Log from the s/v Dutch Nirvana

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September 2002

Week 1

09/03/02 - Tuesday

05:45 - awoke to a cold, wet, foggy day with no wind. Got ready to embark.

06:30 - slipped the lines w/help from Ron and Jim McC - he videotaped my exit - motoring down the Hudson - Bon Voyage!

07:23 - anchored in heavy fog just N of Rattlesnake Island Light - couldn't see 100 yards since Mathew Point.

08:25 - resumed motoring when fog started to dissipate - eerie feeling and dead quiet on the river.

09:00 - passed Finch's Wharf with light fog - still dead quiet and hasn't warmed up yet.

10:30 - just North of Rip Van Winkle Bridge (G123) turned clear and sunny - warmed up a lot - still no wind.

11:00 - SM 18.6 - Catskill Creek - stopped for gas at Riverview Marine 0.7 mi up creek - 5.3 gal.

12:00 - North of Silver Point (G109) light wind from S/SE - still motoring - had my usual lunch underway (chicken salad on crackers & chips).

13:00 - SM 29.2 - passed Esopus Meadows (Saugerties) Lighthouse - took picture.

14:00 - at The Flats (R80) - wind still on nose

15:00 - SM 40.8 - Roundout Creek - took picture of Lighthouse - stopped for gas at Roundout Yacht Basin 1.4 mi up creek - 5 gal.

15:25 - back on Hudson wind S/SE 5-10K, river choppy with wind against the tide.

15:52 - passed Middle Hudson Lighthouse - took picture - very picturesque Lighthouse's on the Hudson.

16:15 - made port at Mariner's Restaurant (Highland Landing across from Poughkeepsie just before abandoned RR Bridge) - Prime Rib & Shrimp w/a Corona to end the day - mallards come right on the restaurant deck to beg for food - beautiful sunset but forecast for TS/Rain in AM.

20:45 - turned in w/hatches open.

09/04/02 - Wednesday

02:00 - awoken by thunder and rain - closed the hatches and back to sleep.

06:00 - arose and had usual breakfast (banana and pastry) and waiting for rain to end (stopped @ 06:30).

07:00 - slipped lines to slight fog and motored down the Hudson.

08:05 - passed Clinton Point - clearing.

08:30 - SM 63 - stopped at West Shore Marine for gas - 5.7 gal.

09:00 - passed Danskammer Point - light N/NW wind - still motoring.

09:45 - SM 70.2 - Newburg Yacht Club - wind from N/NW 5-10K & river very choppy - raised jib - motorsailing!

10:05 - passed Demming Point - wind dropped and so did jib - motoring again.

10:30 - passed Pollepel Island (Bannerman Castle).- a real castle ruin!

11:05 - passed Magazine Point on Constitution Island - still cloudy - West Point ahead - took several photos.

11:30 - passed East Gable - turned hot and sunny - had usual lunch underway (tuna salad on crackers & chips).

12:00 - passed under Bear Mountain Bridge - wind from E 5-10K

12:30 - entered Peekskill Bay with wind on the nose - stayed far away from Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant.

13:00 - passed Grassy Point on Haverstraw Bay - heavy chop and wind from N/NW 5-10K.

13:30 - SM 93.5 - stopped @ Haverstraw Marina for gas - 6 gal.

14:30 - sailed across Haverstraw Bay to Croton Point - anchored in 8' inside the point.

16:30 - motored back to Haverstraw Marina - wind had increased to 10-15K and anchorage had no protection from North or West winds - first night in a strange marina!

20:00 - turned in tired after a dinner of Summer Sausage, cheese, and garden spread on oat bread aboard.

09/05/02 - Thursday

06:30 - awoke to clear skies and no wind.

07:45 - slipped lines 50 min before high tide and motored down the bay - North wind 10-15K with a heavy chop and 2-3' seas - surfing down the wave trough and breaking the crest with spray over the bow.

10:00 - SM 104 - stopped at Tarrytown Marina for gas and a rest from the pounding - 3.2 gal - in the Tappen Zee I was passed close aboard twice (he turned about!) by a large luxury cruiser at full throttle - waked me badly each time, glad I had the safety harness attached - making that a habit from now on.

11:00 - passed Hastings-on-Hudson and have the Pallisades on starboard! - took pictures.

11:30 - passed Yonkers.

12:10 - passed Spuyten Duyvil Creek - Manhattan Island! - George Washington Bridge ahead - had usual lunch underway.

13:30 - SM 126.5 - stopped at Port Imperial Marina for gas - 3.2 gal - marina is being renovated, all torn up - kept to my schedule of 2-1/2 days to NYC!

15:00 - anchored at Liberty State Park, NJ behind Statue of Liberty in 16' - took more pictures.

17:00 - had dinner aboard of baby clams, cheese, garden spread on oat bread.

09/06/02 - Friday

07:00 - turn too and make some needed repairs: cabin fan mount broke, could not repair: O/B electric plug in cockpit broke (my fault - poor location for socket), temp fix: other minor stuff. GPS is working well, send route from laptop to GPS and follow the bouncing ball! Of course I also plot on the chart (just in case). Depth finder gets confused on some bottoms and also takes awhile to register if depth changes dramatically (trouble switching ranges?)

11:00 - left anchorage 3 hrs after high tide at The Battery for a downhill run to Sandy Hook.

12:00 - passed G21 after going under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge - heading towards West Bank Light to pick up Chapel Hill North Channel - called Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor on VHF to reserve a slip for tonight and Sat (replenishment and R&R after a successful 1st leg of cruise).

14:30 - tied up at Pier 5 of Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor - I'm next to a classic '30's wooden luxury yacht - what a contrast! On the way in the prop caught a black plastic garbage bag that had me dead in the water for a few minutes - good that I can lift the O/B to clear the prop w/boat hook.

18:00 - Dinner at Harborside - Chicken Marsala, Yum!

09/07/02 - Saturday

Explored the town and Highlands, did laundry, e-mail, and got gas at the marina, got groceries/water at the supermarket and took the bus to Highlands to get some stuff at West Marine. Had dinner at the rib place in Atlantic Highlands and watched the sunset from the board (cement)walk.

Week 2

09/08/02 - Sunday

07:00 - awoke to a bright sunny day with no wind.

10:00 - left harbor (motoring) for Sandy Hook Point.

12:00 - off Scotland Light - tried sailing for a while but the wind was from the S/SE (on the nose) and less than 10K so went back to motoring.

14:00 - off Sea Bright with very choppy seas 3-4ft.

14:10 - off G1(bouy) transferred gas from jerry can to gas tank, O/B has fouled plug and is only running on one cylinder. Can't raise O/B to get at plug (worried about my shoulder in these rough seas) so continued motoring - only able to make 4K so I'll be a little late to Manasquan Inlet.

15:00 - off Long Branch

17:00 - off Shark River Inlet

19:00 - entered Manasquan Inlet only an hour behind schedule on a rising tide.

19:30 - tied up for the night at gas dock (closed)

09/09/02 - Monday

08:00 - got gas at Brielle Yacht Club Marina.

09:30 - replaced fouled spark plugs

10:30 - leave Manasquan Inlet

12:30 - off Seaside Heights

13:30 - off Island Beach - hove to and transferred 4 gal. gas

13:50 - Motorsailing - Wind was from the SE and 10-15K

15:30 - drop sails and entered Barnaget Inlet

16:15 - anchored @ 39° 45.6' N - 074° 07.06' W - 211NM so far

09/10/02 - Tuesday

07:00 - awake to heavy fog - another anchored boat seems to have drifted into the shallows of The Dike - Hurricane Watch for Gustauv for Wednesday/Thursday so decided to go on the NJ ICW and find a good spot to tie up.

10:00 - Captain of the grounded boat returned in dinghy to re-float her

11:00 - weigh anchor and get 8.2 gal. gas @ Barnaget Light

11:15 - entered Oyster Creek Channel to Barnaget Bay

11:55 - abeam of Baraget Inlet/NJ ICW junction buoy 'BI'

13:15 - entered Manahawkin Bay

13:40 - passed under Manahawkin Bridge

15:00 - tied up @ Beach Haven Yacht Club Marina to await passage of Gustauv

16:00 - Dinner @ Morrison's (Crab Cakes - Yum!)

19:00 - Sunset with Gustauv approaching

09/11/02 - Wednesday

07:00 - helped tie extra lines to boats in marina's outside berths

10:00 - eye of hurricane passing offshore - took pictures of the ICW from the dock

- walked oceanside in afternoon to watch surf after Gustauv passed

09/12/02 - Thursday

06:00 - awoke to a glorious sunny day - wind from NW @ 15-20K - low tide

11:45 - slipped lines @ high slack with a NW wind @ 5-10K against tide

12:50 - entered Shooting Thorofare with the tide (Little Egg Inlet)

13:00 - entered Great Bay

13:35 - entered Main Marsh Thorofare

13:50 - passed Shad Island

15:10 - got 5.4 gal gas @ Kammerman's Marina (Atlantic City)

15:30 - anchored in quiet cove by Rum Point @ 39° 23.12' N - 074° 24.47' W

09/13/02 - Friday

06:30 - slipped anchor on another glorious sunny day

07:00 - passed Abscon Inlet Light "1" with seas 1-3 Ft and winds from the SE @ 10-15K- motorsailing

08:00 - off Great Egg Inlet

09:30 - off Carson Inlet

10:00 - off Sea Isle City - transfer gas

11:00 - off Townsends Inlet

13:30 - off Hereford Inlet

14:00 - dropped sails before entering Cape May Inlet

15:00 - tied up @ Canyon Club Marina

16:00 - Dinner on Cape May Boardwalk

09/14/02 - Saturday

- Holiday Routine - went to Cape May Library for e-mail, walked on Boardwalk downtown, got groceries, did laundry & got gas at the marina, etc.

Week 3

09/15/02 - Sunday

- anchored in Cape May Harbor N of Coast Guard Station - storm with heavy rain going through so stayed aboard

09/16/02 - Monday

- morning - still raining heavily

- went to West Marine in afternoon for stuff

09/17/02 - Tuesday

06:45 - raised anchor and entered Cape May Canal

06:50 - passed old RR bridge

07:00 - entered Delaware Bay - wind out of N @ 15K against current and very choppy with heavy seas

08:00 - making little progress with heavy seas so turned back

10:30 - anchored again in Cape May Harbor

09/18/02 - Wednesday

06:45 - raised anchor and entered Cape May Canal

06:50 - passed old RR bridge

07:00 - entered Delaware Bay - wind from E @ 10-15K with current flooding so stopped motor and raised sails - nice sailing weather!

11:00 - passed Miah Maull Light averaging 6K with Genoa - Spirit of Baltimore II passed me with all sails set!

13:00 - passed Cross Ledge Light with wind dying down and making less than 3K with current near maximum ebb

16:00 - passed Ship John Shoal @ 6K on flood tide and wind from ESE @ 10-15K

18:00 - off Ready Island - tried starting O/B but won't start - can't go through Chesapeake & Delaware Canal with out motor so called TowBoatUS for tow to Delaware City Marina for overnight tie-up and repairs

20:00 - tied up @ Delaware City Marina

09/19/02 - Thursday

09:00 - get 10 gal. gas and took O/B in for repairs

11:00 - coil cracked and burned - replaced both coils

12:00 - went into Delaware City for groceries, library for e-mail, etc.

13:45 - left Delaware City Marina

14:00 - entered Chesapeake & Delaware Canal

14:45 - passed under St. Georges bridge

15:15 - passed under RR bridge

15:30 - passed under Summit bridge

16:00 - Chesapeake City - Schafer's is out of Gas!

16:30 - anchored in Chesapeake City Town Basin @ 38° 31.57'N - 075° 48.52'W

09/20/02 - Friday

06:45 - leave Chesapeake City Town Basin anchorage

08:00 - Harbor North Marina - Gas dock not open until 9AM!

09:15 - leave Harbor North Marina after getting 9.2 gal. gas

10:00 - off Bohemia River

11:00 - off Grove Point with strong wind "on the nose"

11:45 - off Howell Point - very choppy seas

13:10 - anchored off Worton Creek North of R2 to transfer gas and eat lunch

14:00 - left Worton Ck - still very choppy seas with wind on the nose

15:00 - at Great Oak Landing in Fairlee Creek for gas

15:30 - anchored in Fairlee Creek @ 39° 15.80'N - 076° 12.57W - pretty spot and visited another single-handler (Armound from Italy) aboard his boat

16:00 - Damn - found my digital camera battery dead - lost all pictures - cheap camera only has internal storage so no power = no pictures - need to get a 12V adapter for camera.

09/21/02 - Saturday

06:45 - leave Fairlee Creek anchorage

07:45 - off Tolchester Beach with wind on the nose and very choppy seas

10:15 - off Chester River - transferred 3 gal gas

11:30 - entered Kent Island Narrows and got 7.5 gal gas @ Piney Narrows Yacht Basin - had lunch there while waiting for bridge opening

12:00 - left Kent Island Narrows with wind from the SW @ 10-15K so raised sails for a close reach down Prospect Bay @ 6K

13:00 - sailed into a regatta on Eastern Bay - sails everywhere - I kept out of their way and watched power boats run straight through them

14:00 - dropped sails and entered St. Michaels on the Miles River - got swamped by a large power boat in the entrance channel and appear to be running on only 1 cylinder

14:30 - anchored in St Michael's Harbor @ 38° 47.34'N - 076° 13.07'W - O/B had burned one of the new coils - went into town and wound up at this bar with all the sailors from the regatta listening to Jimmy Buffett music played by a local guitarist

18:00 - back aboard and replaced coil with old spare

Week 4

09/22/02 - Sunday

- Holiday Routine - dinghy to town to get groceries, check out the museum, etc.

09/23/02 - Monday

06:45 - leave St. Michaels Harbor

07:45 - rounded Tilghman Point

08:00 - off Wades Point

09:55 - off Lowes Point in Poplar Island Narrows

10:45 - stopped at Knapps Narrows for Gas

11:00 - RW 'CR' (WP6) Choptank River junction with Chesapeake Bay ship channel - wind from the WNW @ 10-15K and current ebbing so raised sails reaching @ 6K

12:55 - R78 (WP8)

13:40 - RW 'CP' (WP9)

14:50 - off Little Cove Point - dropped sails for Patuxent River entrance

15:30 - off Drum Point on Patuxent River

16:00 - got gas @ Calvert Marine in Solomon's Island

16:30 - anchored in Back Creek @ 38° 19.89'N - 076° 27.62'W - dinghy ashore to Holiday Inn Dinghy Dock ($1) and had a nice crab dinner

09/24/02 - Tuesday

- spent morning exploring the town with the motto "A drinking town with a sailing problem"

10:30 - raised anchor

11:00 - off Drum Point

11:25 - Y'D' Patuxent River

11:36 - off Cedar Point with wind from NW @ 10-15K so raised sails

12:05 - RW 'HS' Hooper Strait

13:50 - Holland Island Bar Light - dropped sails

14:25 - R4 Kedges Strait

15:25 - RG'MR' Manikin River junction with Tangier Sound

16:03 - off Janes Island

16:13 - G1 Little Annemessex River

16:45 - get gas @ Somers Cove Marina (Crisfield)

17:20 - anchored in Somer's Cove @ 37° 58.60'N - 075° 51.60'W - dinghyed to shore and had another great crab dinner

09/25/02 - Wednesday

06:45 - leave Somer's Cove

07:35 - G1 Little Annemessex River

08:20 - R6 Tangier Sound - wind from NNE @ 10-15K so raised sails

09:05 - G5 off Tangier Island

09:55 - Tangier Sound Light

12:10 - G58 Rappahannock Shoal Channel on Chesapeake Bay

13:25 - R'2R' Rappahannock River - dropped sails

14:40 - R6 Piankatank River

14:55 - G1 Jackson Creek

15:10 - gas @ Deltaville Marina

15:30 - anchor just past marina and dinghy to shore for shower and laundry

09/26/02 - Thursday

06:45 - leave Jackson Creek anchorage

07:00 - G1 Jackson Creek

07:15 - R6 Piankatank River

08:10 - G'1P' wind from NE @ 10-15K so set sails

08:35 - G'1R' Rappahonnock River

09:05 - G'1MH' Chesapeake Bay

09:50 - Wolf Trap Light

- off New Point Comfort Shoal

- York Spit Light

- off Plum Tree Point

15:00 - Thimble Shoals Light - dropped sails

15:45 - G'1ER' Elizabeth River

16:10 - gas @ Willoughby Bay Marina

16:30 - tie up @ Willoughby Harbor Marina and have dinner

09/27/02 - Friday

- Holiday Routine - take bus to town and stock up for ICW leg of cruise