Musing – Jeff and Julie T
‘Borrowed’ from a new boating friends site…
The Journey…
The Journey…
The Journey…
Week 14 – Sandy Hook Bay, NJ to Sassafras River, MD – NM 1288 thru 1495
Left the marina in Highlands, NJ to seek out an anchorage 3nm to the north up the Sandy Hook peninsula which was at one time Fort Hancock protecting NY Harbor. We took Bo on his first ride in salt water to the bay side beach and walked 1/2 mile to the NJ Atlantic coast beach which went on forever. Back on Rory D decided to do some fishing(not catching) and I proceeded to get the ingredients together for steamed mussels, which D then prepared. Turned out exquisite!
AND while we were FaceTiming w/ Dave & Jeri E. planning their upcoming sail with us, WE SAW DOLPHINS!!! Incredibly surprised that they would be this far north, and/or just didn’t realize it.
The next junket of our trip involved sailing south down the NJ Coast to Cape May and the Delaware Bay entrance, roughly 125nm. A decent wind weather window giving us N to NE to E winds 10-18 knots was feasible the next day. However it was going to only last for 2 days when a very strong frontal system was predicted to show up with winds from the SE. We also wanted to get up the Delaware Bay before that system hit. Planning involved the tidal current timing plus the wind and wave patterns. We then planned to do an overnite sail leaving at daybreak. We took Bo to get a bit more diesel and enjoyed the best sunset of the trip.
Sleep is an important factor in the sailing process, it gives you the edge you need in order to make quick decisions. Neither of us slept well before our departure so a bit of added stress was applied. However we thoughtfully determined to still make the trip. Leaving at 0630 the passage began. The waves started out at 3-6ft, calmed down to 2-3ft, then picked up about 4-5 ft during the trip the boat averaging 5.8 knots. We sailed 21hrs of the 24hr trip. The fuzzy pic is Atlantic City, quite bright.
With the favorable wind conditions that existed we chose to anchor out on the south side of the Delaware Bay entrance versus go into Cape May on the north. It would give us a jump up the following morning on traveling up the Bay. We were greeted at the entrance to the Breakwater Harbor by a small pod of dolphins and arrived in time for yes, you guessed it an awesome sunrise.
We grabbed about 4 hours of sleep and made the S/V Delos passage breakfast. Bacon and eggs, now to become our standard as well.
Timing our early am departure to transit up the Delaware Bay needed to coincide with the flood current. Not only that it needed to coincide with the ebb current in the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (C&D). Due to the strong weather pattern coming in we chose to sail up the Bay and transit the canal in one day bringing us to the north-eastern end of the Chesapeake Bay. Left at 0545am, got hailed by a Coast Guard cutter which was anchored in the bay reminding us to stay at least 500yds away. We gladly did so and were then wide awake.
So, we transited up the Delaware Bay getting a boost from the current, a boat does NOT go 8.4 knots with only 11.4 knots of wind getting to the C&D canal 1/2 hour early. Motored its 14nm distance entering the Chesapeake Bay and anchored after an 80nm trip in the Sassafras River, MD. 2nd to last pic is our initial view of the Bay. It seems as if this is really a milestone for us to get here; a very emotional moment – we did it!
The Journey…
Rory Details – Tides & Currents
You want to know what worried D & I the most about this trip? It was how to deal with tides and currents once we got to the coast. We got a taste of it sailing on the Mississippi as well as sailing in the Pacific but never really paid too much attention to it. However the Atlantic is a bit different. With some coastal waters being relatively shallow it just adds another dimension. I am going to be very simplistic here because there is still much we need to learn.
This picture from Coastal Navigation by Mike Pyzel is great, it explains so much w/out having to use words.
Most people realize that ‘tide’ is caused by the gravitational pull of the moon. The moon pulls the ocean surface toward it, creating a bulge which when in your area is the high tide. High and low tides intervals occur roughly every 6hrs and 13min.
Tidal current is the horizontal movement of coastal waters due to the movement of water between a high and low tide. A ‘flooding’ current floods towards the coast and accompanies the rising tide and sometimes for a period after high tide. A “ebbing” current ebbs toward the sea and accompanies a falling tide and sometimes for a period after low tide. Tides and tidal currents most strongly impact coastal regions; estuaries, coastal bays, rivers, and inlets. The following graphic by Byron Inouye depicts the relationship between tide and current. The greatest tidal currents occur midway between high and low tide. A slack tide is when there is no current. In most areas of the world, slack tides occur near high and low tide when the flow of water is changing direction.
So how and what does planning around tides and tidal currents involve? Math, tide and tidal current information, timing, distance to be traveled, wind direction, etc.
Where does one procure all the tide and tidal current information? Many sources are available, from books to apps to NOAA Tides and Currents website. Tech is great!
What does tide and tidal current affect when one is sailing or motor sailing? What time one leaves, how much energy will be consumed, how long one wants/can ‘run’ w/the tidal current, where and how deep one anchors, where the boat will “swing” on anchor, when to enter marinas, plus more I’m sure we’ll figure out.
Example: Delaware Bay to Sassafras River: Because the ocean’s tide will flood the bay, we want to take advantage of that flood and ride it “like a wave” from the starting point to the end. On September 20th, the low tide was at 0525 at the mouth of Delaware bay where we were anchored, therefore we left at 0545, knowing we had approx 6 hrs to ‘ride the current’ up the bay.
The tidal current was predicted to be ~1.50 knots. Our ‘sailing’ speed was ~6.5 knots therefore our combined w/current speed was ~8.0 knots. The distance to be covered was 47 nm so we had about 7 hours to get there before the current changed.
The C&D canal tidal current to go west needed to be an ebbing current, which started at 1148. We only needed 2 hours to transit the canal so getting there at 1330 allowed us to do so.
We entered the Chesapeake Bay w/a slight flood current against us.
Arriving to Sassafras River the tide height was at low, .5ft. in order to anchor you need to take the difference between the low and high tide to determine how much anchor chain you put out. High tide in this instance was 2.5ft. Add 2 ft times your desired scope (we typically use 7:1 so another 14 ft) to the amount of chain put out. Told you, math!
So many other factors play into this, wind, waves, recent rain fall amounts, we still have so much to learn, and for it to become ‘natural’.
The Journey…
Quote – Joseph Addison
“He who hesitates is lost”
An adaptation of a line in Joseph Addison’s 1712 play ‘Cato: A Tragedy‘ Act 4, scene 1. And that line being:
“The woman that deliberates is lost”
Much better for this situation. Significance???
The ‘cute’ picture of K was taken after she managed an epic digger transition from the boat to the dinghy. D said it looked like I was trying to do a jackknife-cannonball to swamp the dinghy. I grabbed the davits w/my center of gravity WAY too high, ‘hesitated‘ one second too long to step into the dinghy, kersplooshed, and got thoroughly soaked. The resulting bruise which I chose not to share a picture of looks like:
The Journey…
Week 13.2 – Hyde Park, NY to Sandy Hook, NJ – NM 1202 thru 1288
We took off from Hyde Park early Saturday to head to an anchorage 37 nm downriver, Croton-on-Hudson splitting the difference in distance to NY City. Got to the anchorage, got the hook down and watched all the power boaters come in from varying places and raft up, play loud music, have a great time and attempt to anchor WAY too close-the ole stink eye made them move. Rory was the only sailboat in 60+ boats. Sigh…
Saturday was Sept 11, all over NY, remembrances were made to signify the 20th anniversary of that horrid day. Flags hanging from bridges was one such way. We then passed by Bannerman’s ‘Castle’ on Pollepel Island; which was for all intense purposes a huge, private Army-Navy surplus warehouse since 1854 with Bannerman becoming the world’s largest buyer of surplus military equipment. The castle stored mostly war weapons and explosives, which actually supplied some countries wars. It actually operated until 1970!!! Next up was West Point. Passed by as they were announcing LOUDLY over the entire campus, “Make your way to the stadium if you want to get to the game on time”. They won over Western Kentucky 38-35. Motoring, not sailing further down the river (think wind on the nose); we were ‘followed’ by a group of 4 military helicopters for about 7 miles. Concerned as they flew low and around the hills and the river; we deduced they might be on alert for NYC’s remembrance ceremonies. And yes they had missiles on them! Got to the anchorage, got the hook down and watched all the power boaters come in from varying places and raft up, have a great time and attempt to anchor WAY too close-the ole stink eye made them move. Rory was the only sailboat in 60+ boats. Sigh…
Got up early Sunday to make the push to NYC, anchor came up nicely in the calm bay. Starting out to the river the wind speed went from 5 to 8 to 13 to 18 to 22 coming directly upriver. Coupled with the fact that we would only have favorable currents for about 4 hours (yes, separate post on that coming), we’d probably end up going backwards. Turned around, dropped anchor and proceeded to do chores, laundry being one of them. Next time use binoculars to take a visual on where one is going, weather reports had nothing about wind in them (that also could be a very LONG separate post). And whilst watching yet another sunset, we happened to glance at the window to see ‘spots’; we both went “NOOOO”. Tasting them revealed to us that we were finally in salt water. Kinda cool but the stuff wreaks havoc on boat stuff, humans, and everything.
NYC! Nothing can prepare you for the initial visual glimpse of the skyline coming down the Hudson. We honestly had our breaths taken away. Seeing one of the most iconic cities in the world from a sailboat, your own sailboat, wow! One can not take that kind of a moment for granted, ever! Now I could have put a bazillion pictures that we took but again I will hold back.
We entered Upper New York Harbor and anchored just to the east of Ellis Island (yes, THAT Ellis Island) which gave us an unparalleled view of the city both day and nite. The anchorage itself was one of the most roily and bouncy we’ve been in to date. Mostly due to the Staten Island Ferries and other large boats that traverse the bay. And helicopters galore! Didn’t complain due to the priceless view.
Our anchor location and views. We had a storm go thru and the pic w/scribbles denotes the boat movement thru the nite. The cruise ship is a new one from Virgin-Richard Branson, ‘The Scarlet Lady’, adults only, hmmmm. It was in NY for an introductory party w/ Richard himself, Paris Hilton among other biggies present. Did we go? Ah No! Actually we did not even set foot in NY. We had been there 5 years ago, walked our feet off and thoroughly enjoyed most of what the city has to offer.
After the beautiful sunrise over NY (above LR), we took off for Sandy Hook Bay Marina, roughly 18nm away. Weather was coming in and we wanted some protection. We passed by Lady Liberty, a Roily Sea Staten Island Ferry and turned out backs onto NYC.
Weather coming in: only 5 named tropical depressions that messed w/us so far – Fred, Henri, Ida, Larry and now Odette.
We actually were able to SAIL Rory for the first time after putting up the mast. It felt SO good! Seems like we almost forgot how since it had been just over a month of doing so. A buddy we happened to see en route to the marina. First turtle.
The marina, hmmm VERY pricey compared to anywhere else we’ve been (even their laundry was $$$, they wanted $3.50/load to wash AND $3.50/load to dry!!! Walked to laundromat downtown.), amenities no better, fairways narrower than the marina we had our ‘issue’ with in Lexington, MI. D mastered the boat in and out marvelously whilst dealing w/the tidal currents, (yeah, I’ll get to the tides post) cross winds and B I G boat next to us. The outdoor restaurant/bar ‘One Willow’ next door was however fabulous. We spent our 30th wedding anniversary there, sharing it w/a pair of sisters that we had an absolute hoot conversing w/. The restaurant comped us a 30th anniversary Rum Date Cake, which we shared w/Suzy & Bobbie.
The Journey…
Week 13.1 – Catskill to Hyde Park, NY – NM 1171 thru 1202
Now that Rory was a full blown sailboat again we took off from Catskill and headed to Hyde Park. We wanted to visit the FDR Presidential Library and perhaps catch a meal at one of the CIA Institute’s restaurants. However thanks again to Bruce E’s statement on wind vanes – “You see where it’s pointing up there? That’s where we need to go.” Therefore the sails never made it out.
Views on our way down the Hudson to Hyde Park. Couple of lighthouses, a pretty lofty mansion w/a very cool boathouse and a glimpse of one of four Frederick Vanderbilt Mansion’s strewn about the east called ‘Hyde Park’.
Views from our marina, sundowners in the ‘gazebo’, the actual Catskill Mtn’s, a crew team practicing-note-they were actually going faster than the train in the background, and last but not least a sunset picture.
One problem of traveling via sailboat – spontaneity – or lack there of. Planning ahead for reservations etc just doesn’t work very well under certain circumstances. For example, getting some “Carpe di Yum” at the CIA Institute. I called a day before we arrived hoping to get in. Response from person on the phone smothering a chuckle/smirk w/ a great NY accent: “Oh ma’am, we’re booked out at LEAST 60 days”. Therefore just walked the campus and inhaled some wonderful aromas. Pepin people – think Harborview’s mushroom aromas on steroids. They did have a wait list for no shows, but again our time couldn’t accommodate it.
FDR Presidential Library and Museum. This was our 2nd presidential library visit (12 more to go); we went to Truman’s w/Jay & Kathy E in Independence, MO. History is such a thing that sometimes you just want to go back to that time to really experience what was going on. Then you look at all the info, quotes from supporters and critics, promises made and broken and realize that a lot of the rhetoric has not changed; just the means to disseminate it. However, FDR was one of those presidents that made a very large impact on the country. I actually broke down crying remembering my mom state that she loved the man. Living thru the depression and the dust bowl, FDR’s programs made a huge influence on her life. She would talk about how her family would sit around the radio and listen to the ‘Fireside Chats’. The picture in the middle below is an art installation that includes pieces of the Berlin wall w/the busts of FDR and Churchill, very poignant. Along w/the last his study where some of his ‘Chats’ were broadcast. Much in the museum was also on Eleanor; she was a force to be reckoned w/. Wanted to go to her museum nearby but again spontaneity didn’t allow it.
Followed that all up w/a stop across the street from the Museum w/a ‘Rough Rider Red’ brew and a Franklin’s Fireside burger outside on the patio.
The Journey…
Quote – Eleanor Roosevelt
So, D & I must be getting this right because we just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary!
