12/09/09, NewportRI.
We, Dave Coleman, Will Dyson and Henk, set off from Annapolis early in the morning of Sep. 12, to take Haerlem up to Newport for winter storage and/or sale. Winds varied fro 5 to 15K and we sailed, motored and motor sailed all day, N on the Chesapeake Bay towards the Chesapeake/Delaware canal.
First night was spend in the "Summit North marina" in the Chesapeake - Delaware canal. Next day Sun. brought more of the same and we reached Atlantic City in the early evening.
Haerlem left there around 09.00h and headed for Block Island, we set up a 3 hr watch system, with Henk taking the first, we made good progress with a NW 8 to 14 K wind and steamed in to Champlin Marina inside the big pond on Block Island around Noon on Tue. 15
Wed. brought a stiff breeze 15 to 25K. from the NW so we had a spirited sail, with a couple of tacks in to the Narragansett Bay.
Haerlem was tied up at 15.00h on Thu 16.
Will this be my last entry on sailing Haerlem? only time will tell.
On the photo; Haerlem 10 Oct. 2009
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25/06/09, Annapolis MD
Leaving Norfolk in the early morning of June 24 was bittersweet, in the knowledge that, A no more open Ocean, and B the end of the trip. Henk and Cody visited the "Nauticus" exhibition and the battle ship Wisconsin while berthed alongside "Hooters" in the Waterside Marina.
Winds were extremely light and from the N i.e. on the nose, the boys discussed tacking up the bay, but decided no, they wanted to get it over with, now when they were this close to home, and turned on the Perkins diesel engine.
They did witness an incredible sunset around 20.20h on the bay.
Luckily conditions changed a bit and by the time Cody got his father up for his watch at 03.00h he had been able to raise the sails and turn off the iron wind. We were smoothly sailing at 6/7 kn!
Reaching Thomas Point lighthouse around 07.00h the wind had shifted again and the sails were furled for the last time.
Haerlem passed the Eastport bascule bridge at the 09.00h opening and was tied up at "Petrini Boat Yard" by 09.30h
After 5 weeks and some 2000nm of sailing, 4 stops and one boarding (Coast Guard of the coast of Cuba) Haerlem was home (second home) for the first time.
The boat was hosed off, and father and son went off for breakfast!
Haerlem should be sailing around Annapolis the coming Month, with friends and family and than on the Newport RI.
On the photo; sunset on the Chesapeake Bay
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22/06/09, Norfolk, VA
Yes it is Hot and Humid again, after some relief yesterday.
And yes this was the last Atlantic Ocean passage for Haerlem for a while, since we will be in Annapolis for at least a Month.
We left Charleston in the morning of June 19 with the outgoing tide.
Once outside we raised the newly repaired Gennaker, with some problems, and sailed in a NE direction with 8/15 kn winds for the next 36h. The winds picked up and some thunder was heard so we decided to take down the Gennaker and sail on with Main and Genoa.
Made nice steady progress, under a very hot sun, temps in the Nineties, until around 15.00h on Sun. Wind 25 to 35 (33/40 is a Gale) from the North i.e. straight on our nose.
We had discussed this possibility, and make a run in to Beaufort which by that time was 30 nm to our W, but decided we, and more so the boat, could handle it and press on. We tacked a bit in front of Kitty Hawk, but getting nowhere decided to turn on the eng. with reefed main and Genoa now we were doing 3 to 4 kn!!
Anyway we finally could turn the engine off around 06.00 after we rounded Norfolk and were heading W in to the Chesapeake.
A long 2 or so hour sail to the marina and we tied up around 10.00h
We are in the "Waterside marina" in Norfolk (opposed to Portsmouth)
On the photo, Cody cooking his famous crispy chicken!
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A community table in a restaurant!!!!
Henk knew a few places to eat in Charleston, from previous visits, and had promised Cody some good food.
They headed for "Grill 225" a very sophisticated steak/chop house in the lobby of a hotel on the corner of Market & East Bay. The place is very nice and the food had been great in the past, this time...the place was empty and the food was old, too bad! they did serve Cody some wine without asking though so that was good.
We asked around since we wanted something we had not been before and stumbled up on "Hank's" now this is a winner and we went back the next night for more.
First of all, you can't get in, jam packed, but they have this very clever "community table" high chairs. narrow long high table for about 20.
Both nights we ended up talking hundreds out with our neighbors, Mother, daughter and grandson from Texas, Italian wine salesman and the Italian winery owner from Trieste Italy, Cody did very well on his Italian and the fellows were duly impressed, and a bold headed bon vivant, from NC and FL, who rides around the world on a BMW motorcycle and was in town to attend a drivers (riders) clinics at Roebling road, a race track where Henk did many races and even had some wins.
Beside all that invigorating conversation, the food, mostly seafood, was excellent, reasonable and the service was great!
If you find yourself in Charleston go to Hank's and tell them Henk send you.
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15/06/09, Charleston, SC City Marina
After leaving Ft. Lauderdale at 9 am, Henk and Cody sailed up to Jupiter Inlet where they met Willem who gave them some much needed supplies such as a gallon of rum and enough wine to last for a while. He also supplied Haerlem with some bananas, whose bad luck was evident only that night.
After jumping into the gulf stream with 7-9 knots of wind, and a strong (3 -4kn)current Haerlem was scooting along at a comfortable 8-9 knots with the gennaker. As night fell some squalls sprang up and the wind changed direction a full 180 deg and blew up to 20-25 with gusts of 30 knots. While trying to take the gennaker down the bananas manifested their bad luck when a gust blew out the gennaker and Henk and Cody struggled with it for a while and eventually were able to get it all aboard in tatters.
The rest of the trip went smoothly, with a few dolphin sightings and making great time, thanks in large part to the strong gulf stream. Haerlem arrived in Charleston only 2 days and 7 hours after departing, a full 8/9 hours ahead of schedule.
On the photo; Sunset in the gulfstream
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