At 6:30 AM on Thursday we cast off the docklines in Fort Edward. Amid the workboats in the Champlain Canal, Grace was the only southbound pleasure vessel in Locks 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and the Troy Federal Lock. Shorts and sunburns ensued as we passed downtown Albany, and later pulling up to the dock at Castleton Boat Club at 4:30 PM. Thanks to our friends and fellow cruisers, Rob and Sue, for being the advance party at the club to assess the situation and assist us with stepping Grace's mast in such timely fashion! An hour later they tossed us our lines and we headed downriver. About 7PM, as the final visible light of the day was fading, we were anchored behind Houghtaling Island.

Friday at 7:30 AM we hauled anchor, and while underway Kevin tuned the rig, and put the boom, mainsail, and genoa all back in place. We kept the mainsail raised for the next few hours, giving us a slight boost over the speed of just the engine alone. At 2:00 PM we anchored in Astor Cove and got the whisker pole mounted on the mast.

During a break in the Saturday morning rain showers and after the current turned in our favor, we donned light foul weather gear and got underway at 12:15 PM, utilizing the bimini over the cockpit for coverage from light showers, which turned to light rain, and then gave way to baby blue sky peaking through grey-streaked clouds before we dropped anchor at 4:15 PM near the Beacon Sloop Club.

Allowing the air temperature to rise and the current to be in our favor, at 11:45 AM on Sunday we hauled anchor, folding the bimini back to allow the sunshine to warm us. Passing the sights of Bannermans Castle ruins, West Point Military Academy, and Bear Mountain Bridge all surrounded by glowing fall colors, once we entered Haverstraw Bay we shut off the engine for about a half hour, and joined the dozen already sailing vessels in the bay, using our genoa only until the final approach into the anchorage shortly after 3:30 PM on the north side of Croton Point. This being the first shared stop of this snowbird voyage, Grace was one of five sailboats anchored there for the night.

Monday at 11:15 AM we began making slow, but steady headway toward the Tappan Zee and George Washington Bridges, in strong south wind against favorable current, burying Grace's bow with water running down her foredecks multiple times. Flatter conditions were present as we passed Manhattan, which provided some shelter from the southerly winds. It was too bumpy to get a non-blurry photo, but there was a gorgeous sunset sky as a backdrop to the Statue of Liberty as we passed her all lit up for the evening. We saw the city lights illuminate as we left them astern and headed towards Sandy Hook into a slow-going, choppy finish to the day's passage at midnight when the anchor was set.

Yesterday and today, in shorts and t-shirts, we tightened the rudder packing nut, cleaned the carburetor spark arrester, picked up some groceries, and finished preparing for the offshore run - topped off fuel with jerry jugs by dinghy, and put jacklines on deck. The next two days forecast is looking favorable for the dozen-plus vessels that are staged here for the passage south.

This morning our friend John came by to say hello in his clam boat, the Bonnie Parker, pictured above. Shortly thereafter, he assisted a sinking boat by pulling two woman and two young children out of the water.

During these passages we have gotten to see numerous geese and ducks, six bald eagles, two loons, and one falcon (what think we saw four of on the first day of this snowbird voyage).