Given the good forecast I decided to do the 120 miles of the Jersey shore in one shot. This meant hauling up the anchor yesterday morning at 0630 and leaving Atlantic Highlands where I had spent the night. This stretch of coast can be arduous and I did not want to get stuck for days in some unappealing backwater like Atlantic City waiting for weather to improve. The wind was quite light so after clearing the turbulent and busy Sandy Hook channel, I kept the motor running so as to maintain a speed of 6 knots. There was quite a parade of boats heading out after days of bad weather and I bet I was passed by a good $200 million in yachts. It was a beautiful day but I kept the engine running until 8 PM, when a really nice land breeze kicked in. The silence was nice. At 10 I made a routine look over my shoulder and was startled to see a large reddish light directly a stern, and was chagrined to find out it was nothing more than the moon. With that addition the night sailing was delightful. The aforementioned Atlantic City was the only annoyance, a temple to greed, waste, and avarice, using untold amounts of kilowatt hours to light up the night sky for miles. Reaching Cape May at at about 2 AM, I jogged back and forth in a type of heaving too until daybreak, when good light and a flood tide made entrance east. A couple of hours of rest and time to get ready for Delaware Bay, tomorrow.
A tired Charlie
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Sandy Hook
Hi everyone,
Had a good run down to the Anchorage at Sandy Hook, NJ. Was going to wait till 1 PM to take advantage of the ebb tide but the rolling of the boat on the mooring was so brutal I left at 1130 instead. Casting of I headed out into the river and hoisted just the main. I motorsailed, like I have mostly been doing, in order to get through the insanity that is the harbor as quickly as possible. It really is stunning, visually, but you have to be 110% to avoid disaster. One thing I noticed was a huge Coast Guard presence which was because of the UN being in session.
Wow, 20 minutes of writing on this pathetic little keyboard and most of it just disappeared. I can't face writing it all again, so I will just say I am safely at Sandy Hook with a bunch more rain on the way.
Best to all, Charlie
Had a good run down to the Anchorage at Sandy Hook, NJ. Was going to wait till 1 PM to take advantage of the ebb tide but the rolling of the boat on the mooring was so brutal I left at 1130 instead. Casting of I headed out into the river and hoisted just the main. I motorsailed, like I have mostly been doing, in order to get through the insanity that is the harbor as quickly as possible. It really is stunning, visually, but you have to be 110% to avoid disaster. One thing I noticed was a huge Coast Guard presence which was because of the UN being in session.
Wow, 20 minutes of writing on this pathetic little keyboard and most of it just disappeared. I can't face writing it all again, so I will just say I am safely at Sandy Hook with a bunch more rain on the way.
Best to all, Charlie
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
NYC contnued
Sorry for no post yesterday. Low battery plus unrelentingly bad weather kept me hunkered below on boat all day. I did finish reading Column of Fire by Ken Follett which I thought was great. It came in at over 900 pages so I stayed engaged. Today, things brightened up a bit and I joined our former housemate Dominic for an insider's walking tour of this section of the West Side. I gotta say, this city is crazy. No way could I ever live here, with the constant noise and tumult that pervades all. With reasonable weather, I will be out of here in the morning.
Charlie
Charlie
Monday, September 24, 2018
Big A pple
Goo into the 79th Street Boat Basin and picked up a mooring. This has to be one of the better deals in this overpriced town at 30 bucks a night. 3 blocks up the hill to Broadway. I'll stay at least 2 nights, given the crummy forecast. Visiting our friend Dominick tomorrow, who will acquaint me with the city a bit.It n riverside my hope that this mooring holds up better than the last one.
I motorsailed down here today. Good breeze, but inconsistent Needed to get here early in order to get a mooring, which are first come, first served. Went ashore for a bit and picked up some provisions. Starting to get dark and I am hoping for a quiet evening of reading. Although, with the incessant driving on Riverside Drive, that may be wishful thinking.
Best to all, Charlie
I motorsailed down here today. Good breeze, but inconsistent Needed to get here early in order to get a mooring, which are first come, first served. Went ashore for a bit and picked up some provisions. Starting to get dark and I am hoping for a quiet evening of reading. Although, with the incessant driving on Riverside Drive, that may be wishful thinking.
Best to all, Charlie
Sunday, September 23, 2018
72 miles
The cool temps got me motivated to move, and move I did, getting underway at 7. Anchored at Haverstraw Bay a couple of minutes past 6. I will say it again, the Hudson is spectacular. It is like the proverbial unrolling of a tapestry, and you are just taking it all in. I kept thinking about the Hudson River school of painting, and I understand. The trees have a certain lushness and attitude, that I don't see elsewhere. The varied terrain, rocky outcrops here, sand and marsh elsewhere. The color of water, cloud, and sky. And then then the man made elements. Those run the gamut. From towering industrial structures to exquisite country estates. The most beautiful Victorian lighthouses I have seen. What a day!
Charlie
.
Charlie
.
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Mast up
Thanks to the help of Peppi and Dave, of let it be my mast is back up and I managed about 3 hours under sail annnd a couple more under power when the wind fizzled out. And the Hudson is still spectacularly beautiful. It was a vicious river yesterday however, as I got thrashed by high winds and contrary tides. It culminated in my mooring breaking last night at about 8. I noticed calmer conditions and stuck my head up for a gander, only to find that I was on the other side of the river. Starting the engine I backed away from the shore and returned to the other side where I tried, unsuccessfully to pick up another mooring. It was dark and blowing a solid 30. So I went back across and tied up at the club dock. Gave the broken hardware to the dockmaster who was very apologetic. Once again I received a lesson, that is, never trust someone else's mooring or ground tackle!
Charlie
Charlie
Friday, September 21, 2018
Great rowing practice
Sitting here on a mooring at the Castleton Boat Club and just found out that I can get wi-fi here on the far side of the river so I am taking advantage of using a real keyboard. There has been some excellent rowing practice to be had, what with rowing back and forth across the Hudson in a stiff breeze, with gusts over 30. Add in the current and it can be quite exciting. The procedure is to look up and down the river to see what sort of boat traffic there is and then go for it, conditions permitting.
I was delighted to see a small boat coming down the river with its mast on deck, and pull into the boat club. Rowing over, I wasted no time introducing myself and offering to help them with their mast, explaining that I was singlehanding and could use a bit of similar assistance when finished with theirs. Dave and Pepe, Canadians both, agreed to participate and we hope to do the work early tomorrow morning. They've got a 27 footer, mast stepped on deck, so it should be very straightforward. They are happy to get the help, because it is a new experience for them. Pepe is the owner, and relatively new to sailing.
It has been very windy and the tidal current has been strong so White Seal has been thrashing about a bit on her mooring with the dinghy bumping into the topsides on a regular and annoying basis. What happens is that the big boat is affected more by the current, and the little one is affected by the wind, so the two are constantly butting heads with each other as in a gladiatorial contest.
I've taken the opportunity today to do a ton of reading from a book that Mary, my mother in law gave me, a 900 page novel by Ken Follett which is very good. It is much cooler and with the wind I gave up on doing much of anything on deck. But I gotta get that mast up and get going!
Charlie
I was delighted to see a small boat coming down the river with its mast on deck, and pull into the boat club. Rowing over, I wasted no time introducing myself and offering to help them with their mast, explaining that I was singlehanding and could use a bit of similar assistance when finished with theirs. Dave and Pepe, Canadians both, agreed to participate and we hope to do the work early tomorrow morning. They've got a 27 footer, mast stepped on deck, so it should be very straightforward. They are happy to get the help, because it is a new experience for them. Pepe is the owner, and relatively new to sailing.
It has been very windy and the tidal current has been strong so White Seal has been thrashing about a bit on her mooring with the dinghy bumping into the topsides on a regular and annoying basis. What happens is that the big boat is affected more by the current, and the little one is affected by the wind, so the two are constantly butting heads with each other as in a gladiatorial contest.
I've taken the opportunity today to do a ton of reading from a book that Mary, my mother in law gave me, a 900 page novel by Ken Follett which is very good. It is much cooler and with the wind I gave up on doing much of anything on deck. But I gotta get that mast up and get going!
Charlie
Thursday, September 20, 2018
Tides!
White Seal is back in a tidal environment again, after having gone through the Federal lock this morning. Am currently waiting to get the mast restepped, and that may be problematic given the strong winds forecast for tomorrow. I may end up motoring another 40 miles to a place that has better protection
. Should be a nice evening to settle in with a good book. Best to all, Charlie
. Should be a nice evening to settle in with a good book. Best to all, Charlie
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Another night in Waterford
Roger left around 1 and I was very sorry to see him go. Did some maintenance and a small load of laundry. Installed new LED anchor light. Will go to Castleton on the Hudson and hopefully get the mast stepped tomorrow. Met a nice couple on a power cat tied up here and exchanged stories of cruising with teenagers.
Charlie
Charlie
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Waterford town docks
Hi everyone!
It did it again. I was just about done typing and everything disappeared except for the words Hi everyone. I will try again tomorrow.
Charlie
It did it again. I was just about done typing and everything disappeared except for the words Hi everyone. I will try again tomorrow.
Charlie
Monday, September 17, 2018
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Mast down
Man, am I beat! Out in the blazing hot sun, removing the boom, loosening turnbuckles, folding sails, etc. and thinking that this is not representative of September in Vermont. All performed during the middle of the day in order to ensure the maximum level of discomfort. Made me feel like I was back on the time clock. However, it allowed me to get the mast unstepped which is always kind of a big deal. Chip Taub, who owns the marina here actually worked with me at the boat shop back about 25 years ago and it is great as always to see him. He is one heck of a busy guy here for the entire summer. He does allow that he has some free time in January and February. This is probably one of the coolest marinas around, based on a couple of very old stone warehouses that date back to the old canal days.
While I was getting the mast ready, one of our old Bahamas acquaintances walked up and said hello. Kevin and Debbie were on the boat Grace and I remember meeting them if I remember correctly in Daytona Beach. They have been going south every winter for the last 9 years and I hope to get some updates from them before I leave in the morning.
My friend and neighbor Roger is showing up tomorrow morning to help me take the boat through the locks. An extra hand is greatly appreciated for this section due to the propensity of the boat to move around dramatically when water is being let in to the chamber. No real problems going down in the locks, it is more of a concern when going up. There can be considerable turbulence.
This morning was very leisurely, as I had only a short distance to go to reach the marina where I am now. The sunrise, under the guns of the fort, was spectacular. Fog shrouded the wooded terrain, and blanketed the water until the slightest touch of a breeze started to blow it away. I did some general housekeeping and maintenance work. I may have the chance to do a bit more in the morning before Roger comes.
I found out from Chip that there is a very shallow spot in the channel, several miles south of here in Benson. This may be very tricky and I intend to approach it at a dead slow speed and prepare to go bump. If necessary, we can anchor temporarily, or just run softly aground, then sound a passage with the aid of the dinghy. We have a draft of 5'8'', which represents the amount of water we need to float. I remember this same spot being a concern 8 years ago. But the water is even lower now than it was then.
Charlie
While I was getting the mast ready, one of our old Bahamas acquaintances walked up and said hello. Kevin and Debbie were on the boat Grace and I remember meeting them if I remember correctly in Daytona Beach. They have been going south every winter for the last 9 years and I hope to get some updates from them before I leave in the morning.
My friend and neighbor Roger is showing up tomorrow morning to help me take the boat through the locks. An extra hand is greatly appreciated for this section due to the propensity of the boat to move around dramatically when water is being let in to the chamber. No real problems going down in the locks, it is more of a concern when going up. There can be considerable turbulence.
This morning was very leisurely, as I had only a short distance to go to reach the marina where I am now. The sunrise, under the guns of the fort, was spectacular. Fog shrouded the wooded terrain, and blanketed the water until the slightest touch of a breeze started to blow it away. I did some general housekeeping and maintenance work. I may have the chance to do a bit more in the morning before Roger comes.
I found out from Chip that there is a very shallow spot in the channel, several miles south of here in Benson. This may be very tricky and I intend to approach it at a dead slow speed and prepare to go bump. If necessary, we can anchor temporarily, or just run softly aground, then sound a passage with the aid of the dinghy. We have a draft of 5'8'', which represents the amount of water we need to float. I remember this same spot being a concern 8 years ago. But the water is even lower now than it was then.
Charlie
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Underway
Slipped the mooring under sail at 11:05. Meg waving from the shore. No hoopla, no marching bands. After taking an hour to reach Diamond Island,1 1/2 miles, I caved in and motored till 5. Currently anchored under the guns of Fort Ticonderoga. Cooked up a nice dinner and am watching the sun go down. Also enjoying the intoxicating sound of a jet ski, dashing aimlessly to and fro.
Friday, September 14, 2018
Final Provisioning and Goodbyes
Today was spent schlepping another big load out to the boat and attempting to stow it away. A few more smallish items in the morning should complete the job. I just checked the weather forecast and it looks like very light southerly winds, becoming light and variable. Had been hoping to sail down to Ticonderoga, but that may be wishful thinking and it may be necessary to exercise the motor. Not too happy about that, but we will see what tomorrow brings.
Paid a visit to my wife Meg's mom, who is living in an assisted care home in Middlebury. She is quite excited to follow the trip, as she has done in the past. We also received bon voyage visits from our friends Jim and Elise Blair, and Douglas and Catherine Brooks. Spoke as well with other friends and neighbors, both landbound and aquatic.
Tomorrow is our anniversary, Meg and I having been married for 28 years. It was 8 years ago tomorrow that we left for our family cruise, having taken our daughter out of her sophomore year of high school. I am going to miss her so much and will be looking forward to having her join me at some point down south. She will be my support system back home and given modern technology we will be talking on a very regular basis. This is the toughest part of leaving on a trip like this and I worry to no end about whether it is the right thing to do.
It's also very hard to leave a beautiful place like Vermont, especially this time of year, when the temperatures have moderated and the air is fresh and clear. Walking around the property, looking at the buildings, and the home which I love so much, makes me aware of how much more than usual I appreciate it, knowing it will soon be a more distant memory. Something that I will appreciate with a real intensity upon my return. There is something about casting off a mooring, then returning to that same mooring, many months later, with thousands of miles under your keel, that gives you a sense of appreciation.
Charlie
Paid a visit to my wife Meg's mom, who is living in an assisted care home in Middlebury. She is quite excited to follow the trip, as she has done in the past. We also received bon voyage visits from our friends Jim and Elise Blair, and Douglas and Catherine Brooks. Spoke as well with other friends and neighbors, both landbound and aquatic.
Tomorrow is our anniversary, Meg and I having been married for 28 years. It was 8 years ago tomorrow that we left for our family cruise, having taken our daughter out of her sophomore year of high school. I am going to miss her so much and will be looking forward to having her join me at some point down south. She will be my support system back home and given modern technology we will be talking on a very regular basis. This is the toughest part of leaving on a trip like this and I worry to no end about whether it is the right thing to do.
It's also very hard to leave a beautiful place like Vermont, especially this time of year, when the temperatures have moderated and the air is fresh and clear. Walking around the property, looking at the buildings, and the home which I love so much, makes me aware of how much more than usual I appreciate it, knowing it will soon be a more distant memory. Something that I will appreciate with a real intensity upon my return. There is something about casting off a mooring, then returning to that same mooring, many months later, with thousands of miles under your keel, that gives you a sense of appreciation.
Charlie
Thursday, September 13, 2018
Here I Go Again
It was about a week ago that I made the decision to sail south for the winter on White Seal, a boat that I have owned since 1984. It has kept me busy, taking care of maintenance tasks, laying in provisions, and finally, the most daunting project, setting up this blog. As many will attest, I have an aversion to all things digital, and yet am in need of a platform to stay in touch with family and friends as I make my south along the coast.
To that end, I purchased a cell phone, the first one of my own, actually, and am gradually becoming less terrified by its use as the days pass. I am astounded that AT&T would sell that kind of technological device to someone as unqualified as myself, but I guess that in todays world, competency is not a precursor to ownership. There will be other intimidating lessons to learn as I attempt to post photos on to this site, and to establish something called a hotspot so I can use the laptop computer with its more user friendly keyboard; but I am confident that will happen soon enough.
More about this upcoming journey. This will be the fifth cruise of this type on the White Seal during my ownership. I have also been along the coast several other times on other boats as well, with the first trip being made around 1974 on my father's schooner, the Sea Song. I don't know why I keep doing this sort of thing, since there is a large amount of discomfort, expense, fear, and general hassle involved. But it seems that every so often, I must. It helps that I retired from my job several months ago and theoretically have more time on my hands. My wife Meg, and daughter Mary have been telling me I should do this while I am still in decent health and able to sail the boat comfortably by myself. Mary is hoping to join me for some extensive cruising in the islands of the Bahamas, where we cruised as a family about 8 years ago. You can read her account of that adventure by accessing her blog at marysyearofcruising.blogspot.com. In spite of her young age at the time, I suspect that her account will be eminently more readable than that of her fathers!
I have been working on the boat this summer with the idea in the back of my mind that I might be going south, so it is not like I had to start at square one a week ago. But there has still been plenty to do. And there are some tasks that will get completed while underway. Fortunately, White Seal is an extremely simple boat without complex systems and I am able to perform most tasks myself. Keeping busy has also been an effective way to keep my mind off the worries that tend to creep in, those that fall in to the category of self doubt. But I need to avoid diving too far into self analysis at this early stage. Better to verify that this posting to a blog actually works. So, without further ado, welcome to my blog and lets see what happens when I hit the publish button!
Cheers, Charlie
To that end, I purchased a cell phone, the first one of my own, actually, and am gradually becoming less terrified by its use as the days pass. I am astounded that AT&T would sell that kind of technological device to someone as unqualified as myself, but I guess that in todays world, competency is not a precursor to ownership. There will be other intimidating lessons to learn as I attempt to post photos on to this site, and to establish something called a hotspot so I can use the laptop computer with its more user friendly keyboard; but I am confident that will happen soon enough.
More about this upcoming journey. This will be the fifth cruise of this type on the White Seal during my ownership. I have also been along the coast several other times on other boats as well, with the first trip being made around 1974 on my father's schooner, the Sea Song. I don't know why I keep doing this sort of thing, since there is a large amount of discomfort, expense, fear, and general hassle involved. But it seems that every so often, I must. It helps that I retired from my job several months ago and theoretically have more time on my hands. My wife Meg, and daughter Mary have been telling me I should do this while I am still in decent health and able to sail the boat comfortably by myself. Mary is hoping to join me for some extensive cruising in the islands of the Bahamas, where we cruised as a family about 8 years ago. You can read her account of that adventure by accessing her blog at marysyearofcruising.blogspot.com. In spite of her young age at the time, I suspect that her account will be eminently more readable than that of her fathers!
I have been working on the boat this summer with the idea in the back of my mind that I might be going south, so it is not like I had to start at square one a week ago. But there has still been plenty to do. And there are some tasks that will get completed while underway. Fortunately, White Seal is an extremely simple boat without complex systems and I am able to perform most tasks myself. Keeping busy has also been an effective way to keep my mind off the worries that tend to creep in, those that fall in to the category of self doubt. But I need to avoid diving too far into self analysis at this early stage. Better to verify that this posting to a blog actually works. So, without further ado, welcome to my blog and lets see what happens when I hit the publish button!
Cheers, Charlie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)