Safely Docked At RYC

It has been over three weeks since Stan’s and my safe return to Riverside, CT.  A lot is going on and I have fallen behind in concluding this year’s blog.

Last we spoke, Stan and I were in Southport, NC.  It was May 8th and we still had approximately 700 miles to go in our 1,400 miles journey.

We left Southport and had a smooth cruise to Beaufort, NC (pronounced BO-FURT).  The weather was beautiful and perfect for cruising.  From Beaufort, NC, we were told by Mission Control, Jeff Neubirth, to stop in a little ICW town called Coinjock, NC.  And, the reason for our stopping in Coinjock was for one reason only  — the Prime Rib.

Now, let me share that while traveling north on the Intercoastal Waterway, we would mention to people that we would be stopping in Coinjock and universally, they would scream, get the Prime Rib!  This Prime Rib is deservedly famous and known up and down the ICW.  Jeff was wise enough to direct us to immediately put in our order the minute we hit the dock because they sell out.  I did and later found out that they did sell out.  But, we had our Prime Rib.  While we failed to get a picture of the biggest Prime Rib I have ever seen, it did make three full meals.

From Coinjock, our next stop was Norfolk, VA.  Norfolk is a large Navy town and home to numerous naval vessels.  The one that caught my eye, as the timing was right, was the USS Comfort, who had just returned from NYC where it was fighting Covid 19.

After almost two weeks of perfect weather, the weather was finally becoming a factor.  Our original itinerary called for us to travel from Norfolk, VA to Annapolis MD (120 NM north on the Chesapeake Bay) on May 12th.  Annapolis to Cape May, NJ (130 NM) on May 13th and from Cape May, NJ to Riverside, CT (154 NM) on May 14th.  Over 400 miles in three days.

One driving weather issue was that the last clear weather forecast window, to cruise up the New Jersey shore out in the Atlantic Ocean, was May 14th.  After the 14th, there was a stretch of bad weather that would have delayed us for days.

On the morning of May 12th, the weather on the Chesapeake Bay was a small craft advisory.  A Small Craft Advisory means that wind speeds of 21 to 33 knots are expected to produce hazardous wave conditions to small craft.

As we departed Norfolk, VA, and entered the Chesapeake, we knew it was going to be dicey.

After four hours of banging through the waves and the water coming over the bow, we had only traveled only 40 miles of the planned 120.  It became clear that we were not going to make it to Annapolis that day.

So, we pulled into the York River and stayed at the York River Marina.  What a difference a few miles can make in weather conditions.

The delay, while putting the chance of getting home on the 14th in jeopardy, did provide a moment to catch our breath.

The next day, May 13th, to keep on schedule, we needed to leave at first light and travel 231 NM to Cape May, NJ.  We left at 6 AM with perfect weather and made our way north up the Chesapeake to what is called the C&D (Chesapeake and Delaware Bay) Canal.  This Canal connects the two Bays and is built for both commercial and private vessels.

At 7 PM, after 13 hours on the water, we arrived at Cape May, NJ exhausted.  But, happy that we had beat the weather and Thursday, May 14th was looking like a great cruising day.

At 6:45 AM on May 14th, we left Cape May and cruised up the Jersey shore.  The weather could not have been more perfect.  The ocean was calm and the wind to our back.  It could not have been nicer.  Around 12 noon, NYC came into view.

We cruised past the Statue of Liberty.

We turned North East and went under the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge as we headed to Long Island Sound.

At 14:45 (2:45 PM) we arrived at our final destination, Riverside Yacht Club in Riverside, CT.

Wakely had performed flawlessly.  Stan was an incredible first mate and Jeff Neubirth played a critical role as “Mission Control”.

It was a great experience and one that I hope I have the chance to do again when the world is fully open and we can take advantage of all the great wonders that are the East Coast of the United States.

Until then, keep cruising.  All the best,