Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-21 (Part III - returning North)

 Cornwall-on-the-Hudson Yacht Club, Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, New York:  June 7, 2021

Bear Mountain Bridge in the distance as we enter the most beautiful part of the Hudson River where it cuts through the Appalachian Mountains.

Marc-  We are tucked into this very cool marina right under Storm King Mountain. We stayed off of the boat last night at Michael and Doreen's so Steph could finish her job interview process.  We came back to Nyack this morning and off we went at 10:30 up the Hudson.  I think we only enjoyed about two hours of favorable tidal current.  We stopped at Panco Fuels in Haverstraw for fuel and pump out without incident. It was interesting to meet a trawler doing the Great Loop here as well.  As we headed North Steph took the helm and I went below to check on a few things.  After a few minutes I noticed water coming up above the floor ( not a good sign).  I removed the engine cover to find the bilge and engine compartment flooded.  I guessed that the automatic bilge pump had failed and that water was still coming in from the main drive shaft stuffing box.  Fortunately our manual bilge pump worked well and the boat was dry again after 45 minutes.  My preferred dockage spot was not responding to the phone so we decided to just go there anyway.  I know the facility at Cornwall-on-the Hudson from traveling with my father on his boat 45 years ago.   We pulled in to the fuel dock and asked for a place to stay.  Rich and Steve came to our boat and suggested that we stay the night on the protected T dock. We immediately backed out and went over where we tied up with the help of the friendly members here.  I told Rich my problem and he immediately said that he would be over with a new bilge pump and float switch.  They would not charge us for our stay.  I insisted on paying for the parts.  After fixing the boat we went over to visit Rich and his wife on their beautiful motor yacht.  He offered to take us in to Town for supplies and I asked them to join us for dinner.  They brought us to Leo's Italian Restaurant.  The food was superb and it ended up being a pre-birthday celebration of sorts for Steph.  

We expect to leave early tomorrow to take advantage of the tidal currents.

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-21 (Part III - returning North)

 Nyack anchorage, Nyack , New York:  June 5, 2021

Lucy III and Lady Liberty

Marc-  We motor sailed all day stopping only briefly at the Statue of Liberty for a photo shoot.  This morning I installed yet another ignition switch. The boat had refused to start again so I tried this option.  It worked by replacing the poorly made but expensive marine switch with a tractor switch.  This one is heavy duty and you can use a socket set to tighten all of the connections.  I found a broken connection tab on the old marine switch.  

We left Great Kills Harbor at 10:30 and sailed under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge into New York Harbor.  Unfortunately the tidal current was still going out so we had a four to five knot motor sail all the way to the George Washington Bridge where it turned giving us six to seven knots of speed.  When we arrived at Lady Liberty, our friends from Wanderer circled around us taking photos of Lucy III.  We took photos of Wanderer in turn.  It was a bit exciting with the tourist ferries racing about along with all other sorts of watercraft from paddle board to oil tanker.  The most annoying were the ferries.

New York was fantastic on a bright sunny day.  The view of the city from the water is great as it gives you the total package.  We started ashore to help Steph do a work interview but ran out of gas at the dinghy dock. No problem as we just went on the dock and asked if we could proceed to do the video link here.  They were happy to help us at the Nyack Boat Club.  

Manhattan in sight.

Nyack Boat Club with the new Tappan Zee Bridge in the background. 

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-21 (Part III - returning North)

 Great Kills Yacht Club, Staten Island, New York City, New York:  June 4, 2021

Marc-  08:00 departure from Hoffman's Marina with outgoing tide and hazy sky.  We left the dock with help from the crew of Wanderer who was docked nearby.  No problems until we reached the inlet.  The waves started growing about halfway out and the last third of the way was full of 6 foot breaking waves topped by a 12 foot wave at the very end that broke over the forward half of the boat.  No harm done but a lot of adrenalin was pumping through both Steph and I.  The conditions improved rapidly once we were outside to  3 foot swells and a light Southwest breeze.  We raised the Genoa but mainly this was a motoring trip.  By the time we reached Sandy Hook the sea was glassy smooth.  I did use the radar due to heavy fog South of Atlantic Highlands.  There were a few fisherman out  and several oil tankers were on their way out of New York Harbor.  The sun came out and we opted for Staten Island when Steph became aware that it was part of New York City.  You can take an express bus to Manhattan from here and reach the battery in an hour.  You can also take a local bus to the Staten Island ferry terminal and get to Manhattan.

Steph and I went to a wonderful Italian market, Frank & Sal's, within walking distance of the marina.  This place had everything including fresh produce, prepared foods, every kind of pasta, and tiramisu!  There are no supermarkets on the island, and so these family-run markets thrive.  We even met Frank and Sal themselves, one of them singing to us and the other telling Steph a great "dad joke" as she was looking for olives: 

"Knock knock.  
Who's there? 

Olive. 

Olive who? 

Olive you!" (the last line sounds like "I love you!") 

Yacht club view at sunset.

Nautical scene in the clubhouse.

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-21 (Part III - returning North)

  Hoffman's Marina, Brielle, New Jersey:  June 3,  2021 (day 2)

https://www.google.com/maps/place/40°06'23.8%22N+74°02'58.4%22W

A rather large seat at our marina.

The rescue of Fiddler's Green

Safely back in New Jersey

Marc-  Today was rain and thunderstorms at various times.  We slept over in Pompton Plains for an early start via truck to Delaware.  The marina had hauled Fiddler's Green up on the travelift's slings and wanted an early pick up this morning.  We were delayed by traffic and a late start but still arrived by 09:30.  Loading the boat took 2 hours since the marina discovered problems with the trailer that needed to be fixed and the whole process seemed to be in slow motion.  The trip North went well even though we travelled at 55 miles per hour in the right lane of the highway for 3 and 1/2 hours.  We did stop for lunch and a trailer check along the way.  Back in Pompton Plains the first step was to immediately do a hull pressure wash before and tiny sea creatures became permanently attached to the hull.  Some barnacles had attached to the trim tabs and rudder.

Michael and Doreen drove us back to Brielle after showing us Pt. Pleasant and its boardwalk and having dinner with live music.  A very nice ending to a dreary day.

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-21 (Part III - returning North)

 Hoffman's Marina, Brielle, New Jersey:  June 2, 2021

https://www.google.com/maps/place/40°06'23.8%22N+74°02'58.4%22W/@40.1066251,-74.0517357,638m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x89c22928980eaaad:0x9c2c7be97fd65ad7!2sBrielle,+NJ!3b1!8m2!3d40.1078931!4d-74.0565263!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d40.1066206!4d-74.0495468

Glassy smooth Atlantic Ocean this morning.

Leaving Atlantic City at 06:00

Motor sailing away

(photo taken by motor vessel Wanderer)

Marc-  Early departure for an uneventful day up the New Jersey Coast.  Sunny skies and calm seas.  We saw an occasional fishing boat and several dolphins along the way.  Eight hours and 40 minutes later we arrived at Hoffmsn'd Marin in Brielle.  The fuel dock]k crew were excellent and assisted us in getting a slip for both nights.  The original plan was to stay one night and now the forecast of  day of thunderstorms tomorrow will keep us here another day.

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-21 (Part III - returning North)

Farley State Marina, Golden Nugget, Atlantic City, New Jersey:  June 1, 2021 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/39%C2%B022'42.7%22N+74%C2%B025'31.5%22W/@39.3785295,-74.4267208,670m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x89c0dd576e5cc721:0x4a6fcb43e9675262!2sAtlantic+City,+NJ!3b1!8m2!3d39.3642834!4d-74.4229266!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d39.3785275!4d-74.4254139

Marc-  We awoke at 06:00 for an early departure to take advantage of the tidal current to exit Cape May and to enter Abescon Inlet to Atlantic City.  We were assisted by a fellow boater from Oklahoma in leaving the dock.  He is doing the Great Loop with his wife aboard a 49 foot cabin cruiser. 

Wanderer from Oklahoma

The seas were calm enough this morning with a slight swell from the East and a Southeast wind of 8 knots.  This increased to 12 knots by the time we reached Abescon Inlet some 36 miles and 6 hours later.  Wanderer left Cape May 3 hours after us and arrived at the same time.   Not much excitement today on the Atlantic seeing only a few fishing trawlers.  WE started seeing the casinos in Atlantic City 22 miles away.  Even though we are docked at the Golden Nugget Casino, this is remote from the Atlantic City Boardwalk Casinos.  Steph and I just walked around the marina area for exercise.  

The Atlantic City Boardwalk

Somewhere in this photo is a rather large lighthouse.

(Atlantic City is impossible to miss at night when all the hotel and casino lights are on)

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-21 (Part III - returning North)

Utsch”s Marina, Cape May, New Jersey:  May 31, 2021. Memorial Day.

Nice conditions as we left Delaware City.

The rescue boat was ready.

Marc-  They said it could not be done easily but we did it crossing the Delaware River and Bay in record time despite some wind and waves.  We left Delaware City at 06:30 this morning to catch some of the outgoing tidal current in the Delaware River.  It worked giving us two extra knots of speed for the first three hours.  Winds were 10 to 15 knots out of the North west and due to increase in the afternoon in the lower Bay.  Our plan was to get to the Cape May Canal entrance before the predicted increase in wind.  The Delaware City Marina Harbor Host advised all leaving port on upcoming conditions in Delaware Bay and we were prepared.

Lucy III had her Genoa fully extended for the trip and we kept the motor on to maximize stood over ground.  This was especially helpful when the tide turned and we had 1 to 1.5 knot opposing currents.  Seas were 5 to 6 feet at the mouth of the Bay.  The Cape May and Lewes ferries crossed in from of us prior to our arrival so we did not have to deal with the large ferry blocking the Cape May Canal entrance.  

After checking in and cleaning up Steph and I set off on foot for downtown Cape May and its beautiful beach.  The many old victorian style homes here are quite impressive.  Flags were still up for Memorial Day.  Most of the crowds had left town when we started our visit.  The shops remained open until 18:00.  We made dinner on the boat.  Time for a nap.