Plotting our delivery trip from Connecticut through New York City and down the New Jersey coast involved some research of current and tide information. Looking for the East River transit to occur in daylight, preferably morning hours pointed to a 2 day window recurring at two week intervals. We settled on the May 6-7, 2013 and made our plans.
Over the winter I had been building a dinghy, stripper style; adding a few rows a day here and there. After the fiberglass and sanding and sanding and sanding, I just managed to get the hull painted and the seats installed before loading it the back of a one-way rental van. We filled it with the C-head, bedding, our flotation & weather gear to head up to Norwalk. We stopped at Linthicum Sailmakers on the way up to pickup the new bimini top, built to match the old top and accommodate the original side curtains and clear dodger panels that were still in good shape. We rigged the bimini on arrival and the cockpit seemed cozy and protected. Juniata was riding fine in her slip and the bilge pump only spurted a bit after three weeks of waiting.
We heartily recommend "Molcajete" in South Norwalk on Cinco de Mayo for dinner or take-out. After dinner we provisioned at an unusual market called Stew Leonard's. I'm not sure a description here could do it justice. Think Trader Joe's does Hee-Haw. It's styled as a farmer's market with entertainment in the form of past-their-prime Disney jingle singing automaton farm animals. My personal favorite sideshow was the live web cam of the company farm on a big screen TV. At 10 pm the plot was a little thin and dark.
Monday, May 6 departure. Myriad tasks.
Drive to town to get another pair of oarlocks; the first pair didn't make it into the truck.
Pick up some christening champagne and normal beverages.
Install oarlocks and lifting eyes in the dinghy.
Return the rental truck across town and a cab ride back.
Name the boat, apply graphics.
Bend on the sails.
Fill water and diesel tanks.
Pay the yard bill; ouch.
Shove off.
The weather was clear and calm, 65 degrees at 4:15 pm and we had a smooth motor to Manhassett Bay, picking up a town mooring ball about 7:40. These are free the first night.
The weather forecast for the New Jersey coast was not optimum. Several days of strong easterlies had raised a 4-6' swell. Winds were expected to drop, but temps were to be in the low 50's and rain percentages were still a concern. I had a few places to hide in mind if conditions would become uncomfortable. There's a protected anchorage behind the Statue of Liberty, and Sandy Hook offered some protection from the east. We couldn't count on any marina access until Manasquan due to the massive destruction of Hurricane Sandy. Underway at 0800, we headed for the East River. The transit was smooth and uncomplicated. Juniata was able to hold between 6.5 & 7 knots through the water which let us keep up with the commercial traffic. A tug & tow came through behind us and we held our distance without cramping them too much. Listen to VHF 13 for the duration of this run. Commercial captains appreciate knowing that you are aware of them and what their limitations are. On the home front, when I've been overtaken in the C&D canal, I have pulled a U turn to let the tugs pass and received more than one hearty thank-you as I turn again to fall in behind them.
New York harbor was quite busy with ferry traffic, but almost no wind. We crossed to the eastern side of the channel, cruised in close to the Statue of Liberty and down the harbor to Verrazano Narrows. there was only a light breeze from the east as we passed Sandy Hook and the swell was down to 3-4'. With the mainsail up the damp breeze steadied the roll enough to be tolerable. Light fog came and went throughout the afternoon cut visibility to less than a mile. We were glad to have radar up and running. Juniata rode the swell and the still incoming tide through Manasquan Inlet about 1630. I had reserved a slip at Hoffman's Marina. they are eager to please if a bit pricey at $3/ft plus electric. A note about the approach; Manasquan River sports some brisk current and the marina is hard up against a low railroad bridge. The bridge stays open by default and sounds a horn to warn of impending closings, which are fairly frequent for commuter trains. The dockmaster directed us to the fuel dock first, which on the incoming tide involved a very early U turn to buck the 2 knot + current and nose up to the pier, port side to. After refueling we backed down to the next T-head under power (in forward), cross-ferrying like a 37 foot kayak. Actually entering a slip would have involved some very intense springline work so we were happy to hang on the T-head all night. At 0100 a re-rig of fenders and docklines in a rain shower was necessary for the outgoing tide.
It was still showering in the morning but the weather radar indicated clearing so we got underway at 1000 hours, bucking the swells in the inlet without much issue. After one more rain shower we turned towards Absecon Inlet and Atlantic City. 9 hours of windless motoring an a cross swell could get on one's nerves, but the real stinker was diesel exhaust in the cockpit. We traded fresh air for temperature comfort and took down the dodger panels after an hour of hoping the breeze would pick up. About 1630 a breeze filled in from off the port side enough to roll out the headsail and pick up to 7.5 & 8 knots for the last two hours. We took a berth at Farley's at $2/ft + $5 for electric and splurged on a fine dinner at the Charthouse right next to the marina. In our defense, we went looking for the alleged cheap joint nearby first but there was no building to be found at its predicted location. The marina was quiet, due to early season timing or post Sandy lack of traffic.
On Thursday morning I spent some time tightening the compressor belts for the fridge. It works fine on shore power but there's no sign of life in the old engine driven system. It was 6 hour motor run to Cape May Inlet in flat water, compared to yesterday, with a light breeze on the nose. There were a few boats anchored on the east end of the Coast Guard station, the preferred spot in the harbor. I was able to find enough water to the west of the station, off the Corinthian Yacht Club to anchor securely for our first time. the barometer was still 990, but skies were clear and and it was almost 60 degrees at 1830. We beached the dinghy and had a stroll around town. Obviously still pre-season, we passed block after block of empty rental cottages.
Up at 0530 on Friday, May 10, we departed at 0615 to scoot through the Cape May canal and catch the tide up the Delaware Bay. Saw our first porpoises at the Cape May/Lewes Ferry terminal and since low tide at Brandywine Shoal Light was at 0450, we rode the incoming current, making 7 knots over ground at 2000 rpm. Passing Reedy Point at 1330, we turned into the C&D canal. Slack water at the east end of the canal was at 1345: perfect. At 1530 we dropped anchor in the basin at Chesapeake City, MD. where we met up with our friend Roger, on his way back north for the season. Beers at "The Hole in the Wall" taproom and jambalya on "Strider" made for a pleasant evening. After retiring to Juniata and sacking out, a passing thunderstorm put a stiff little squall on the basin. The shift swung us close enough to a local's pier to put out a fender and tie up. It was the reasonable course of action since the basin was full of cruisers on short scope swinging over towards us. The landowner made a point of greeting us in the morning, but just casting off and falling back on our hook was all it took to relieve the situation and take time for breakfast. Last leg Today!
Cheaspeake City to Hance's Point. Still motoring into our perennial light breeze, we got underway at 1100. Once we were below Turkey Point we turned off the wind and raised all sail, tacking back to Grove Point and across to Aberdeen just to be underway without the diesel running! We turned up the Northeast River just as the wind died down and motored up to HPYC, tying up at the pier to find out which mooring was to be ours. Distracted by visitors and dinner for several hours, Juniata Lily's keel settled into the mud to spend the night. In the morning we took our mooring and congratulated ourselves on a safe and successful delivery run, at a cruising pace.
Enjoy.
