We decided to travel in the company of another boat overnight from Great Kills to Cape May. We met the captain, Steve, by VHF when he hailed us in lower NY Harbor. He had told us that he usually sails overnight to Cape May from the Great Kills area. We met him in person in the harbor and worked out our timing for the next day's departure. We kept in contact by VHF at regular intervals coordinating motoring and sailing for the first few hours until a good breeze developed by noon. Occasionally, we slowed to 3 knots but eventually we were making hull speed - 6 knots which we were able to maintain during most of the sail to Cape May. It was so nice to feel our 25,000 pound boat pushing through the water with no engine thrumming below - not to mention that we didn't have to burn any of the diesel fuel we paid $4.59 per gallon for at Great Kills. Our 46 gallon tank would remain almost full. It was a little spooky sailing in the dark. Several times I glanced a big bright light close ahead only to realize I was looking at the moon. It was a very clear and well moonlit night. At any given time we could see a dozen boats or so heading in the same direction as we were in the small hours of the morning. With the AIS (Automatic Identification System) the guesswork was taken out of determining where a tug or ship was heading. The AIS tells you immediately how close you can expect to pass on your present course and in how long. The system works only with other boats who have it. Over a certain size it is required equipment. We noticed through AIS that a boat, Ananda, was passing across our bow. We hailed them and had a pleasant conversation with the helmsman. When we inquired about our AIS data he went below to look at it and reported it to us. Our AIS transmitter is working well. He then explained that the reason he was crossing our bow was to avoid a large rectangular area (about 5 miles long) on the chart that said "Research Area - Numerous Buoys." We were headed straight into that area. Decisions, decisions. I told him that I thought the moonlight ahead of us was adequate for seeing buoys unless they were small like lobster pots. He agreed and said that there had been much debate among his crew about whether or not to go through. I opted to go for it. I checked with our friend, Steve, who said he had seen a few small buoys but that he was already in the middle of the area. He didn't know what the notation "Numerous Buoys" meant either. We went through with no problem. I didn't want to have to sail down wind and try to pull in the sails tightly, heeled over, trying to get back up wind after ducking under the buoy area. Fortunately, it worked out.
The wind came up later in the evening strong enough so that I had to consider shortening sail - but I was too tired and the wind was not too strong yet. There is an old adage among sailors that when you think its time to reef it's already too late. Fortunately, I lucked out - the wind did not build any further, but it did make me realize that out at sea when the conditions get rough you are stuck out there - you can't just go home and wait for better conditions. Maryanne did a great job of making me comfortable in the cold cockpit with spaghetti & meat sauce, hot chocolate, and yes - even fresh baked brownies. Delicious. That, long johns, 5 layers of shirts and jackets, plus a complete cockpit enclosure made the night bearable. Maryanne who was not super psyched about doing an overnight sail handled it well. I was surprised when she suggested that we try it. She gets a medal for bravery.
Atlantic city was visible from more than 20 miles away. One building was covered with animated lights that flashed constantly changing animated images that could be seen 10 miles away. Atlantic City is a garish sparkling grotesque sight from offshore. In contrast the sky lit up with stars when the reddish moon sank into horizon at 3:50 a.m. I was not as tired as I thought I would be after a night without sleep. We arrived at Cape May just after sunrise and anchored by 8 am. After launching the dinghy I fell into my bunk until 6 pm. I guess I was tired.
No comments:
Post a Comment