Snowbird Voyage Seven Has Begun
09 October 2015 | Atlantic City, New Jersey
Debbie and Kevin
Over the previous several months, Kevin has taken care of the following in preparation for the voyage:
-rebuilt anchor windlass (salt water had seized the shaft)
-applied three coats of PoliGlow to Grace's hull
-painted tubes and bottom of dinghy
-sealed air leaks in dinghy
-made dinghy chaps
-made replacement forward hatch screen
-replaced ice box shelf
-had zinc on prop shaft replaced
-repaired heat exchanger
-cabin light circuit repair
-repaired cabin top cracks
-refinished the tiller
-replaced bow chock
-rebuilt head pump
-routine engine maintenance
-restocked spare parts
-unstepped Grace's mast
On Thursday, October 1st our seventh consecutive snowbird voyage began after a round of farewell hugs with those at Chipman Point Marina, and as we were assisted with casting off the dock-lines about 9:30 AM. After the lock in Whitehall, we tied to the wall for about an hour, swapping alternators, external regulators, and checking wiring connections to solve voltage fluctuation. We transited Locks 12, 11, and 9 in the Champlain Canal. Shortly after 5:00 PM as we were securing lines to the free wall on the south side of Lock 9, Debbie's Mom and Alan were walking across the lawn to meet up with us for the evening; thank you both for driving over to enjoy the first sundowners of voyage seven onboard Grace and take us out to dinner in Fort Edward, New York!
Before day two's passage began at 10:00 AM on Friday, October 2nd, Kevin swapped alternators again and installed a new belt. We transited Locks 8, 7, 6, 5, and 4, concluding the day's passage about 2:30 PM when we tied up to the free wall and plugged in to the free electricity in Mechanicville. During the dip in air temperature and with no hurry to head into the blustery conditions south of us, we elected to stay put with the heat turned on for a second night; daytime excursions included walks around town to the auto parts store and grocery store; this was our first time to take advantage of the nice free shower facilities that were newly built since our last visit; other than what appeared to be a local boat, the first night Grace had the wall to herself; the second evening four additional boats pulled up, including one that was also from Chipman Point Marina.
About 9:30 AM on Sunday, October 4th we transited Locks 3, 2, and 1 in the Champlain Canal; Grace had each lock chamber to herself during the entire Champlain Canal; in the Troy Federal Lock there were a total of three boats in the chamber together. About 2:30 PM we stopped at Castleton Boat Club, and departed two hours later after filling up two jerry jugs of gasoline, waiting an hour while another sailboat was "taking up space" under the do-it-yourself crane, and stepping Grace's mast. Once underway again Kevin continued getting things ready for the sails to be put on, which we did after dropping the anchor about 5:45 PM near Houghtaling Island; as the anchor was being deployed, the oil pressure switch fulfilled its purpose, and turned the fuel pump off, which caused the engine to stall; then later as we put the headsail on the furler, we discovered a broken pin that holds the furler together and promptly removed the headsail, folded it up and stowed it back in its bag on deck.
It was determined that the stalling engine was caused by the throttle cable coming loose from the clamp which holds it in position, causing RPMs to drop too low to maintain the oil pressure high enough for the oil pressure switch to remain open. When fixing that Kevin also noticed that a cotter pin which holds the cable to the throttle control arm was missing. Once these were rectified and adjusted the engine RPMs at idle were more to our liking than the previous days. After we were underway at 9:45 AM on Monday, October 5th Kevin fixed the furler and cleaned up mast wiring connections that had deteriorated while the mast was unstepped. We rode a favorable current, and anchored for our first time near Esopus Island at about 4:00 PM; we put the headsail on the furler again.
On Tuesday, October 6th about 9:30 AM, we hauled anchor, enjoying another favorable current for most of the passage, and anchored for our first time just north of Nyack shortly after 5:00 PM and stowed the mast support parts below.
About 7:30 AM on Wednesday, October 7th we hauled anchor in hopeful anticipation of the fuel dock on the other side of the Hudson River opening at 8:00 AM; with no response from them on the VHF radio, we pulled up to the fuel dock to learn that it is a "do-it-yourself" pump (the first one we have encountered in our cruising). Another favorable current aided us until about 2:30 PM, when we anchored near the Coast Guard Station, Sandy Hook, New Jersey.
Underway shortly before 4:00 AM on Thursday, October 8th, a brilliant crescent-shaped moon and constellations in the clear night sky, followed by colorful rising of the sun about three hours later, motor-sailing with the genoa with enough wind from our port side for nearly all of the passage in a rather pleasant sea state and comfortable air temperature, we made really good speed the entire passage, pulling into Absecon Inlet and anchoring inside Rum Point shortly after 4:00 PM.
During these passages we have gotten to see eagles, geese, hawks, herons, numerous ducks, one white swan, and one small sea turtle.
Above: the view from our anchorage near Esopus Island on Monday night.