September 2023

Fri Sept 1 Up before 0800 as we wanted to get to Hellgate by noon. Another beautiful day, blue skies with no clouds, eerily like 9/11.

Called for pumpout but no answer. The Marine Center does not have pumpout at the dock but they told us about a floating dock with solar powered pumpout. Wow! As we finished breakfast (multigrain croissant and a cherry hand pie and yogurt), Laz was able to reach pumpout, who said it would be 44 min to an hour before they could get to us. Not great for our timetable. We put ourselves on the list, in case the solar pumpout didn't work. Headed over to it on the other side of the mooring fields. It was interesting docking to it, basically rafting up, but without help from the other vessel. Pumpout worked, which was great! As we left, Laz called mobile pumpout to let them know we didn't need them and they said they had just gone by our mooring 5 min before. Which was 1/2 hour sooner than they said they could come. Oh well.

Headed out in a great breeze, 11-13 kts from the NNE. Boats headed out to race in Oyster Bay

Saw a familiar boat going wing, *For Pete's Sake.* Laz radioed them to say hello since we saw them a lot out there. They said they were at Cuttyhunk and at P-town. They were headed to Manhasset tonight then Atlantic Highlands.

Put up the main along the way and when we turned south towards NYC, we unfurled the jib and motor sailed. Kept the engine on to make sure we got there in a timely fashion. Tide was 1.5 kts in our favor.

Took down sails just before the Throgs Neck Bridge and went on through. Passed LaGuardia airport with planes taking off and landing. The current was between +4 and +6 kts in our favor so at one point we were doing 12+ kts over land.

Lady Liberty in sight! Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. Reached the Battery at 2pm. Took us 1.5 hours to get through.

Motor sailed until we were past the Verrazano Bridge, then pulled out the jib and sailed all the way to Sheepshead Bay. Passed Coney Island! I've never been or seen it.

Radioed the Miramar YC and the launch showed us to our mooring. We are on *Sea Dragon's* mooring. Took the launch to the club where we met David Shin, the Commodore and Josh Reder, the Vice Commodore. Took a while to get Zelle to work so I could pay for our mooring, $100 for two nights. Really nice people, they offered us a beer, we accepted seltzers and we watched one of the guys make a dock line with loop braiding using fids. Was very cool. They showed us around the club, where the heads and showers are, gave us a key in case we need to go after 11pm as when the launch guy is finished, he locks up. We took the launch back, will explore Sheepshead Bay tomorrow.

Sunset. If you look closely you can see the sun setting right in the middle of the photo.

Went below to have dinner and had to do a selfie with Laz's Howie Long hair

Baked tomato with Parmesan on top, one of Lisa Hartmann’s home grown, and the chicken stuffed with artichoke and cheese wrapped in phyllo for dinner

Can't capture the color of the moon on camera, but you can see the color reflected in the water.

1/2 a mini pineapple upside down cake for dessert

We could see the Coney Island fireworks from our mooring. Apparently they do them on Friday nights.

All the city noises in addition to the fireworks: sirens, tires squealing, cars backfiring, loud music, so vibrant. Exploring Sheepshead Bay tomorrow. Can't sail south yet, wind direction and wave heights not favorable.

Sat Sept 2 City noises and lights kept me up too late…slept in til 10am! Shared a chocolate raspberry croissant and a lemon turnover with Laz. Read and relaxed.

Watched some of the other boats from the yacht club leave on their race and club cruise. It's a great YC, very inclusive and diverse. Our launch driver is Russian and there are many members and crew who are people of color, Black, Hispanic, Chinese. Not your usual YC. Still have the usual quota of older white males, but so nice to see others sailing. Found a great article about the club (link to be added here)

Heard a dog barking and saw this very excited golden retriever. Not sure if it got in or out of the dinghy or was just excited to see the lady on the dinghy.

earn mo

Took the launch to the Miramar YC and then walked out to get some provisions. Found Bionic Bagels, a great bagel store/deli where we had lunch. Of course I got the everything bagel with cream cheese and lox, my favorite. Not a Jewish deli so no capers onions or tomato, but still delicious. Went to the Aldi, did not realize they only have their store brand and did not have a deli. Got some bread and wraps then walked back to Bionic Bagels to get OJ, turkey, RB and cheddar. We got a pound of their chicken salad as well.

Some of the houses had lovely gardens. This one has many stone decorations of frogs and other things. I liked this one with the young frog with binoculars

Back to *baji-naji* to put away provisions and sit and read or watch the world. This Tartan sailed in and out of the moorings.

Went to Liman, a Turkish restaurant, for dinner. View from the restaurant.

You can see *baji-naji* from there. Easy to spot with our bright *Boji*

Delicious zucchini pancakes with potato crispies on top for appetizer

I had the lamb kebab, yum! Lamb was well cooked and not greasy.

Laz had the baked shrimp which has leeks and a melted Turkish cheese. I got a taste of the leeks and cheese…yummy!

And baklava for dessert for me! Their version is filled with pistachios. Very light flaky phyllo and not too sweet. Laz had a light chocolate cheesecake.

By the time we walked back to the YC and got on the launch, the sun had set. View from the launch. Off to Atlantic Highlands tomorrow.

Sun Sept 3 Another relaxed morning. Made French toast and bacon and, of course, coffee. Off the mooring around 10:45, another breezy day. At high tide, it was no trouble to get through the low spot, at least 11 ft of water everywhere. Headed out the small channel off the Rockaways.

Marine Parkway Bridge. 8-13 kts today, changing from SW to W and at one point NW. I'm sure the land has something to do with it. Or not. On one of our tacks heading south we saw a dolphin leap completely out of the water. Wow! Did not see any whales, they have been sighted in this area. Sailed by a sailboat that was at anchor, but was rocking strangely although there was a lot of weird wake. It almost looked abandoned. There was chatter to the Coast Guard about it, so we kept going. Had our engine on when the wind was down to 5kts. Strong tide of 2 kts against us at one point so slow going. Wanted to get in for fuel and pumpout before it was too late. There was quite a line for that. Two power boats ahead of us. Had to stay still and just wait. They take forever to fuel up and do pumpout. Finally our turn. It was very low tide so they throw dock lines to you. Took 12.54 gallons ~ 0.6 gallons per hour. They said they are the cheapest, but not in my book. $4.60 a gallon.

On the way out we checked out the Dufour 390 named *Caria*. I noticed her when we were headed to the fuel dock

She looks a lot like *baji-naji.* No one on board so could not say hello.

Passed a pretty Tartan that looked a lot like Will and Emily’s *Altair.* Found a spot to anchor at the end of the mooring field. I was worried we were in the channel, but a passing J was kind enough to tell us we are fine. Let out 120ft as it was 9ft at low tide and there is a 5 ft tide. It was also what the guy on the phone told me to do when we discussed anchoring as there were no moorings available. We then took *Boji* to scrub the entire waterline and below. Definitely got some muck off. I noticed our speed was a little slower, and *Boji’s* bridle is quite dirty. I am sure our girl needs a good scrub below. I started it but the motion was not a good one for me so I kept *Boji* moving down the hull and Laz scrubbed.

Never had lunch, so it was time for dinner. Chicken salad over iceberg lettuce with extra black pepper. I cut up the last of Lisa Hartmann's tomatoes. This one was a beauty. Added some pita chips. Yum.

Took the launch into town, walked down the main street until we found the ice cream store. Dan had peach with roasted peach pieces on a waffle cone. I had a scoop of chocolate with salted caramel sauce. As always it's too much and Laz got to finish it

Saw this sign at a local theater and thought of my Mom.

As we walked back to the marina, the sun was setting.

From the launch as we headed back to *baji-naji*

Salmon sky. Over a hundred sailboats on moorings here.

Our view of the Verrazano and NYC. Tomorrow we are making the long run to Cape May from here. Glad we checked out Atlantic Highlands. Very protected moorings and anchorage. And the ice cream isn't bad either!
Mon Sept 4 Labor Day Time for the run to Cape May. It's 120 statute miles and 110 nautical miles so we allowed 22 hours.

Unpredicted rainstorm so held off departure until 11:15 or so.

Pre-departure selfie. Will be a long run.

A Coast Guard cutter that seemed to be following us for a long way.

Pretty day, with storm clouds that were moving ahead of us to the south. Wind was shifty and not strong so we motor sailed most of it.

I took the sunset shift so Laz could get a nap. It's amazing to watch the sun go down with all the colors and how long it takes for the moon to rise. Also very cool that it was clear enough to navigate using the stars.

Amazing colors all around. The camera does a good job but the real thing is even more stunning

Wind had picked up from a great direction when Laz woke up from his nap so we unfurled the jib and sailed a while. You can just make out our full sails with the steaming light on them

Sent Laz below for another nap after we furles the jib. Still a long way to go. I caught the moonrise while he was napping.

Moon is up with Jupiter a bright spot to it's right in the photo. We switched off around 12:30a

A blurry image as I was solo, but this looked light a bright lit up frog guiding me 🐸
Tue Sept 5 We got within 11 miles of Cape May by 0300 so Laz slowed the engine and put up sails to slow us down. I came up to help them went back to nap. We had a mostly steady breeze of 8 kts from the N after MN.

I was up around 0500 to take a shift and saw Atlantic City all lit up in the distance. Beautiful

Morning twilight. Gorgeous. We sailed around a bit more, wanting to take the channel in daylight. I made some coffee and brought up the sour cream coffee cake from Isabelle et Vincent. Sun was up around 0600. Took down the sails and landed at the fuel dock just after sunrise at 0700.

Their nice restaurant, Brine, opened at 0800 and we went for breakfast. I got a lovely cappuccino as well.

At the fuel dock. In line to get to our assigned slip. Used the time to wash down the boat as we had so many dead flies and salt everywhere. Filled the aft water tank, fueled up. 11 gallons which is ~0.7 gallons per hour. This time we were at 2000 rpm for all those engine hours, so likely why the mileagr was not as good. Helped the 50’ Bavaria off the dock we were moving to. Waited and watched while a 120’ ft super yacht docked across from us. Went to move baji-naji and the engine cut out when I put her in reverse. Current was taking me past the slip I needed to go in, but I managed to steer her mostly into the next one. Dockhands rushed to help and we secured her, but had to move since another boat needed the slip we were in. Went to troubleshoot the engine, but all looked good, fuel filter fine, etc. Dockmaster suggested we call a diver to see if anything stuck on the prop and when walking around the boat Laz noted a line in the water…so yeah. The amazing dock staff helped us pivot baji-naji into the next slip, stern in, and we were snugged in. The diver came out and for $250, got the line unwrapped (did not need to be cut) and cleaned the bottom. The fee for diving was $200 so only $50 extra to clean her. Which will make the trip up the Delaware Bay hopefully a little faster. We had some barnacles on the keel and some slime and the rest of the boat looked good. Intakes all had sea grass in them which he cleaned out. Sea strainers look fine. While I was looking for a fuel filter earlier, I noted really ugly growth in the lazarette. All fuzzy. Like a dead mouse or fungus. Laz removed that with Clorox wipes and then we sprayed Lysol. When I made lunch, I noticed blue plastic shavings on the cabinet wall…we have an actual mouse on board. It tried to eat into the plastic container for the almonds and peanuts. I wondered why I stepped on plastic pieces on the floor the last day or so. Have to deal with that at some point. For now put down some vinegar and will need traps. Finally got a nap around 3p. Up at 6 and to dinner at Lucky Bones.

Delicious bread with cheese topping and dipping oil. Scrumptious fried zucchini planks.

Laz had the ribs. Well, a few of them anyway. Most came home with us as leftovers.

I had the seafood pasta, scallops, shrimp and crabmeat with a parmesan cream sauce. Most of this came home with us as well. Generous portions! The waitress did a great job up selling dessert so there is also a vanilla caramel cheesecake slice in the fridge. No will power when tired! Off to bed not long after dinner. Up early tomorrow to catch the tide up Delaware Bay

Wed Sept 6 Up and off the dock by 0800 to catch the tide up Delaware Bay. Motor sailed and for the only portion we could truly sail, the wind shifted to on our nose and also died. On the plus side, we always had 1.5-2 kts of current with us the whole way up the DE Bay

When making lunch I found the mouse chewed part of the Santitas bag and part of the Cape Cod chips bag but did not get into either bag. A day of pests, as we killed at least 50 flies in the cockpit and a few more in the cabin when they made their way in. It got better in the upper Bay, but there were many earlier and they were in a biting mood. A first, Laz got bit more than I did.

Our last pelican sighting as we will be back in brackish water soon. We saw what we thought was a dolphin leaping out, no pictures though. Lots of big ships moving, we stayed just out of the channel and out of their way.

*baji-naji* and sunset as seen from Schafer’s Restaurant. We got there by 6p. Current was running strongly 3kts west. The dockmaster said to turn into the current to safely dock. Had to keep engine going forward to fight the 3kts, but we got docked safely.

Fried oysters. Pretty tasty. Our waitress, Rachel, was nice enough to order a side dish of these for me as an appetizer. She was also awesome and came running to the boat with my prescription sunglasses which I left on the windowsill.

Shrimp tacos. I was full from oysters and a crab bruschetta so Laz got one of these

Lemon berry marscapone very good and most went back to the boat

Heading to home port tomorrow. Need to buy a mousetrap or two.

Thu Sept 7 After a great night's sleep, looked out and decided we would bypass HdG and hang on the hook in Worton tonight. Well actually didn't make the decision til we were out of the C&D canal. Current was with us. With no wind and flat seas at 2000 rpm we were only going 5.4 kts over water. We suspect the gauge is off as the hull was just cleaned. Will have to check that out.

Passed our guiding angel from the Cape May to Jersey City run, *Carolina Coast,* at dock in the C&D canal. She was a steady presence for us that night into dawn.

Back in the Chesapeake Bay where the barges roam

Wind was light, less than 5kts from the SW. We put up sails in the Elk but ended up motoring until past Turkey Point. Sailed a bit but with the tide against us we ended up motor sailing. Heading to Worton Cove which is just around the far point.

We weren't the only ones out, but we seemed to be the only ones sailing. At one point the wind was up to 12-13 kts and I turned off the engine and pulled out the jib. Some rocking sailing for a bit.

At one point the entire Western shore was dark with thunderheads barely visible in the dark. Time to furl it up and go into Worton Cove. Anchored in our usual spot, with this view of the weather. Theoretically supposed stay on the Western Shore but there are expected showers and possible thunderstorms tonight.

Sky clearing where we are. Saw a bald eagle, I know we're back in the Chesapeake. Havarti, crackers and a bottle of San Pellegrino after anchoring.

Maybe this will clear enough for a Worton sunset, or maybe not. It did.

Worton sunsets are extraordinary every time. Dark rain clouds on top

Cold ribs for dinner with cucumbers and tomatoes and ranch dressing. Cheesecake for dessert. Dinner and a show as the thunderstorm over Rock Hall was in full form.

Lots of cloud to cloud action and a few bolts hit land

Hot day, so running the generator and air conditioner while listening to the first NFL game of the season on Sirius XM radio. Will head back to home port tomorrow. For real. There is a lighted boat parade tomorrow night, weather permitting, and our friends who have been starting our car at Tidewater are in it.

Friday Sept 8 Hard boiled eggs and split a chocolate raspberry croissant. Minimal wind so motor sailed quite a bit. Wind did perk up so had the code-0 out for a little while then furled again. Had a good breeze coming up to Spetsutie Island so got the code-0 out again for a short bit. Did not last long. Furled again. Got to Tidewater Marina by 3:30, did pumpout and fuel.

Leftovers from Lucky Bones, the seafood pasta. Hot day 90+° but at dock we had our air conditioning on. Unfortunately ran out of propane as this cooked, but it was warm enough. That tank did not last as long, we clearly still have a leak, despite Laz fixing the one hose. Will need to troubleshoot this ASAP.

Havre de Grace sunset view from our cockpit

Lighted boat parade! The Susquehanna Hose Company, the local fire house

Sailboat and power boats with prizes for best of each

Our friends boat, the *Julian Byng*. There were balloons with LED lights streaming behind the boat as well.

The HdG lighthouse is also represented. We got to catch up with an old friend, Jeff Cook, who has moved to Annapolis. He's the young man we gave *Hilfy* to years ago. We were invited to the boat parade afterwards. We were about to head over with Jeff when the heavens opened up. Put on our foul weather gear and got drenched anyway. Our friends Tina and Johnny were still on the *Byng* and told us to come aboard. I had to wring out the hem of my dress before I would go into the cabin, so much water! We ended up going to the Brewery at the top of the marina property and talking. I was exhausted and left at 10:45p and Laz followed 10 min later. Sleeping in air conditioning was nice!

Sat Sept 9 No propane means no way to make coffee. Headed into town to the coffee shop when we ran into the Farmer's market. Got a lovely 1/2 caff pour over from a local roaster. Went to the baker every one raves about and bought a regular and an everything bagel and cheese herb bread. Bought a local fresh mozzarella ball, a smoked cheddar and a ‘seconds’ tomato, basically bruised, so he gave it to me for $1.

September Chesapeake trip

August 2023