Autumn Borne UPDATE - as of Friday night 2030 hours....
WE're anchored at the REEDY Island anchorage, just below the C&D Canal (route to the Chesapeake)...
We left Sandy Hook NJ at about 1100 hours on Thursday; Raritan Bay was a wreck with respect to waves... The same wave trains that caused the bottom weld to FAIL on the solarstik (holding two solar panels, and the wind generator...) coming across NYC Harbor, and Raritan Bay...
The solarstik almost went over the side.... Except for three separate attachment points... and Marty, rushing out to the aft deck to throw a line or two on the unit... thus insuring that IT Stayed ONBOARD.
We slowed to a crawl... Susan at the helm.. .while Marty and I secured the unit.. .standing it more or less vertical again... (actually more LESS )...
We got beat up going from the Atlantic Highland anchorage to the sandy hook channel... some boats tried earlier and came back...
But it was very nice water AFTER we rounded the sandy hook point... the west winds, even though they were blowing 15 to 30 knots... (same as the day before)... kept the ocean fairly flat.. (1 to 2 foot waves, were the norm...with the occasional 3 or 4 footer to keep you on your toes.

We passed Atlantic City about midnight... and Cape May just before Sunrise... But instead of going into Cape Henlopen for rest...we turned north, and continued up the Delaware Bay... to Reedy Island anchorage.
Ostensibly there's a big Blow coming along late Saturday/ Sunday so we wanted to put as many miles under the keel as possible.. So as to not be 'stuck' somewhere for days....
SO................... I looks like we'll travel the C&D canal tomorrow AM.. .using the EBB current to lift us to the Chesapeake... and down to the Sassafras River... (one of our favorite anchorages... fresh clean water/ and lots of protection from weather...)
Then we ride out the storm on Sunday... and sail down to Annapolis MD on Monday... (assuming that the STORM has passed...).
We got the call early today, while we were still in the Atlantic about Dee Irwin's passing.. SAD but, I guess somewhat expected... Her downhill slide was amazingly quick....
WELL... 125 miles of NJ coast, and 50 some of Delaware Bay....in one shot.. We're all beat... and looking forward to a peaceful night's rest.... 36 hours of basically Awake time....
Marty Besant is getting a workout this time, as crew... sail trimming; solarstik saving; helming; the all around cruising class....  SO...................Good NIGHT.