Cape May update

We're back in business - starboard engine humming as I type this update. Now all we need is a liitle sunshine and our spirits will be right back where they should be!

Underway again!

Whoever said the best days with a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell it was right, or at least it seems that way at the moment. We're in Cape May - it's raining, cool (but not as cold as at home, fortunately), and we have only one engine.

We picked the best day we could for an overnight sail from Raritan Bay to Cape May. Temps started in the high 50s and dipped down to the high 40s before morning, but the winds were perfect (from the west, 10-15 knots) and the seas were calm almost all night. We motor-sailed with one engine and averaged 7.5 knots. I, for one, was very stylishly dressed (see photo) in multiple layers, starting with long johns, ski socks and a fleece hat, covered by ski pants, my warmest North Face fleece and a baseball hat (to keep the fleece hat in place and my jacket hood out of my eyes), and topped with my foul-weather jacket, bright red waterproof (and windproof) boots, and mittens. Quite a picture, but it did the trick. We took turns in 2-hour shifts, and arrived in Cape May just after sunrise (although the sun did not actually make an appearance).

During the journey our starboard engine had a melt-down (a small pipe burst and sprayed oil all over the engine compartment). Needless to say, without oil the engine shut down. With only the port engine our maneuverability is nil, so instead of getting a slip (with power, and therefore heat) we anchored and have been on the hunt for a replacement part ever since. This morning we got lucky and found at least a temporary replacement, so our on-board mechanic (Bill) is putting things back together now, and we're hoping the engine will still run. The permanent part has been ordered and should be here by Friday. Since the weather is lousy and the winds aren't good for a run up the Delaware Bay, we're not going anywhere anyway, and this anchorage is the most peaceful one we've ever experienced, so things could definitely be worse. Meanwhile, we're just glad we brought warm clothes!

Long Island Sound at the end of summer 2010

A quick week is all we were able to manage in our quest to "go north" before heading the other direction. But it's been a great break, and we've had a chance to get reaquainted with Deeper Season before taking her on a longer journey. Lovely fall weather - wind, warm days, cool nights and only one thunderstorm! One nail-biter day - we were aiming for the Thimble Islands, got there late in the day with a lot of wind and seas picking up. Couldn't for the life of us find a place to anchor, so we backtracked (against the tide and wind) to Branford Harbor, CT. Got just inside the breakwall at around dusk, and were fortunate to be able to anchor before it got completely dark. A lesson we will probably have to learn repeatedly is to plan to arrive at a new destination when there is still plenty of daylight left, and time to try a second plan if the first one doesn't work out! That was our only lumpy night, but our anchor held with no problem!

Our trip: Left RYC in Perth Amboy Sunday around noon, swept up the East River and into Manhasset Bay (Port Washington) that afternoon. Stayed another day there to clean the boat and let the winds die down. Then to the Connecticut shore, and an attempt to reach the Thimbles (failed) when we ended up in Branford. From there, to the Connecticut River and Hamburg Cove (delightful!) and an extra day in Essex. Then back across the bay to Oyster Bay, Long Island, with an extra day in town. Tomorrow it's back down the East River to our mooring in Perth Amboy.

Here are a few shots of the week: The 'tug and pirate' at the town dock in Port Washington, Long Island, a shot of Bill cleaning the side of the boat (it was disgusting and took both of us several hours to clean), and a picture of the Presby church in Oyster Bay where Teddy Roosevelt attended as a boy.

We pulled into Oxford Boatyard for what we thought was about a 2-week haulout, enough time to paint the bottom, clean and wax the hull, take care of the most important items on our "to do" list, and enjoy biking around the charming town of Oxford, MD. Seven and a half weeks later (and you don't want to know what we spent!) we are back in the water. We had hoped to saunter up the rest of the Chesapeake, then perhaps spend some time in Cape May before heading to our mooring at Raritan Yacht Club in Perth Amboy, NJ. But, since it is now mid-August, and since we'd still like to get up to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket before heading south again, we decided to make it a fast trip.

Our very good friends, Stu and Julie Conway (Stu is the artist who created the Deeper Season picture, and Stu and Julie circumnavigated for a couple years, so they have loads of experience) volunteered to help us on the trip. There will be at least one overnight, and since we haven't done one of those on our own on this boat, it will be great to have knowledgeable company.

We're enjoying Sailor Jerry's at night, and hoping for a wind that will actually let us sail. At the moment we're coming through the C&D canal, which links the Chesapeake Bay with Delaware Bay. We'll then come down the Delaware Bay, around Cape May, and then up the NJ coast into Raritan Bay. More later. Thanks, Julie and Stu!

"On the Hard" in Oxford, MD

We had a 2:00 appointment to be hauled out in Oxford, so we left Annapolis early - made it under the Spa Creek bridge at 7:00, well ahead of the rush-hour limited opening schedule. With the tide and wind in our favor, we made great time - slipped through Knapps Narrows with ease, and were in Oxford by 11:30! We had time for a thorough pump-out, and then headed for the lift. We are by far the widest boat they can pull, and we just barely made it into the lift, with about 2 inches to spare on either side. Took them a long time to get the straps on, but we really appreciated the care they took, and we were propped up on blocks and stands by 2:30.

Oxford is a great little town - we had a late lunch at Schooners (where our car had been parked for more than 5 weeks) and ice cream at Highlanders, right next door. It's an adjustment to have to climb a ladder to get on board (or to take Mindy for a walk), and of course we can't use our on-board heads, so it's a ladder trip and a walk across the boatyard when we need to use the facilities, but at least we're able to live aboard. We were able to get a whole group of craftsmen on board to look at the issues we need solved, so we should have estimates early next week.

Saturday morning we packed up, took a swim at the little beach right across the road from the Marina, jumped in the shower, and headed home. Now we're back in NJ for a little while, and it feels great. We have TV and a dishwasher again!

Mill Creek, Solomons, Deale, Annapolis

Two delightful anchorages after rough seas. Mill Creek (south of Reedville, MD) we had all to ourselves, and enjoyed a swim off the back. Then we headed to Solomons, where we anchored again and ferried our bikes to shore on the dinghy (not an easy task, but doable) to see the town. It was OK, but not up to the hype. The next day we took a slip in Deale (Shipwright Marina) because we had to do laundry. Enjoyed their pool while the washer and dryer were doing their thing, then took our bikes to Skipper's Pier for $2/crab night. Ordered a half dozen, plus a dozen oysters on the half shell, and the man sitting next to us at the bar gave us two jumbos he couldn't finish. Crab heaven! Two beers and all that food later, we left after paying just $30! A great day.

Next morning, with skies threatening and the radar website showing rain any minute, we biked to a great coffee shop for the morning brew and muffins. Biked back to the boat in the sprinkles, but had a rain-free (but windy) ride to Annapolis. We were very fortunate to have a free dock, courtesy of two other Manta owners (one of whom is the dockmaster at their condo association) on Spa Creek in Eastport. We've spent today biking for all we're worth - visiting with UK Sails, Doyle Sails, and a dinghy company, to check out pricing on a stack pack for our main sail, and repairs for our dinghy. After a long afternoon we headed to Eastport Yacht Club for a beer, and happened on a party (picture) to celebrate tomorrow's start of the Bermuda Ocean Race. We're taking off early tomorrow for Oxford, MD, where we will pull the boat out of the water for repairs and routine maintenance. Our car should be there waiting for us, so we'll be heading home to NJ for at least a little while.

Cape Charles and Jackson Creek with Stewardship

Thursday - June 3 - Headed to Cape Charles and for a change were under sail - no engines! Glorious day! Cought up with Stewardship (a sailboat owned by our friend Dave Steward, and in charter service for sunset and dinner cruises with first mate and on-board chef Hania). They were on an afternoon charter, so we tried racing them, but lost miserably. No one said a large, comfy catamaran would also be a star under sail!

In port at the town docks (a working dock for crabbers and fisherman) I stopped to ask a couple of fishermen what they had caught, and where I could get some fresh fish. They offered me my choice of whatever was in their cooler, so I took two and put them on ice until I could clean them. Dave and Hania came into port shortly afterwards and agreed to join us for a fish dinner, so it was time to eviscerate the fish - a first on Deeper Season. Discovered that the steps down in the back (I guess the fantail) works just great for the purpose, and in no time we had our catch ready to go in the oven. A great dinner, and great to catch up with the captain and first mate of Stewarship. The next day, Dave took me and Hania out for a sailing lesson, and I finally learned how to do a man overboard rescue. I also learned just how much I really do know about sailing, so my confidence factor rose measurably. As thanks for the lesson we took Dave and Hania to dinner at Kelly's Pub in Cape Charles, and it was fantastic.

On Saturday, we followed Stewarship for a sail across the Chesapeake to Jackson Creek. Found a beautiful anchorage and rafted up (another first for us). Hania cooked - stuffed grilled clams, fish tacos, rice and beans, and mojitos. Unbelievable! If you ever receive an invitation to dine on Hania's cooking, say yes!

This morning, after a great breakfast cooked by Hania and Bill, we parted company with Stewardship and went north. We were aiming for Solomons Island, but fell quite a bit short. Strong winds and a resulting broken fair lead block on our jib, plus threatening thunderstorms, encouraged us to duck into Mill Creek just south of Reedville, VA - an anchorage Dave recommended. We had a lazy afternoon and took a very refreshing swim (another first for our journey) before the storms came in. Once they were through, we had yet another glorious sunset. All in all, a great couple of days with friends!