The video is of the chop in the Chesapeake. Doesn't do it justice as I missed the worst part, but you'll get the idea.
I did not take more than a couple of pictures. The following picture is of Cardona as we were leaving Sandy Hook in the morning.
We had a good weather window for Wednesday - Thursday passage down the coast of NJ. I also wanted to make it to the Chesapeake Bay before Saturday as strong northerlies were forecasted for the weekend and that doesn't work for traveling up the Delaware. As it turned out, everything worked perfectly - for me. More on that in a bit.
Winds were steady SE 15 - 20 kts, mostly 20 kts, all day and through the evening until I got near Little Egg inlet, and then they clocked S. All of this worked great and sailed close hauled throughout. The winds shifted SW the last three hours prior to making Cape May and it was a motoring event the rest of the way to Cape May, arriving there at sunrise. The swells were 2' - 5', but out of the NE, so with the SE winds, seas were a bit confused and it was a lumpy ride all down the coast. Averaged 5.5 kts for the trip. Caught the tide right at Cape May and traversed the Cape May Canal to the Delaware Bay. Carried the tide all the way north to the C&D Canal and then even through the canal to the Chesapeake Bay. Then it got sloppy with 15 kts SW wind against 2 kt ebb current and the standing waves were relentless, bringing the boat to an absolute hard stop every series of 10 or so waves made for a very long 4 hours to the planned anchorage in the Sassafras River. After not sleeping at all the night before and going 40 hours straight, I dropped like a rock and slept like a baby Thursday night.
Carlos and Jim on Cardona, had a different experience. With no radar and traveling slower, they made the decision to cut it short for the day after 38 nm and go into the Manasquan inlet for the evening. I don't have all the details, but they made it through the inlet, but then got caught in a strong current and were pushed into a railroad bridge, bow first. They took out a piling and grounded the rudder somehow. The coast guard and Towboat US came to their aid and towed them to safety. They hauled out the next day, pulled the rudder and straightened the rudder post, and relaunched the same day. When I spoke with them yesterday, they were planning to head back out. I haven't heard from them today so am hoping they are making safe passage south, or have found safe harbor somewhere.
I will be staying in Annapolis until the 10th. The sailboat show starts Thursday, Nikki is flying in next weekend for a long overdue reunion for us after 3 weeks apart. Sister Susan is planning to meet me here next weekend and accompany me south through Virginia and North Carolina. Have not firmed up the plan there yet, but something like that.