Sunday May 24, 2009

Early morning fog with a chance of showers later today. All the fishing boats full with pole-carrying, cooler lugging, smiling anglers pushing off on the half hour from 7:00AM to 8:30AM. They're out and back in for the next crowd to go at 1:30PM. By the way, you may not clean your fish in the parking lot (big sign).

Heavy sections of fog. Dense so that we had to turn on fog horn, run at idle speed, and operate with radar. Superior navigation (with help of Chart-plotter) proved up to the task. Really slowed us down and put us off schedule. 

We officially became part of fleet week in NYC. Rare occurrence but a remembrance. State police, coast guard, and home land security all about because of the Navy ships. Lots of great pictures even with the over-cast skies. Sure looks different from the water than from the office (Merrill Lynch) buildings.

41° 30' 08" N

74° 00' 15" W

After passing West Point Military Academy (graduation this weekend), we finally docked at Front Street Marina in Newburgh, NY. garden spot on the river. This could be the marina from hell for us. Next door is a red palm tiki bar with excessively loud music and some yelling. Seems like its destined to last well into the night. We do so hope not. 

Saturday May 23, 2009

Waved goodbye the Utsch's Marina at 5:00AM.  Yawn. Fish are still asleep. Today will be the longest run outside we'll make. Destination will be Atlantic Highlands Marina around the back of Sandy Hook, NJ. Seas 2' to 3' with S/SE wind 5 to 10 kt. this morn.

Here's Frank on early morning watch keeping a sharp lookout. We normally change every two hours to allow breaks for coffee, food, and charting. 

Tied up at 5:30PM in Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina, Atlantic Highlands, NJ.

Twelve hour passage today. Long smooth stretch in the morning, two areas of fog, and seas turning up to 5' to 8' in the afternoon. A little bouncy but Brightwater handled it well. Misty and a little rain late today.

40° 25' 03" N

74° 01' 55" W

  Well Atlantic Highlands is a bedroom commuter town to NYC. Self described as "The Jewel of Bayshore", two ferries run frequently from these municipal docks to lower Manhattan.  Their take-one-free brochure says "get ready to shop" and lists businesses from florists to dry cleaners (?). The Chamber also has AH Chamber Money that, once purchased, can be redeemed at any of the listed merchants. How do you make change? Eight to ten party fishing boats all lined up and being boarded for night fishing. They normally go out twice a day and a few in the evening as well. Flounder, stripped bass, and shark all on the agenda.

Friday May 22, 2009

Sailed away from Summit North Marina at 8:20AM. Waited to leave late to accurately time the outgoing tide in Delaware Bay. Hit it right. Major difference to our benefit both in our speed and diesel consumption not fighting the current. Luckily there were few large ocean going freighters and plenty of deep water. Made excellent time and pulled in to dock at 3:00PM. 

38° 57' 02" N

74° 54' 18" W

Utsch''s Marina at Cape May, in Schellenger's Landing, New Jersey. Big place with exceptional staff and generous welcome. Complimentary bottle of NJ wine, maps, a bar of  foo -foo type soap, a floating key chain, and a package of biscotti. Wish all the marinas were like this one. The famous Lobster House restaurant is next door and we're headed there. You betcha. 

Great view of the Cape May Light House. This area has been a summer destination for two centuries along with fishing to music festivals. In addition to being the perfect layover in bad ocean weather, it still is a large commercial fishing center. Not to mention the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center. Heading north, this is the last big stop before a long run outside (if you have a 5'+ draft and can't chance going on the ICW).

Many inviting restaurants, primarily seafood based. We choose The Lobster House. Very good. Large eatery with three bars, four dinning rooms, and a expansive fresh sea food market including "take out". Well worth the visit for both scallops and blackened red fish. (unique fresh baked bread)

Thursday May 21, 2009

Beautiful morning on Solomons Island. Temp 57° and early sunrise. left the dock at 6:05AM along with a number of sailboats heading north. Evidently they're making sail to beat the small craft advisories later today.  Passed Annapolis naval Academy two days before the President arrived. No Home Land Security Boats.

39° 32' 70" N

75° 42' 70 W

The C & D Canal and the Summit North marina in Bear, Delaware. The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is the link between Chesapeake Bay and Delaware bay. No locks. Not terribly scenic. Opened in 1829 after over a 168 years of debate, it reduced the distance between Baltimore and Philadelphia by 300 miles. Lot of commercial traffic and of course wakes from ships as big as 850 feet. 

Wednesday May 20, 2009

Pulled out at 6:10AM from the Waterside headed out through Norfolk harbor, Hampton Roads, and Newport News. There are more navy ships here, in dry dock or stationed, than Mars candies has M & M's. Slower going until we completely passed Hampton Roads and Air Craft carriers. 

Turned north into lower Chesapeake Bay and 56° and light N/NW winds. Waves  laid down to approximately 1 ft. Eleven hour run today in almost perfect weather.

38° 19' 13" N

76° 27'18" W

Harbor Island Marina in Solomons Island, MD. Everyone getting ready for the big memorial weekend. Blue Angles flew into Patuxent Naval Air Test Center in preparation for staging as the prelude for the fly over for fleet week in NYC. This is an easy harbor and a refuge since its early use in 1607. Looks like a super stopover for 23' to 30' boats with many, many restaurants and tiki bars. A wonderful special on sauteed soft shell crabs for dinner, fresh from the bay. None better than this.

Here's a progress amp of Brightwater north to date. Still have a ways to go.

Monday and Tuesday May 18 and 19, 2009

Cast off at 6:45AM. Took down our bimini's canvas and secured stanchions. Raining again this morning and 54°. Have a series of bridges (and one lock) to pass through all with openings that vary, either on the hour or on the half hour. Trick now is to hit them in some sort of progressive modulated speed and get through all before 3:30PM when they all close for two or three hours. 

Smoothed it. Hit everyone, all bridges and one lock, right on time and were able dock at our destination, The Waterside Marina in beautiful downtown Norfolk, VA. called the canvas company and had them pick up our torn bimini top.

36° 50' 62" N

76° 17' 48" W

Will be here till Wednesday morning. Using the time for laundry, workouts, haircut, movies, and West marine. Also attractive restaurants near our dock. 

Norfolk is a storied town which includes the world's largest naval base. The sheer volume of water traffic is surprisingly immense along with the industrial activity on all sides. Deep water all around and strategically important going back to before and during the Revolutionary war. Here is where ironclads, the Monitor and Virginia, battled it out before the city surrendered to the Union Army  in 1862. We toured the Nauticus, housing a museum and history of the oceans and America, and the battleship Wisconsin permanently berthed here. There are many, many attractions if we had the time to explore including the MacArthur Memorial and the Freemason Historic District. 

Sunday May 17, 2009

  Left Dowry Creek Marina at 6:15 AM along with two other trawlers all headed to Coinjock, N.C. Slow going through the Alligator River due both to the narrow channel and your wake not causing  environmental damage.  Weather was threatening this morning but luckily no rain. Things changed. The afternoon brought 25 to 35 kt. winds and 5 - 6 ft. seas while crossing across Albemarle Sound. Brightwater had no problem with any of this. However part of our Bimini's canvas ripped away from the stanchion. No good. Well be in Norfolk tomorrow and will have to have a canvas company make repairs. Can't go far with the top like this.

  36° 20' 57" N

75° 56' 54" W

            Coinjock, N.C.  Arrived at Coinjock Marina on the east side of the Carolina cut at mile 49 ICW.  Coinjock, named by the local Indians for the berries that still grow in the area, caters just to the ICW boaters. There is a rival marina directly across this narrow part of the North Carolina cut and both seem to do well. Coinjock marina has a barbershop, a post office, and a restaurant. That’s it. Oh. But wait. There is something special. The restaurant is famous for both its crab-stuffed flounder and its 32-ounce prime rib. Moo-over Outback. New sheriff.