After 2 nights in Jersey City, it was time to move. The first day to Manasquan, NY, a small fishing port. Following the compass course so as to reach Manasquan, we were headed directly into the South wind, so we motored all day. Our first experience with fixed docks, rather than floating docks. So getting Colby off the boat at low tide was a real challenge!
Then the next day on to Atlantic City. This day we put up the main, and still motored. Having some sail up made the motion easier, but it was a long day, over 50 miles. We got to Atlantic City just at dusk, as the wind was picking up, and we became disoriented in the heavy surf going into the harbor. All of a sudden we realized we were headed directly at a beach! We quickly turned around and headed back out, and called the Coast Guard. They very kindly sent out a boat and guided us in. Thank you US Coast Guard!!! We had made an incorrect assumption, that the harbour would be well marked.
Our friends John and Linda, on Triton's Trumpet, a 41 foot trawler, who have done this several times before, said they also had a tough time getting in. But they have a chartplotter, and followed their previous route in. Soooo.......you guessed it, yesterday we went to West Marine and bought a chartplotter. We have along way to go, and we were really lucky this time. We will, of course, continue to use our paper charts, but having backup makes a ton of sense. We have a computer program, but the nav station is below, and it would be difficult to try to work with a computer in our open cockpit boat.
Anyway, a big nor'easter came through, with winds gusting to 50 knots and seas 9 to 14 feet. All day Wednesday it blew hard; Wednesday night we had lots of extra line out. We are at a small marina, Gardiner's Boat Basin, next to the Aquarium. We are on an outer dock, so we had protection, but it was minimal. Even last night when we went to bed it was gusting to 30, but today it has calmed down quite a bit. Today we wait for the seas to calm down, and will likely head for Cape May tomorrw, Sunday at the latest. Today Dick is installing the chartplotter. We also need to repair our inflatable, which was damaged on Wednesday night in the storm.
A positive note! Karen's brand new Helly Hansen jacket has already ripped on one sleeve. A contact with Helly Hansen today, and they have a new one waiting at the Helly Hansen store in Annapolis!
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3 comments:
I have been thinking about you guys all week wondering how the weather was effecting your travels--this has been a challenge at the very least. It's good to see that your earning that ol' salt!
Cheers!
--Rich
I am so glad you have a traveling partner.
It sounds like the adventure of a lifetime.
Keep up the fight and hopefully once you get the hang of it things will get easier.
Frank and Sue (and Corky too)
It has been several days since you last posted and I wondered how you folks did in the storm. It wasn't so bad here in N. VA but I saw that it was much worse near you. I'm glad to hear your damage was minimal.
A chart plotter is a good idea, even if you are an expert at visual nav and piloting. Do you have a way to take (preferably magnetic) bearings to nav points on the shore line of your charts and plot them? I hope your chart table is big enough for it. Mine isn't!
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