I’m now in Cape May, anchored bow and stern in front of the Coast Guard Seamanship Training Facility, and waiting for a brisk NW wind to die down enough for the run up Delaware Bay. That could be a couple more days.
All but two other boats in the anchorage last night were Canadian. The Americans are all over at the marinas plugged into the Matrix with the umbilicals of power, Internet, and water that their softness requires. It reminds me of what I appreciated so much about Canada and cruising up there.
As further reminder of my time in Canada, the first boat I noticed when I came down the channel was one I spoke to leaving Stonington CT. The owners turned out to be good friends of my Halifax to Saint John crew. Seconds later, I see the motorsailer with the couple I spent a few days with up in Tanner Cove, Nova Scotia. They were hoisting out their dinghy at the moment with two frantic dogs lapping at their heels so it didn’t seem to be the right time to say, “Hello”. They came over in their dinghy and chatted after running the dogs ashore as I was returning in mine from greeting the other boat. They had just come straight through from Marion, MA so were headed off to nap and recover. I’ve finally met up with the ICW snowbird community.
The run down was marvelous. I left at dawn and watched the sun light up the fantasy waterfront of Atlantic City. A couple hours motoring over glassy sea, then a couple hours of motor sailing, and finally a beautiful and relaxing sail close-hauled down to the breakwater entrance. It was only the second time since leaving Portland that I’ve had a reason to hoist the Maine. As soon as I get through Delaware Bay, I should be sailing a lot since I plan to spend a whole month in the Chesapeake and doing lots of visiting and day sailing. One more tough leg, and the long days will be behind me.
Speaking of tough legs, it’s blowing 25 right down the shallow, tide swept, Delaware Bay today. It’s as nasty a piece of water as you’ll find on the east coast. I watched a Canadian singlehanded in a boat about half the size of Strider hoist his anchor and head out. He motored by and asked if I thought it would a good day for going up the bay (tide against the wind). I told him it would be the worst day of his life if not the last. He took that as good advice and is now anchored next to me again. I rowed over and talked with him later. He said he is "rather new at this" and hasn't been able to get local weather reports. Most of the other boats have left, mostly headed out to take advantage of the wind on the offshore route and one to a marina for restocking. He thought they were headed up the bay.
I took time last night to set out a stern anchor since I’m right at the channel edge and wanted to put out enough scope to hold me against possible thunderstorms coming with the front. It was well worth the effort. The current is strong here. When it changed, I turned the boat around. I had to use the engine to get the stern moved around enough for the current to take over as it was too strong to move the boat by hand. When the wind came up about midnight, all the other boats were crosswise to it in the current and rolling in the chop. Strider was pointed right into it on long scope and I hadn’t had to worry about the current swinging her out into the channel during the hours before. I’m also getting a chance to try out the Fortress as a main anchor with my big Delta on the stern to hold me if it doesn’t. So far, it’s doing a great job.
Looks like I’ll be napping, reading, and doing boat chores here for a couple days. Anyway, I’ve finally got these posts caught up to my SPOT position.
All but two other boats in the anchorage last night were Canadian. The Americans are all over at the marinas plugged into the Matrix with the umbilicals of power, Internet, and water that their softness requires. It reminds me of what I appreciated so much about Canada and cruising up there.
As further reminder of my time in Canada, the first boat I noticed when I came down the channel was one I spoke to leaving Stonington CT. The owners turned out to be good friends of my Halifax to Saint John crew. Seconds later, I see the motorsailer with the couple I spent a few days with up in Tanner Cove, Nova Scotia. They were hoisting out their dinghy at the moment with two frantic dogs lapping at their heels so it didn’t seem to be the right time to say, “Hello”. They came over in their dinghy and chatted after running the dogs ashore as I was returning in mine from greeting the other boat. They had just come straight through from Marion, MA so were headed off to nap and recover. I’ve finally met up with the ICW snowbird community.
The run down was marvelous. I left at dawn and watched the sun light up the fantasy waterfront of Atlantic City. A couple hours motoring over glassy sea, then a couple hours of motor sailing, and finally a beautiful and relaxing sail close-hauled down to the breakwater entrance. It was only the second time since leaving Portland that I’ve had a reason to hoist the Maine. As soon as I get through Delaware Bay, I should be sailing a lot since I plan to spend a whole month in the Chesapeake and doing lots of visiting and day sailing. One more tough leg, and the long days will be behind me.
Speaking of tough legs, it’s blowing 25 right down the shallow, tide swept, Delaware Bay today. It’s as nasty a piece of water as you’ll find on the east coast. I watched a Canadian singlehanded in a boat about half the size of Strider hoist his anchor and head out. He motored by and asked if I thought it would a good day for going up the bay (tide against the wind). I told him it would be the worst day of his life if not the last. He took that as good advice and is now anchored next to me again. I rowed over and talked with him later. He said he is "rather new at this" and hasn't been able to get local weather reports. Most of the other boats have left, mostly headed out to take advantage of the wind on the offshore route and one to a marina for restocking. He thought they were headed up the bay.
I took time last night to set out a stern anchor since I’m right at the channel edge and wanted to put out enough scope to hold me against possible thunderstorms coming with the front. It was well worth the effort. The current is strong here. When it changed, I turned the boat around. I had to use the engine to get the stern moved around enough for the current to take over as it was too strong to move the boat by hand. When the wind came up about midnight, all the other boats were crosswise to it in the current and rolling in the chop. Strider was pointed right into it on long scope and I hadn’t had to worry about the current swinging her out into the channel during the hours before. I’m also getting a chance to try out the Fortress as a main anchor with my big Delta on the stern to hold me if it doesn’t. So far, it’s doing a great job.
Looks like I’ll be napping, reading, and doing boat chores here for a couple days. Anyway, I’ve finally got these posts caught up to my SPOT position.
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