Another big jump. Our last night in Block Island was spent rocking and rolling with a strong cold front that brought 35 Mph winds and big sea into the mooring field. We had planned to leave Friday anyway, and even contracted Commanders' Weather Service again. We had anchorages and marinas laid out along the southern shore of Long Island and NJ coastline. But, feeling the change of seasons, spurred us to just keep going. We sailed 294 miles in 54 hours. Our best yet. We had tail winds most of the time and was able to sail in a straight line all of the way here. In the 54 hours, we motor sailed a total of 6 hours. We even sailed all the way up the Delaware bay and river to drop sail and motor through the C&D canal. It wound up being perfect timing at the end of high tide. Ebb gave us a 2 knot push through the canal.
This trip, like all, was not without hardship. Saturday night, the skies turned black and gave us rain and high winds. 30-35 knots out of the NE. The seas were so large, heading into the Delaware Bay, we regularly surfed to 10-11 knots, under double reefed main. All in the black of night. The whole boat was deluged by saltwater and Yumsuch shook it off and kept surging through it all. Great boat at times like this.
We finished with a close hauled sail and motor through the canal to our fist anchorage in Bohemia River. Nice, quiet, and very thin water. Always heard stories of the thin water they sail in here, but there is only 6" under my keel at low tide. Very unnerving for a Lake Ontario boater.
We have some pictures coming. just wanted to let you know where we ended up after another weekend.
Jolly Good Show!!!!!!! NN
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