Gotta Love Days Like Some of These
13 October 2014 | Bohemia River, Upper Chesapeake Bay, Maryland
Debbie
The red moon we viewed as it came over the horizon on Wednesday evening provided us with bright illumination in the clear sky upon our departure from Atlantic Highlands at 4:00 AM on Thursday. As we began rounding Sandy Hook some of the genoa was added to Grace's propulsion, and then after daybreak more of the genoa plus a reefed mainsail were helping to increase Grace's speed. Feeling confident in the west wind we had been experiencing and that was forecast for the remainder of the day, in the late morning we shook out the reef in the mainsail, turned off the engine, unfurled the full genoa and for about an hour enjoyed free passage south until the wind died and then became a steady more southerly wind, which built increasing seas for us to pound into, slowing our progress down. In order to make headway, we used the mainsail and the traveller to the best advantage, to tack back and forth across our intended heading until just outside the inlet, and the conclusion of the passage, after dark, finding a new spot that we had never anchored in previously among the bright lights of Atlantic City near the high rise bridge and the Coast Guard Station at 7:30 PM.
At 8:00 AM Friday we were underway. We were entertained for about a half hour while our new little friend, pictured above, flew aboard for a short rest inside the canvas of the lifeline cover next to Kevin, followed by perpetually going everywhere, from bow to stern, as if to check all out all of Grace (except inside the cabin), and landing on both of our heads before concluding the visit and flying off toward shore. The no wind passage, in much flatter seas, had us motoring until we were anchored at 3:00 PM in Cape May, New Jersey. Grace was not the first, and would not be the last of the many choosing where we hoped their anchors would keep them through the night, based upon our many experiences in that location. Shortly before sunset, another Vermont sailboat whom we had seen at Atlantic Highlands was not the first but was the second-to-last to cozy up around Grace's spot. Kevin greeted him kindly, asking if he was from Vermont, told him we had out 125 feet of chain, which he sounded surprised to hear and stated he had out 50 feet. Although the wind was not it's usual "blowing like stink", at 2:00 AM when it was raining and the switch in the direction of the current was at its swiftest, the two bows of the Vermont boats allowed us to exchange more personal interactions with the skipper as we fended his boat off from Grace, convinced him that he was still moving and that maybe he should start his engine. Thankfully, all of Kevin's work making Grace's hull look so nice this summer was not disturbed by the incident.
Waiting out Saturday's rain was a nice washdown of Grace's salt-covered topsides, and allowed her crew to get some needed extra rest after the intermittent night of sleep keeping a watch on all the surrounding boats.
Yesterday at first light, 6:45 AM, we hauled anchor and enjoyed a favorable boost from the current during the entire day's passage. Once on the Delaware Bay, motor-sailing with the genoa close hauled gave Grace added stability in the few hours of oncoming waves from the east plus speed of 7 to 8 knots. About mid-day our course took us directly into the wind, which dropped to zero. About 4:15 PM we dropped the hook in the peaceful surrounds inside the mouth of the Bohemia River, and enjoyed happy hour in the warmth of the sun in Grace's cockpit.
During these passages we have gotten to see the first pelican and dolphins of this snowbird voyage, two bald eagles, a pair of loons, and many geese and ducks.