 feet. Even one day with seas 7 - 10 feet!) The boat could handle it easily, but the people and the dog might not like these conditions too well! We know from past experience that these are 3 very long days in a 5 knot boat. The full week forecast wasn't looking good, and then we couldn't be certain it would improve at the end of the week. We had lost 6 good travel days early on due to the factors already described, and that was affecting us now.

We were at Liberty Landing Marina, a very nice but also very expensive marina. To stay there a week would have cost over $1000. Other options we considered were:

1. 79th Street Marina, 6 miles back up the river, where moorings are $30 a night. But the area is also exposed to passing water taxis and tugs, and can be very "rolly."
2. We considered moving over to Sandy Hook, in the Atlantic Highlands anchorage area. We haven't been there, but have heard stories of boats dragging anchor there. Even though we have a very adequate anchor, you don't always know what your neighbor might have down and how much scope he/she is using. In a blow this could be a problem.
3. Great Kills Harbor. We have been there before and found good holding but we also knew that this particular area (Staten Island) was especially hard hit during Hurricane Sandy, and we were unsure what we might find there.

The first year we headed south, we were in Jersey City on November 1. We continued on to the Chesapeake and then hauled the boat the week before Thanksgiving for the winter as it was getting very cold (it was snowing the day we drove home!). The second time we headed south, we were in Norfolk, Virginia by November 1. Big difference. That year we continued on the Florida. This time, we might have been in Cape May by November 1, if the weather improved. Sounding kind of like the first trip! Also, in other years, we have gotten part way down the coast and then been held up in Atlantic City for 5 days, waiting for weather to improve. We definitely did NOT want to do this again.

As we discussed our options, we also considered the fact that while we have taken some very nice extended trips on this boat, we have not actually sailed her a lot. When traveling, we often end up motoring or motor sailing, as we always want to get from point A to Point B, and the wind doesn't always cooperate. Trefoil is a beautiful boat and a great sailing boat. The thought of spending a whole summer just sailing on Lake Champlain (no list of spring projects!) has a lot of appeal.

Ultimately, the decision was to head back north. So after a mini-vacation at Liberty Landing (the 3 of us did make one trip into Manhattan by water taxi, so that we could go to Whole Foods for provisions!), it took us 2 days to get to Kingston. The tide was with us on the return trip. We had been to Roundout Yacht Basin several years ago, and knew that it is a very protected area for winter storage. We made a trip home to get a vehicle (thank you, Susan!), and began the process of unloading the boat. Lots of food, clothing, 60 pounds of dog food, 10 pounds of chews to take home! We also drove to Utsch's Marina in Cape May, to pick up some items we had arranged to have sent there, anticipating that we would be there for a short stay. We chatted with Wayne, who has worked there for years, and told him we hadn't seen 3 good days in the forecast for the trip from New York Harbor to Cape May. "Three good days, I'd like to see three good hours!" said Wayne. He told us that boats that did make the trip down the coast were coming in asking for the weekly rate and even the monthly rate, they were so "beat up" by the trip down the coast!

Trefoil was hauled on October 31. We look forward to the trip back to Lake Champlain in the spring and some great sailing next summer!

Oh, the (minor) troubles we've seen.......

We moved on from Kingston and all the beautiful boats there, and down the Hudson River, anticipating our next stop to be Haverstraw, where we have been before. However, we were in the wrong part of the tide cycle for moving south, and progress was slow. We realized we wouldn't be able to make it in daylight hours, so we looked for other options. Not wanting to spend the big bucks to go to a marina, it appeared that the best option was the Marlboro Yacht Club, which has moorings available. We arrived there late afternoon, and since we had been unable to reach anyone either by phone or VHF radio. we simply picked up a mooring (there were 7 open moorings). We took the dinghy in to shore (very happy Jonah!) and stuffed $15 in the door with our boat card, since our outdated Skipper Bob book said moorings were $10. Later on, toward dark, a couple of sailboats arrived at the dock and someone, apparently from the club, greeted them. And shortly after, a dinghy approached us and with a friendly greeting, we were asked to move, since the mooring we were on was reserved by one of the boats that had just arrived. (Never mind that there were still 6 open moorings.) And by the way, the fee for a mooring was $25. We had no problem with that, and gladly paid the extra $10. But being told we had to move because that specific mooring ball was reserved? Anyway, we did as we were asked, and the Club member helped us to tie up on a different mooring. It did have an extra line with a float attached to it, which seemed odd, and we had to use our own line to tie up to the mooring instead of a pick up stick, as there was on the first one we had gone to. Anyway, we noticed that the sailboats at the dock apparently changed their mind and stayed put, so we didn't really have to move after all! By then it was definitely dark so we stayed put. The next AM, we waited for the tide, and prepared to depart about 11:30 AM, on the high tide. We cast off from the mooring, and thought we were free, but as we moved away, that extra line wrapped around our prop! Arghhhhhh!!! Not going anywhere now. So Dick went ashore with the dingy and Karen and Jonah stayed on the boat. About an hour later, Dick returned with Art, a YC member, who cut the line, and then said that we needed to be towed to the gas dock, and then hauled out (the YC has a travel lift) to assess the situation. Another YC member showed up at that point with his dinghy and helped tow us ashore. Art strongly felt we had to be hauled out to see the line, so that was done. The line was cut off and we were lowered back into the water again. All for the reasonable rate of $100, cash please. Then began the difficult task of reattaching the backstay, which had to be taken off to get us into the travel lift. Our backstay is very difficult to attach; at Riverview, with no jib on the forestay, it took 3 people's strength to get the pin in place. Now everyone was gone and we were trying to do it ourselves, with the jib on the forestay. About ready to take the jib down in order to get everything in place, another YC member stopped by to offer assistance. Tony has a Morgan 38 sailboat, and was a big help. The pin was soon in place, but by the time we chatted with Tony, put away all the lines that had been used and were ready to move, it was 4:30. So back to a mooring ( the first one!) for the night. And a rocky night it was! Wind from the south and several tugs going by. Next day, off at noon (definitely in the wrong part of the tide cycle, but it doesn't make much sense to travel against an incoming tide.) The folks at Marlboro Yacht Club were all friendly, helpful and ready to assist. Once again, if we had to have a problem, it was a good place to be.

Down the river, past Newburgh, past West Point (impressive as always!) and we planned to anchor at Croton, across from Haverstraw. We have used this anchorage before, but the wind was blowing in from the north, the tide was low (Damn those tides!) and we were reading depths of 6.9 feet. So quick, out of there, and over to Haverstraw Marina, across the bay. It took over an hour to get there, with the wind and tide, and we got to the dock at 6:30, after sunset. We have been here several times before, so we knew how to get to the rest rooms and where to walk the dog! It is a very large marina.

We had been hearing some funny noises again, and we were concerned that we might have more mechanical problems to deal with. But Dick checked everything in the AM and other than needing to tighten the V belt, all seemed OK. The ladder was a bit off kilter and that was straightened out. So off at noon, expecting to make it to the NYC area by late afternoon.

The first part of the afternoon was fine, Karen made lunch, did dishes, and some other boat chores. But by the time we got to the Tappan Zee Bridge, where the river is a bit wide, the wind really picked up, from the south, so it was on the nose. We had planned to get to NYC, but it became apparent that wasn't gong to happen. So we found an alternative, the Alpine Marina in New Jersey. Not a good place to go in to, with only 2 inches if water at low tide! But we could anchor outside the bulkhead in good holding, we were told. We arrived there about 5:00 PM, got the hook down, and had a bit of protection from the wind. As we sat in the cockpit, watching to be sure we were not dragging, we realized we had become a target for some of the local men who we fishing off the bulkhead of the marina. "Who can snag the sailboat?" Someone did, got their line and hook entangled with our lifelines. Dick carefully got the line unattached and sent it back, with a "thank you!" and that seemed to be the end of the sport. Finally Jonah ashore for some exercise. Given the conditions and all the people around, we decided it would be prudent to sit watch, so we took turns sitting up for 2 1/2 hours each all night, to keep an eye on everything. Not a fun night. Toward morning as the sun started to come up, Dick lit the diesel stove and it quickly heated up the cabin. Very welcome!! A quick trip ashore with Jonah in the AM, and then underway soon after. Even though we were traveling against the tide, we still wanted to get away from that spot.

So on to the Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City, just across from Manhattan. For a while we were only making 1.5 knots, but at least we were moving and it was a beautiful day. It took us 5 hours to travel 16 nautical miles! We were very happy to arrive at Liberty Landing Marina, an excellent facility.

Movin' on

Finally! The bolts are in place (actually only one new one, and two of the old ones went back in). To the fuel dock for some diesel and a pumpout, and finally underway again at 1:45 PM.. Riverview is a great place to be, but time to move on. We traveled 20 miles, to Kingston, where we got a spot at the City Marina. And the New York Yacht Club was already here! Wow! Talk about beautiful boats, mostly motor yachts, absolutely gorgeous! And to top it off, Bolero is also here, the classic S&S sailboat. We first saw it in Mystic in 2004. Impeccably maintained.

This morning Dick is off to get some more of the correct size bolts at the same Fastenal store we went to on Monday, and then we will be off down the Hudson River. We should be able to leave at high tide, which will give us a good boost going down the river.

Even sailboats can have engine woes.......

We left the town dock in Waterford on Thursday, October 10, and had a nice, but chilly, ride to Riverview Marine in Catskill Creek. Freshwater sailors that we are, we became re-acquainted with the power of the tide! Leaving just after high tide in Troy,, doing 6.1 knots, by the end of the day we were down to 3.7 knots, as the tide had turned against us. We arrived at Riverview Marine in Catskill Creek at 6:00 PM, and were greeted by Leonard and Lynnea Rosner on their Sabre 36, Antares. They are from Burlington, and we had met them in 2010 in Chrleston, S.C. We have seen each other on Lake Champlain since and have kept in touch. Heading south again this year also, they had arrived in Waterford while we were there, and had quickly moved on, so by the time we got here to Riverview, they already had their mast up and sails on. Mike, owner of Riverview Marine, was also there with a friendly greeting. This is our seventh visit to Riverview, for either mast up or mast down service! Mike is great and the crew very helpful and professional. We always enjoy our time here.

Just a while before we arrived, Dick had noticed that the engine was sounding different. Hmmmmm. But it was late, we were tired, and time for dinner and sleep. The crew was ready to put up our mast the next morning, so we were on the dock, ready to go at 8:00 AM. Mast up, forestay and aftstay attached, shrouds on and tensioned. Getting hot, so the bimini went on next for some shade, then finally the jib was hoisted and furled. (It is a lot of work to put a sailboat back together!) Saturday, mainsail on, reefing lines run, lazyjacks in place, sailcover on (did I mention how much work it is to put a sailboat back together?), laundry done, new registration numbers on the dinghy, and finally! putting the boat back to order below. The sails had been in the quarterberth, but now that they are where they are supposed to be, the quarterberth now becomes "the garage."

We thought we would be ready to leave Sunday morning, but Dick thought he needed to check out that engine noise. He found a broken bolt in the Vetus flexible shaft coupling. :( Mike didn't have the right size, and he tried to find one locally, but being Sunday and Columbus Day weekend, he didn't have any luck. Since we were still here, we had an opportunity to SKYPE with Jane, Pete and Benjy in London. That is always a high point! Great to see their smiling faces! Monday morning, Karen went online, got the number for Vetus U.S. and found out that they didn't have the bolts in stock, would have to have them air freighted from Holland!!! But Bob at Vetus in Maryland suggested Fastenal. So we rented a car and went off to Fastenal in Kingston. A lovely drive down Route 9W, got the bolts (a few extra, just to be sure), a quick lunch, and back again. Then Dick went to install the bolts and discovered that they were too long! Argh!!!!!!!!! It turned out that Mike had the correct length after all. Ouch. Anyway, today is Tuesday, and Dick is struggling (and occasionally cursing) to get this put back together correctly. He is replacing all of the bolts in the flexible coupling while he is in there. Mike is lending him any tool he might need.

Meanwhile, Karen has been busy cleaning...the decks and hull have been washed, the waterline scrubbed (we grew lots of scum while the boat sat on a mooring for 6 weeks this summer while we were away), the dingy has been washed, inside and out (the remainder of the Whitehall mud excursion has been cleaned up!). Now on to doing some charting for our southerly route, since I inadvertently wiped out all our tracks on the chartplotter from our last trip south. Grrrr!

The downside is that we are stuck here and this would be beautiful traveling weather...warm, sunny, mild breeze. But the upside is that we are in a good place to have a problem. People at the marina are friendly and helpful, and Jonah is getting lots of walks and playtime! If this bolt was going to break, it could have happened in a much worse time and place. Hopefully this will be resolved soon and we will be on our way south!

A dog's tale

Hi folks! Mom and Dad said I should do the first blog entry. I don't quite understand what a blog is, since I can't eat it, roll in it or pee on it, but anyway, I can tell you about what we are doing. One day last week (October 1), we drove to Port Henry, where our sailboat usually is. We've done this lots of times before, but this time, my friend Toby (Apollo's Dad) came with us, we unloaded a whole lot of stuff, and before I knew what was happening, he drove away with our car! So we slept on the boat that night, that's OK, we've done that before. Then the next day, a big machine run by Ron (Jake's Dad) lifted up our mast and laid it down on the boat! Hmmmm...Then the next morning, we went for a long ride on the boat. It was a nice day and I rode on top of the coach house, where I had a really good view and soaked up some sunshine. OK, this isn't bad. But it was getting late, almost dark and I was getting hungry and really needed a "shore call." Finally, Dad put the anchor down, pulled the dinghy along side ( I LOVE the dinghy!) and we rowed ashore! Yay!!!! I jumped out and had a great time jumping around in the MUD!!!! Dad was yelling at me, and I couldn't figure out why! I had been on the boat for a long time and this was so much FUN! After a couple of minutes, he made me get back in the boat and we rowed to the other side of the channel. I guess he thought this side would be better. Well, there was lots of mud here too! It was great!! I was having so much fun that I forgot to do my "business." Dad made me get back in the dinghy and we went back to the boat, He didn't seem very happy. I don't know why, a little mud never hurt a dog. Anyway, he stayed in the dinghy for a while cleaning it up and Mom gave me a bath in the cockpit of the big boat. Well, the next morning, I didn't get to go ashore again for another pay time in the mud, instead we went into a big cave that Dad said was a Lock. We were in there a while, and the water got higher, then we went out the other side. We went to the first dock and tied up the boat, then I got to go for a walk on the grass, and take care of all my business. Wow, did I feel better!

We had another long ride the second day, and went through some more locks. I sat in the cockpit and watched, wishing I could get out and run around. Finally, we got to a place called Fort Edward, where we tied up the boat for the night. Great! But the wall was very high and I couldn't jump off the boat. Mom and Dad had to go up a ladder on the wall to get off the boat. I don't climb ladders. But I'm glad Mom and Dad were prepared for this; they pulled out something called a doggie ramp and put it between the boat and the top of the wall. At first I didn't like the idea and didn't want to go up the ramp, but Mom was at the other end with a biscuit (I do like to eat) and finally I dashed up the ramp! Well, that wasn't so bad! Then I could run an jump and play ball and well, do all my "business." After that, I went up and down the ramp like a pro. Maybe I should try out for the circus! Later that evening , while we were having dinner, we heard a familiar voice. We all went outside, and it was Lee and Joanne Mull (Duncan's parents), our boat neighbors from the marina. They work as much on their boat in the spring as Mom and Dad do on ours. We all talked for a while; it was nice to see friends.

Then the next day, not long after we left, we saw a boat sitting in the middle of the canal. It was a sailboat that we had seen last night at Fort Edward, and Mom and Dad had talked a little with the people. Well they were stuck! So we pulled them off! Dad said the other boat was a 44 Jeanneau, not bad that our Tartan 34 could pull them free! Then more locks, with the Jeanneau right behind us all the way. Finally, we got to a place called Lock One Marina, and who was there on the dock but Uncle Larry!! He is a friend of ours, and we went to his house for dinner last year. Well, it seems that Uncle Larry and his brother now own Lock One Marina and we were here to stay for a couple of days so that Uncle Larry could do some work for us. It is a nice place and I could go swimming!! Yay!! We got to use Uncle Larry's truck to do some errands...it was very nice of him, but boy, is his truck noisy!! One night we went to Uncle Larry's house for dinner. That was nice, I got to lie on the living room carpet and take a nap! We were at the marina 3 nights and 2 days, and then it was time to leave. I really didn't want to go, it is a great place for a dog!

We went through one more lock and came to the town dock in Waterford. This is the town where Dad grew up! I remember coming here last summer when we took our trip on the boat. This is a nice place, too! Mom and I took a long walk along the canal, and there are lots of other people here on boats. Some of them have dogs, and I even smelled a cat on one boat! Mom and Dad are getting some "odd jobs" done, whatever that means. They say we are laving tomorrow, that's too bad, I like it here, too. But actually, I have liked it every where we have been so far, so I guess the next place will probably be good, too. I don't know how far we are going or how long we will be living on the boat. When people ask where we are going, Mom and Dad say "south." I don't know where that is. But we have lots of dog food, biscuits, chews and peanut butter, so life is good for this dog!