Cape May

Sept. 11 - Hung out in Atlantic City catching our breath.  Went to the Boardwalk for a stroll and had lunch at new casino “Revel”.  Nice lunch.  AC is still a dump anywhere but in the casinos and since we don’t gamble, not much of an attraction.

Sept. 12 - Left the marina at high tide for estuary anchorage just outside yacht basin.  Wind was against me turning from the slip into the “fairway” and I was humbled as I struggled to turn the boat into the wind and in the direction we were going.  Had to finally go partially into a slip to use the outside piling as a “turning post”.  Guess I still have a lot to learn.  Anyway, safely anchored outside the yacht basin.  It’s blowing 15 and there’s very strong current so we swinging all around and often broadside to the wind because of the current.  Took out Kryss’ piano for the first time and she’s playing as I’m writing.  Pix include her playing and boat in the anchorage.  Huge dangerous thunderstorms headed our way.  Kind of scary.  Boat is swinging around its anchor because of the swirling winds and strong tide.  No place else to go except back into the marina and conditions will make taking the anchor up dicey, so we’re staying put and hoping for the best.  Whew, thunderstorms pass us by and it’s into our bunk for the night.

Sept. 13 - You can’t make this stuff up.  Conditions are ideal for our trip to Cape May.  Moderate NW winds predicted growing to 15-20, but that should be fine for us.  Bring the anchor up and can’t get up over the roller.  Try multiple times.  Finally take a close look and see we’ve hooked a very old cable, maybe two inches think.  Not going to be so easy getting out of this, particularly with our high freeboard.  Anyway, thank goodness for unlimited towing contract with Tow Boat US.  They get someone over to help us.  First he tries to cut the cable.  Gets half way and runs out of battery for saw.  Goes back for new battery and on return decides to try to free us by manipulating cable from his boat while I manipulate the anchor.   That was my initial idea.  Anyway, he frees us and an hour after scheduled leaving time we’re on our way.  Seas are down with long rolling swells rather than the chop we’ve been fighting for the last few passages, but wind is lighter than predicted so we motor sail for a while on our way down the New Jersey coast to Cape May and make nice time.  Wind picks up and we turn off the engine sailing at 6.5 knts or so in moderate breezes.  Making good time.  Wind picks up to 15-20 and we’re flying, making 8.5 knts. at times.  Get into Cape May without incident and anchor for the rest of the day.

We’ve now reached a number of milestones.  Have gotten further South than ever before, not counting times cruising from Boca Raton, FL, have retired two Chartkits (Canadian Border to Nantucket and Block Island to Cape May) and Northern Cruising Guide.  Also traveled over 500 miles.

Will stay put tomorrow as strong NW winds are predicted which are not conducive to us going up the Delaware.  To be con’t.

Sept. 14 - Wake up in time to see the swimmers in the 15 mile around Cape May annual race swimming by.  Moored where the guides suggest to the East of the Coast Guard Station.  Seems a little close to the shore for me and because of the NW wind, leaving enough scope puts me at the edge of my comfort zone, but depthsounder says we’re OK.  Need to keep a good watch on it.

Weather and adverse circumstances not intervening we’ll be on our way up Delaware Bay towards the C&D canal tomorrow.