For those who may wonder, the reason I wake up so early are two fold. One the insurance restricts me to sun up to sun down operations when solo, so I have to plan my day around the length of the leg given the daylight hours I can operate. I also have found on this journey it is best if I can get breakfast out of the way because I may not get a meal until I get in at the end of the day, which could be a long day!
I have a checklist I go through to start the leg and it takes at least a half hour or more to get through it. I have tried to hurry it a few times and usually I'm sorry I did!
The long and the short of it is, I needed to get out of the Inlet the absolutely earliest I could given the long leg of 66 NM I was facing. I also have to consider current and tide going in and out of inlets and tonight for docking!
0600-I cheated a bit, pulled anchor, and left the anchorage with lights on to leave the entrance to the Inlet by 0615, at sunrise. Not sure if that technically meets insurance requirements, but I did it anyway. The leg is too long to tary! Several fishing boats were going out with me.
0615-Exited the Inlet at sunrise en route to Cape May. A few breakers caught my attention going out so I quick closed the fore hatches over the berth in case I took water over the bow. False alarm, no problem getting out.
0700-Put up full sail but still motor sailing in the very light wind on the bow 5-7 knots. Any wind helps the cause!
0815-Wind dropped rolled up Genoa.
1130-Passing Atlantic City, just short of half the length of this leg. Las Vegas east!
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| ATLANTIC CITY |
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| TALLEST STRUCTURE NOT SURE WHAT IT IS? |
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| WATER FRONT PIER |
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| END VIEW OF TALL BUILDING HOPE IT DOESN'T FALL OVER! |
1200-Made lunch but could not sit down to eat because a boat approached off the starboard bow on a collision course. I held course but he eventually went around my stern. Strange! He was flying some signals which indicated a working boat, but I did not have time to look up the signals, likely I should have changed course, not him!
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| MYSTERIOUS BOAT! NOTE BLACK SIGNALS ON STARBOARD BOW |
Made a grilled cheese sandwich with chips and a beer. Desert as normal.
Later along my course I watched the strange working vessel on AIS and saw that he seemed to be running a pattern which happened to coincide with the 3 mile limit line on the chart which was where I was when he crossed my course. It became obvious to me then that it was a survey vessel running some type of survey out to the 3 mile limit.
I also saw several schools of fish jumping out of the water. Flying fish came to mind but they never left the water so that was not likely the case. I tried to take a photo but never could catch a full fish.
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| SCHOOLS OF FISH ON THE SURFACE NOT SURE WHAT THEY ARE? |
I worked most of the afternoon on trying to figure out the current and tide situation at Cape May on my arrival. My electronic toys work great for this and give me exact information. The problem was I could not predict my speed for the next 30 miles or more! Anchoring is not recommended due to current and traffic, so that is out. I also checked my water supply and it is way down so that makes it certain I have to go to a dock. The water situation needs to be fixed and soon!
1300-Back to full sail with a nice boost to 6 kts. I will have less current to dock with if I can move up my arrival time by a half hour.
1345-Getting a little boost which has moved up my arrival time a little to help with current when docking. Slack tide would be ideal but I will not make that. 83 F outside, 86 F in the cabin. Humid, sunny. I'm currently headed into a school of fishing boats, hoping I don't need to change course.
1400-Called by phone and made a reservation at South Jersey Marina. Unfortunately, the current will be about 2 kts side wise on entry to the slip! I was 10 NM out but started getting ready anyway. Put out fenders on both sides and got all lines ready. Better to be prepared!
1600-The fuel guages are not dependable and I was nervous going into tight quarters with fuel at marginal levels, in spite of two engines and the unlikely hood of both quitting at the same time. The tight spaces and current just did not bode well. So I decided to fuel up underway.
I put on all the safety gear, armed the auto tether (shuts down engines if I fall over), put on a harness to tie myself to the boat, and went to work adding a couple gallons to each tank. I am hanging over the stern so the safety precautions are merited. Worked out and afterwards it appeared the extra fuel was probably not necessary since it brought the gauges up to almost half full. Oh well, better to be safe!
1730-entered the Inlet to Cape May. Flood tide, so no issues going in.
1800-Got to Buoy 14 where I was supposed to call the marina on VHF and turned out they changed the plan! Not going to tie up to starboard anymore, now it was port side, and to a different slip! Harbor master did try to call me by phone with the change but I was busy getting ready and didn't hear it ring. So I'm drifting around in a narrow channel trying to switch the fenders over to the other side and at the same time avoiding running aground! I finally got it done. Makes you wonder why even try to pre-plan these things too far out!
1815-Now the current is even worse and it is a complicated entry, I swear without a map you could not do it! They offered to have a guy board me to help with docking but as I pulled around the corner and headed down to the slip I noticed the current really picking up and about that time I see the one dock attendant I was supposed to pick up and at the same time, the second dock attendant waving me in to the slip, immediately past the first guy. So I abandoned picking the guy up and got on the throttles to turn hard into the slip. The current was strong and I put the pedal to the metal to try to keep the bow up current while I took a mad dive for the slip. It was not as smooth as I would have liked but it worked.
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| THE CHART YOU WORK WITH LOOKS A LOT DIFFERENT WHEN YOU SEE IT IN REAL LIFE. |
I just can't imagine how much money has been spent on insurance repairing boats damaged in this marina, and this place has some heavy metal! Unless you come in at slack tide it is an accident waiting to happen!
I know the cost to stay here is a minor fortune, in fact, it is the first place I've been where the dock hands are tipped regularly and generously! They do great work but since the orientation is all about big tips they overdue their assistance! One guy even changed my lines after I tied them, because he liked his way better! A little too forward I think.
You would not believe the showers. I have never seen anything even close. Most wealthy people do not have showers as nice as these. I may even post some pictures if I get time. I appreciate the amenities but get real nervous when the money flows so easily! I am just not of that ilk!
Nice dinner out tonight. Will rest and stay tomorrow. I discovered the serious water leak today while filling the tank on arrival. That will need repair before I proceed. I almost ran out of water in two days with only one shower! Normally, it should last about three days.
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| THE NAME SAYS IT ALL! |
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| THE LINE UP OF HEAVY METAL AND WHY YOU TIP THE DOCK HANDS AT THIS PLACE! |
Getting out of here will be complex since it all depends on slack tide and the timing for the leg to Delaware City which is another long leg of 50+ NM. I can't just go when I want due to insurance considerations and I will need help getting out and may need to wait until they open at 7 AM. But slack tide does not necessarily match up with that time. I will work out something.
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| NIGHT VIEW FROM THE END OF MY DOCK |
And of course, now I have to contend with Hurricane Cristobal. Fortunately, it appears it will pass well to the east, but that may affect weather for the next few days too, not sure?
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| HURRICANE FORCE WIND PROBABILITIES |
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| TROPICAL STORM WIND PROBABILITIES |
So for tomorrow I am on hold, we'll work it out one step at a time.
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