Good Crew

We knew leaving NYC to head out into the Atlantic and down to Cape May at the mouth of the Delaware Bay was a place that we would have elevated senses (aka stress) because we would be encountering currents, tides,  fish havens, commercial vessels, crab pots, lobster pots, and other unknowns.  All this is not what we have been used to sailing on Lake Michigan the last ten plus years.  Our good friend Donald Rome offered to help Pam and me out when we thought we would want an extra hand.  We knew this was a good place to take him up on that offer. 

Donald was to meet us at the Newport Yacht Club in Jersey City, across from NYC.   He arrived early afternoon September 9.  Donald is not a rookie to sailing having cruised the Caribbean for two years with his wife Tracy.  He had packed light using a sport/sailing bag.  (Tip #1) This type of luggage is flexible and light so that it can be stowed away once on the boat.  Hard sided luggage is not a welcome sight if you are joining cruisers for a bit of fun and adventure.

After getting Donald settled in, the three of us headed out for a walk and dinner.  Pam and I now live within a mile from the water that we dock or anchor our boat.  (Tip #2) So it is not uncommon when going out to dinner to walk a mile, enjoy a dinner out, and then walk back. It's also a great way to get a feel for an area. 

Dedicated to the 15,400 Polish officers Intellectual Leaders Massacred by the Soviet in 1940

Pilings along the shore

 This was no surprise to Donald and we had good conversation during our walks and at dinner.

The next day was our planned departure to sail 24 hours to Cape May.  (Tip #3)Although that was the plan weather gods have the power to change all plans.  But we were in luck.  The best weather window for our overnighter would be as planned, although the light winds would require us to motor most, if not all, the way. 

After leaving the dock, we headed out the Hudson to leave NYC at our stern.  Brooklyn was on our left and the Statue of Liberty on our right with the Atlantic in sight just beyond Sandy Point.  Incredible sights

Ellis Island

Lady Liberty

Ellis Island

Staton Island Ferry

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Donald was at the wheel for most of the morning.  Our plan was for the three of us to share sailing during the day with no set schedule, but through the night we would each take a three hour watch.  Pam would take 10:00 – 1:00 AM, I would take the 1:00 – 4:00AM, and Donald would take the 4:00 – 7:00 AM shift.  As Pam started her night watch at 10:00 I stayed up with her for a while.  Donald was down below in the resting in the cabin but came up around 11:00 to keep Pam company and allow me to get some rest.  (Tip #4) It is the duty for crew off watch to rest.  I was glad to have Donald come up to allow me to fulfill my duty and not abandon Pam, although Pam would have been fine if she were alone during her watch.   At 1:00 I was up to relieve Pam and this allowed Pam to go to bed for the night and for

Donald to get three hours of rest before it was his turn on watch.

At 3:50 AM Donald had set an alarm and was up to relive me.  (Tip #5) As good crew he had rested, readied himself for his watch, and was ready to take over as planned.

It was an uneventful night motoring down the New Jersey coast.  Keeping a close eye on the charts we had managed to make the overnighter avoiding the fishing havens that have numerous buoys floating that can catch on the rudder or prop. 

We arrived at Cape May mid morning as the tide was rising and the current was flooding.  The favorable flooding current helped increase our speed into the bay by over 1 knot.  So while the speed over water was 5 knots, the speed over ground was 6 knots.  If this had been an ebbing current of the same speed our speed over ground would have been only 4 knots.  So you can see we had a much easier and quicker time coming into the harbor area.

I was at the wheel to bring us in to the marina to dock.  At Cape May there are several marinas.  Mistakenly, I started towards a marina that I thought was our destination as it was near the correct one.  Donald was at the bow of the boat and called back to me to point to the correct marina.  His attentiveness and directions help direct us to where we had made reservations.  (Tip #6) If on a boat and you see something that does not appear correct, speak up.  It could be the guy behind the wheel needs an extra set of eyes.

In Cape May we had a couple of great meals and rested up for the next leg of our journey – the Delaware Bay.  This was a perfect sail day.  With winds and current pushing from behind we had a perfect day to fly the spinnaker.  It went up with winds giving us a speed over water of 6 knots but the favorable current kicked this up to 8 knots.  To top all this off the winds came from a direction that allowed us to stay on a tack such that we did not have to gybe a single time.

The Rough Life of a Sailor

The next couple of nights we stayed at the small town of Delaware city, DE.   This was pretty much a ghost town, but with thunder storms near we decided to safely wait them out.  We did hop on a bus and ride it about fifteen miles to Wilmington so we could stop at a West Marine to get a couple of things for the boat and to stock up at a grocery store.  While in the West Marine the guy working there found out we were cruisers and had taken the bus to get supplies.  He offered to drive us back to the boat after we had done our shopping.  (Tip #7) When cruising you will meet some of the nicest people.  Take them up on their offers to help.  It makes your life easier and these nice people would not offer if they were not sincere.  By the time we were done getting groceries his wife had gotten off work and stopped by the store to give us that ride back to the boat.  These people were so helpful. 

We finally left Delaware City to go through the C&D canal connecting the Chesapeake Bay with the Delaware Bay. We made a short stop at Chesapeake City for coffee and to walk through a small museum about the C&D Canal.  A few miles south of the canal is the Sassafras River.  We went up the river a couple of miles and tossed the anchor for the night. 

Relaxing After a Great Sail

Sunset at Anchor

The next day we sailed farther down the bay to Rock Hall.  We slowly went up a river a short ways bumping the bottom only one time to get to an anchorage.  Several other boats were also anchored here.  Donald and I dropped the dinghy so that Pam and us boys could head top shore for dinner.  There was a restaurant known for serving blue crabs I wanted to try.  We walked less than a mile after getting to shore and I ordered the crabs.  Not often does one get to eat their food using a wood mallet to help extract the edible parts of the meal.  In the future I think I will stick with crab cakes and let someone else pick out the meat from these hard shell critters.

Blue Crabs for Dinner

Waking the next morning we were now heading to Baltimore where Donald would catch a train back to NYC to see David, his son for a couple of days.  (Tip #8) If you join a cruiser you may need to plan on a departure point other different than where you begin the trip.  Fortunately in this part of the country we had several options and some flexibility for Donald’s return to his home.

Going into Baltimore Harbor we were overtaken by a couple of massive cargo ships.  It always amazes me that even with the enormity of these vessels they still appear graceful maneuvering through the waters.

Big Boat in Distance

Big Boat Coming Through

The last night with Donald we had dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant in Baltimore’s Little Italy.  In the morning Donald called for a limo to take him to the train station and he was off.
The last night with Donald we had dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant in Baltimore’s Little Italy.  In the morning Donald called for a limo to take him to the train station and he was off.

Dinner in Baltimore

We really enjoyed having Donald as a guest.  Having an extra person on board made things easier for me and Pam.   Who's next?

Have Fun - We are

Jeff