Author: Hayden

Forecast for 50+ MPH winds http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

This storm will be massive and we have been looking at this weather for over a week, that is why we have been running for the Chesapeake Bay. We departed Block Island, RI on Tue for a direct run to Cape May, NJ. We then took a lay day in CMNJ. Today, we ran at 2am from Cape May NJ for the Chesapeake Bay 100 miles! We are now nearing the Chesapeake and should be HOME by 3PM today. This will give us time to decide on how much to strip off the boat and to secure her in a nice wide slip at our marina. Then when the storm hits Sat PM we will be off the boat in a hotel room since the winds will be 40-50 knots all night sat pm.

When we compare the winds of the two places we were, Block Island, RI to Chesapeake Bay, MD, you will see we are very lucky to have made this long move. Compare these…


BLOCK ISLAND, RI Forecast:

SAT
 S WINDS 5 TO 10 KT…BECOMING SE 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS UP
 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 7 TO 8 FT. SHOWERS…MAINLY IN
 THE AFTERNOON. PATCHY FOG IN THE MORNING. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.

 SAT NIGHT
 TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS POSSIBLE WITH HURRICANE
 CONDITIONS ALSO POSSIBLE. E WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO
 35 KT…INCREASING TO 30 TO 40 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 KT AFTER
 MIDNIGHT. SEAS AROUND 9 FT…BUILDING TO 13 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
 SHOWERS. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.

 SUN
 TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS POSSIBLE. SE WINDS 45 TO 60 KT
 WITH GUSTS UP TO 80 KT. SEAS AROUND 22 FT. SHOWERS. VSBY 1 TO
 3 NM.

————————-Compare to Chesapeake——————

CHESAPEAKE BAY ROCK HALL, MD Forecast:

SAT
 TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED. NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH
 GUSTS TO 25 KT…INCREASING TO 30 TO 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES
 3 FT. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS IN THE MORNING…THEN SHOWERS
 LIKELY WITH A CHANCE OF TSTMS IN THE AFTERNOON. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS.

 SAT NIGHT
 TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED. NE WINDS 35 TO
 45 KT. WAVES 5 FT…BUILDING TO 7 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. A CHANCE OF
 TSTMS IN THE EVENING. SHOWERS. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS.

 SUN
 TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS POSSIBLE. NW WINDS 30 TO 40 KT…
 DIMINISHING TO 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
 WAVES 6 FT…SUBSIDING TO 3 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. NEAR THE MOUTH OF
 THE PATAPSCO…WAVES AROUND 3 FT. SHOWERS…MAINLY IN THE MORNING
 WITH VSBY 1 NM OR LESS.

—————————-END COPY——————

It has been a long hard push, but we will soon be home and we feel that the Chesapeake Bay is more protected than New England. Our issue will be dealing with floods and high tides, especially since we will now be off the boat. Island Spirit has taken such good care of us we hope to do the same for her….

Our last leg….100 miles….Cape May, NJ to Rock Hall MD Cape May is the point at teh Delaware Bay Rock Hall, MD is in the Chesapeake Bay, safer area

We are currently running the Delaware Bay from Cape May NJ to the C&D Canal where we will then run down the Chesapeake Bay to our home port of Rock Hall, MD where we will dock. Tonight we will strip the boat of all sails, canvas, dinghy, and tie up with extra dock lines and spring lines. We have booked a room for Sat PM to move off the boat as the winds will be so high that the boat will be rocking and bouncing so much that it could be dangerous, plus during a storm like this, there will come a time, if you are on the boat, that you will NOT be able to get off. That is very dangerous….so we will move off to land. We hope everyone fairs well in this EPIC storm!

Here is the forecast for today and Sat at our home dock.

TONIGHT

 SE WINDS 5 KT. WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS

 AND TSTMS IN THE EVENING.



 SAT

 TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED. E WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH

 GUSTS TO 20 KT...INCREASING TO 30 TO 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES

 1 FT...BUILDING TO 4 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND

 TSTMS IN THE MORNING...THEN SHOWERS LIKELY WITH A CHANCE OF TSTMS IN

 THE AFTERNOON. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS.



 SAT NIGHT

 TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED. NE WINDS 40 TO

 50 KT. WAVES 5 FT...BUILDING TO 7 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. A CHANCE OF

 TSTMS IN THE EVENING. SHOWERS. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS.



 SUN

 TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS POSSIBLE. N WINDS 40 TO 50 KT...

 BECOMING NW 25 TO 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 7 FT...SUBSIDING TO

 4 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. SHOWERS...MAINLY IN THE MORNING WITH VSBY

 1 NM OR LESS.

Sailing Close Hauled into Cape May, NJ…. w/no full

We arrived into Cape May, NJ yesterday after a run from Block Island, RI. Winds were SW 10 knots and
the seas were 1-2. All night long we powered into this, as usual, pushing hard to make it in before the 15-20 knots of South winds would start. Well, we ended up running out of fuel 12 miles short of Cape May, NJ. Lucky for us, the South winds came in at 15-20 as projected and we were able to sail close hauled to the inlet and then fall off to a beam reach where we sailed into Green 3, turned the corner sailing right up to the sandbar where we then dropped anchor and dropped sails. We had already called TowBoatUS who stood by, running behind us in case we had any trouble. Radeen did a great job sailing into the inlet and once anchored, we secured the tow boat to our beam and they passed over a 5 gallon jug of diesel fuel. Blaine poured this into our tank, we signed the paperwork, and pumped up the fuel into the Racor fuel filter, started the engine and we were off again. It was like an Indy 500 pit stop….funny….but I would prefer to NOT do this again. We ran out of fuel for two reason:
1. We ran 6+ hours more starting in Martha’s Vineyard (we usually start in Block)
2. We motored at 2800 RPMs all night, pushing hard (we usually run at 2500 RPM)
3. We backed it down to 2400 when South winds came and motor sailing leans over the tank, making the last 4 gallons unusable. (yes, maybe…maybe in flat calm seas we could have burn the end of the tank)
4. We only hold 48 gallons

In all, we were very happy that we love to sail close hauled and that we can sail up to a setting of 38 degrees on the B&G wind machine! So we had to take one starboard tack to go offshore at Wildwood, then one final port tack to the inlet where we could beam reach in the Cape May Inlet.

NOW….we will run for Rock Hall, MD tonight at 0200hrs, as we wait here in NJ for this next front to pass today. Friday, it is to be calm and we will run the full 100 miles for home where we will then ride out the hurricane in Rock Hall, MD.

PS:
Our plans were…..to spend a week here at CMNJ but…..that is not going to happen.

After a day at Block Island and a connection with our good sailing friend Blaine Parks, we three departed Block Island at 0530hrs for a direct run for Cape May NJ, CM NJ. We should arrive CMNJ Wed around 4-6pm if the winds and seas are nice to us. Once there, we will take a rest day and beach day at Utches Marina and then run the Delaware Bay for the C&D to our home town of Rock Hall, MD.

The run from Block to CMNJ is 204 miles on a course of 240 degrees. That is South West SW and the winds here are usually SW, but today they were NW at 15 and now they are W at 5-10, so the seas are flat and we are motorsailing at 6 knots. The forecast is for backing winds to SOUTH and building 10-15, the issue will be when and then as Wed night approaches they will build to 15 with gust to 20 and the seas will come up.

So, we are pushing to get into CMNJ before this builds, but it is all a matter of timing and we can only run at 6 knots. We can sail at 7 knots but need 15-20 knots and NOT SW winds.

Then on Sat/Sun we have hurricane IRENE to deal with and we plan to get out of CMNJ running north to the Chesapeake Bay where we should be protected. This storm looks very serious and we have been very active on monitoring the development.

Photos and more to follow….we are currently 10 miles south of Montauk Point, NJ.

Getting your boat from Maine to the Chesapeake Bay is a bit of a challenge and we are feeling like delivery captains at this point. We have been moving the boat non stop every day since departing Camden, Maine on Tue, Aug 16th. Here are the legs we have run…

• Camden Maine to Boothbay Harbor…45 miles
• Boothbay Harbor to Gloucester Mass…92 miles
• Gloucester Mass to Cape Cod Canal to Pocasset, Mass…72 miles
• Pocasset to Vineyard Haven via Quick’s Hole Passage…30 miles
• Vineyard Haven to Block Island, RI…53 miles

We have had some great fun along the way!  McSeagull’s was the place for dinner in Boothbay with Eric & Pat from IP-460 Cutter Loose and Bob, Kathy & 3 adorable daughters of IP-380 Drake’s Passage. Next, we had a delightful and delicious evening with Bernie and Eileen aboard IP-40 Top Cat in Vineyard Haven. And here in Block, we have had beach adventures and dinner at the Narragansett with the team of IP-380 Drake’s Passage. We are so fortunate to have a moveable neighborhood of IP friends out here!

Now we are on anchor in Block Island and we would like to be in Cape May NJ by Saturday! We have a major front to deal with and then maybe a weather window to make the 220 mile ocean run on Tue/Wed. Lucky for us, we have a great friend, Blaine Parks, arriving here in Block for a visit and he will sail with us back to NJ. This will make it much easier as with three onboard, the night watches are less tiring. So, we wait in Block Island for a weather window to run for NJ and we are also keeping a keen eye on tropical storm IRENE….

Here are some photos of the transit from Maine…

My Favorite scene in Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Cape Ann Twin Lighthouses at Gloucester, Mass

Our WARNING in the morning leaving Gloucester, we took a beating exiting the Cape Cod Canal 8 hours later!!!! Story to follow

Sailing south off Plymouth Mass, beautiful day sailing for the Cape Cod Canal

Cape Cod Canal with the Railroad Bridge in the distance

The ferry arriving Vineyard Haven off our starboard side at anchor. What a great town, we need to revisit this and spend a summer here!

Sunrise 0540 hrs with Vineyard Haven off our stern as we sail for Block Island, RI

Ahhhhh…..Block Island North Lighthouse, a great view when sailing in from the North.

Welcome to Block Island, the entrance is narrow with people on the beach. The cut is easy, straight, and short, then you enter the GREAT SALT POND and drop anchor.

Our welcome back sunset over the Coast Guard Station….thank you, Block Island	!

Here is a map of the run home…

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=205565364602003786360.0004ab0ed5c034b5704e2&msa=0

Next stop….CAPE MAY NJ….as we may make a direct ocean passage from Block to
New Jersey.

One word….MAINE….that is all I can say! Sadly we are now in Gloucester Mass, and I am trying to catch up on the blog, so for me, being a visual learner, the best way is with photos. In the past month I have taken over 3,000 digital photos and most of them only turn out half as good as it really looked. So here are a few from my MAINE collection….enjoy….

We are still here….still afloat….but have NOT blogged in a week! We are lost in the beauty of Maine from NE Harbor through Deer Island into Hell’s half Acre and then onto Vinalhaven and then into Camden where we waited out the 30 knot blow last night. Today, we are underway again, motorsailing the 45 miles from Camden Maine west to Boothbay Harbor. We hope to catch up with the blog soon with more photos….but for now, we are under way….

More later….with photos….ok…back to relieve Radeen at the helm….wind…rain….low viz….MAINE

We sailed from Isle au Haut through Merchant Row and up into Eggemoggin Reach just in time to arrive at the finish line of the wooden boat regatta, http://ERregatta.com. This location at Brooklin Maine is the home of WoodenBoat School where you can learn to build your own wooden boat. We have never seen so many magnificent wooden boats and perfectly varnished brightwork and wooden masts and spars in one harbor anywhere.

In the morning, we explored the WoodenBoat Bookstore and the WoodenBoat School where we observed students working on their kayacks and small sailing dinghies. This looks like a very interesting program and maybe someday we will come up here to participate in building a boat. Take a look at some of the yachts I photographed below. I tried to show their beauty and their varnish. Enjoy the photos….

White Wings, a W Class yacht! http://www.w-class.com/spirit_of_tradition_yachts/f/w_class_yachts_home.html

Team W-Class, White Wings with her FLEET!

Wild Horses, White Wings, Race Horse plus a sailing dinghy http://www.w-class.com/spirit_of_tradition_yachts/f/w_class_yachts_home.html

Beautiful varnish

Ticonderoga and her gold leafed dolphin

Classic

CANGARDA and the Bow Sprit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cangarda

The Classic Herreshoff Sailing Dinghy, this is one you can learn to build

Island Spirit off the stern of M/V LITTLE VIGILANT, with her race boat to port!

The RACE Course for the Eggemoggin Reach Regatta

Hayden and Radeen on top of Duck Mountain, Isle au Haut

Following our good friends Eric and Patricia, who are the directors of our “Outward Bound” hiking program, we followed the Duck Harbor Trail up to the peak of Duck Mountain, 314 feet high. Compared to the hike Eric and Patricia did to reach Cadillac Mountain at 1300+ feet, this was a breeze…..for them….and a stretch for us. We love to hike trails, and take in the beauty, but scaling granite boulders and steep grades was a new challenge for us. The beauty of these park trails is breathtaking! hen you reach a summit on a clear day, you are rewarded with a vista across the bay and back to Vinalhaven and the Camden hills. Thank you, Team Cutter Loose for leading us through a beautiful trail and climb.

Here are some photos of the 50+ I shot….

The Park Map, Duck Harbor Trail lower left

Island Spirit IP35 and Cutter Loose IP460 at anchor Duck Harbor

Part way up, with a look back to our boats in the harbor

A great view overlooking the bay

Looking north to Merchant Row

Patricia with Eric pointing to our boats in the harbor

Dew on the local vegetation

One granite rock ledge we climbed, National Park Service has cut hand holds into the rocks, Eric leads us UP!

Patricia easily handles the hike down

Beautiful close up of a mushroom and moss…NO we did not eat this 🙂

Back down to our boats at anchor, before we depart for Eggemoggin Reach

CHECK OUT THE 10′ TIDES….

Notice the high tide mark on granite blocks at the dinghy dock!

Tide part way down on dinghy dock.

Tide down, part way, these blocks are about 3 feet thick!