Waterford

Today we had an easy one. We travelled 35 nautical miles and arrived in Waterford at 3:00. We then went shopping by walking over the bridge, shop and with the stores permission wheel the cart back to the boat.

It has rained off and on all day. To prove, engine problems aside, how blessed the trip has been it did not rain at the lock, our landing nor the walk to and from the store. Well I exaggerate a little we were actually about 50 yards from the boat when it started to rain.

Tomorrow we will stay here and relax. First on the agenda is breakfast. We like having breakfast at a restaurant. But have not done it much during this whole adventure.

By the way there is a web cam pointing towards the Hudson. If you look closely you will see Irish Mist's cockpit and dingy. I will leave you with some pictures from today.

The Hudson

Now called The Federal Lock this use to be Lock Number 1

This is why we take the mast down

Hiding behind the covered bridge is Lock Number 2

Waterford Visitors Center

Catskills New York and Hop-O-Nose Marina

It's Monday morning and we are just about ready to take the mast down. Yesterday was not much of a day. It rained very hard all night the rained a little all day. 

First we got the sails off. This is not as easy as it sounds. Folding them on the deck is not easy and did try our patience. When it came to the jib we gave up and put it on the dock. This was still no good so we got it up the ramp to the shore. The shore is about 10 feet up. We got it folded and in the bag. Now we had to get it back down the ramp and on the boat. We rolled it down the ramp but did not get it on the boat.

Then we had to get the frames up. After a little struggle we got the forward frame up and secured. Then the Bimini had to come down. This in itself is not so bad with two helpers, Trish and I. But and it seems we always have a but. One of the two solar panel connectors would not un plug. We worked on it for about an hour then gave up ad disconnected all the other connectors.

We got the aft frame up. We could not tie it off at the aft end because we use the same pin as the back stay. The center frame is ready to go up, but first the boom vang has to come off. Trish and I tried but could not get it loose. Then we got most of the lines through to the mast. We were wet at the end of the day. We were as ready as we could be.

This morning I disconnected all the wires going up the mast except for the TV. As we wait for the crane operators to come we are watching Kelly and Michael. Once the mast is down we have to secure the mast to the frame then tie it fore and aft so as it stays in place. We are pretty sure we will be here tonight. Tomorrow we will go the 35 nautical miles to Waterford.

The Catskills

The Hudson River

The On the way down when we reached the Hudson and West Point it seemed as if we had gone a long way. We were really on our way. Well we were on our way but did not fully realize how far we were going. This is no mean to be negative but rather a comment on the magnitude of the venture. The sites we were to see the people we would meet were all ahead of us. Now as we near home we will remember and relive the adventure for ever. 

Tonight we may be in tThe Catskills at Hop-O-Nose Marina. We are not sure because the current is with us now but very weak. If it turns against us with any strength we will not make it. It is now 2:51 and we have made steady progress. Tonight we will be at The Catskills and Hop-O-Nose.

West Point from the South and then the North

The Hudson

The Esopus Meadows Light

Saturday June 27, 2015

Yesterday we had a slow trip up to Haverstraw, the current was against us all the way. We did get in by 4:00 PM making it the easiest day in some time. We went to the restaurant and everything went well until a waiter mistakenly brought us an order of calamari. It smelt so good both Trish and I had to have some. It came with our meal and was delicious.

We have had continuing problems with our auto pilot. It appeared that the flux gate compass was not working. Just before we entered the marina we tried once more to set the compass to no avail. Raymarine make their connections very easy to install. If there is a red and blue wire the connection is one red and one blue. I was pretty sure I could connect a new compass if I could find one.

You would not think a flux gate compass would be stock item, but let's try. Before I called West Marine I went to the office to pay then to the restaurant to see if they had anything for Kelly to eat. On the way I passed the little marine store I had forgotten was there. I went in and asked if they had one and sure enough they did. There tech guy was standing right there and told me that all flux gate compasses where the same. It was dusty but I bought it for $190.

I did not want to destroy the old compass since I was not 100% it was the problem. Trish and I set out to tread the new wire through the boat. We got about half way and ran out of wire. I went back to the store but they did not have extra wire. They did have a connection bar perfect for connecting small wires. Our only option was to cut the old wire. Since the old wire was already threaded and connected to the computer all we had to do was connect the two wires.

We cut the wire and found that the old wire had red, green, black, brown and white. The new wire was red, green, blue, yellow and silver. Oh no! What could we do. At the other end the wires connected to the computer were the same as the new wire. There was a simple solution. Get the multi meter out and check for continuity. First check the red and green they matched. Once we knew which wire was which we uses the connector bar and we're done,maybe.

I turned on the auto pilot and at least the power was correct. The final test would come in the morning.

As always Trish and I were up at 6:30. By 7:30 we decided to get moving. Later in the day it is suppose to rain, we are not use to rain. We also wanted to test the new flux gate compass. Off we went to do our circles. It took three turns which got me a little nervous, but finally it flashed deviation 1.

We may be in business. As we headed north I turned on the Auto Pilot and IT WORKED!!!!!!!!

Some minor changes to our plan

JXYToday was another flat day on the Atlantic. We did not get to sail or where we battered by waves. For maybe the first time since our arrival in Florida almost two months ago the sun is not out. It is no where near as hot but as we go under The Verrazano Narrows Bridge it feels a little muggy.

We were going to go to Great Kills this evening. We changed our minds for two reasons. First we got off early and second The 79th Street Yacht Basin can only take us tonight. We will dine in New York and Heath for Haverstraw tomorrow.

The Verrazano Narrows Bridge

New York

The Stanton Island Ferry

The Statue of Liberty 

Carnival Splendor the boat we had a cruise on last year with our good friends Roger and Lynda

Almost in The Big Apple

We are not ocean sailors so the trips in the Atlantic make for a nervous time. This is mostly irrational fear of the unknown, but it is still there. It turns out that 10 to 15 knots on the Atlantic is pretty much the same as 10 to 15 on Lake Ontario. 

 We have made it to  Barneget Bay and tomorrow we will see the Manhattan skyline and most likely stay at Great Kills. It will be a relief when we sail into New York Harbour and start up the Hudson. I would like to stay Saturday in Manhattan and go to St. Patrick's for mass. 

For now we are enjoying the hospitality of The Barneget Inlet Yacht Club. When we were here in September a nice gentleman came up to us in a little boat to say he liked our boat. It turned out he had just bought a Passport 47 which we went on at The Annapolis Boat Show. He said we were welcome to use his Yacht Club's mooring balls anytime we wished to do so. Tonight we wish to do so.

As one of you who have been reading our blog know we have had our challenges. Nothing compares with Trish's broken ankle. We have all said but not believed that you have nothing if you loose your health. Trish will not tell you but she still has pain most days. Without her this trip would have been impossible. Now that we are getting really close to home I must say the trip has been marvelous. We have enjoyed every minute. The people you meet are all kind, friendly and most important helpfull.

The hardest place to leave by far is Annapolis. They make it so easy for you. They are so helpful and when you get to shore it is one of the nicest towns you will ever be in. If you have not gone go. If you have not been to the Boat Show go. You will not regret a moment or a penny of the cost. 

Barneget Bay

A quick trip to Cape May

Yesterday we got into Cape May, literally Cape May at 5:00 PM. We headed for the anchorage and found it very busy. We did find a place and put the anchor down only to be told by the boat behind us that they had 100 feet of rode out and when they swing the would hit us. They also told us a big thunderstorm on it's way.

We decided to Utschs Marina. We called on the phone and on Chantal 16, but no answer. Trish and I decided that it was 6:30 and if they were closed wecouldgo to the fuel dock. Luckily I remembered how to get in. First at red buoy 14 you make a sharpe 90 degree turn th starboard then at red bout 16 you mark just as sharpe a 90 degree turn to port. The nex stepis to head for their outside corner and go along their wall which protects the boats in the marina from waves. At the little light house you turnin once again a sharpe turn. Once there we tied up at one of the fuel docks. 

We ate on board and got into bed early having completed another 13 hour day. The payback for a few long days is calm waters on the Atlantic today and tomorrow. Currently there is a small swell coming from the south east and a north wind of 7 knots. We are motor sailing at 6.6 knots and should get to Barneget Basin at 7:30. Once there we will take the mooring ball we had last fall. God willing tomorrow we will be out side New York City.

Cape May Inlet

Jersey Shore just north of Cape May