NYC

After stowing the booty from Costco HD was readied to be off to NYC. The captain was actually apprehensive of single handing his way up the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays into the Atlantic off the coast of NJ . The biggest issue is falling overboard while alone and the ship is on auto pilot leaving you alone in the deep blue. While not always a given, the captain feels the first mate would come back for him most of the time were this to happen under our normal sailing conditions.

So with the help of Jack lines and a harness this safety issue was mitigated. Jack lines are straps the length of the boat that are tied fore and aft along the deck. While wearing a harness the sailor attaches a tether from on to the other thereby securing him to the boat while on deck while allowing movement to attend the the current issue happening outside the relative safety of confines of the cockpit.
Happy to report a 100% compliance to using this safety device while underway and a much relieved state of mind because of it.
The winds were forecast to be spirited and in a favorable direction all week which did allow for actually sailing for 90% of the trip. Tides are important  in both Bays so departure is planned around when they will be favorable. First day the 50NM sail up the Chesapeake with the incoming tide was a beam reach in calm waters; fast and enjoyable. HD made such good time we were able to transit the C & D Canal that night to be ready for the outgoing tide down the Delaware the next morning.
Leaving at first light with tide and wind astern HD was in full stride making over 8 its with the current and less than 4 when it turned later tin the day. The further down the Bay HD traveled the longer the fetch the waves had to build in sustained 22 its winds and made for a nervy finish at Cape May. Two days of spirited sailing earned the skipper a day off in Cape May where it was discovered we were back in the prime pizza and bagel country. Enough were loaded on to last the trip into NYC where these would be readily available on almost every corner.
The NJ coast doesn't offer a plethora of good harbors to stop in for the night. Either they are shallow once inside or treacherous to get in to. This geographic restriction made for a 90NM sail out of Cape May to Shark River Inlet which was a stop last fall as well. Feeling comfortable entering in the dark was important due to the length of the sailing day to cover this much ocean. It is never as easy as it seems it should be in actuality. There was a dredging barge in the inlet channel which is covered with a bascule bridge that needs to open to gain access to the safety of the harbor. After finally identifying this floating city block with the help of the bridge tender HD successfully entered the river and anchored for a nights rest.
Given that HD would now arrive in NY harbor on Saturday a plea was put out for crew to help and Greg immediately answered the call. Plans were made for him to take the ferry from NYC to Atlantic Highlands in Northern Jersey Saturday morning.
After some confusion on the captain's part on just where this ferry would dock, Greg was dinghied to HD for the days sail. Greg was at the helm all the day long giving the captain a rest while setting an under sail speed record of 9.7 kts. Again the current/tides are important entering the harbor and made a very enjoyable day.

Greg sets the current speed record for under sail

The new Word Trade building; tallest in NYC

Dockage was planned at, of all places, The Hoboken Yacht Club where we are at this writing. (Hoboken it seems has a rather prestigious claim to being the original home of the NYYC. A man named Stevens, that founded Stevens College here also founded the Club in 1834 and successfully won the cup from the UK in their waters in 1844.)
We are actually trapped in a slip made for a smaller boat and with the continual surge from the river traffic has made for a nerve racking dockage. HD sling shots back and forth as the wakes of the ferries and river traffic attack unabated and bounce off the concrete shore next to us causing the roughest dockside conditions since HD's original  home port, Eldeans in Holland Michigan.

All worth it as we have had many meals with Greg and last night with Ali as well whose apartment is overlooking our dock.

Tall Ships, St. Michaels and Annapolis

While in Easton we heard of the bicentennial celebration of the writing of the National Anthem and the War of 1812 with Tall Ships from around the world happening the next weekend in Baltimore.  HD anchored in a  prime viewing spot  & anxiously awaited the arrival of the Tall Ships envisioning the majestic scene of these beauties  under sail as seen in 1979 while in Boston. Unfortunately the wind direction didn't allow for sailing into the harbor so we viewed the bare poles as they marched past. Still a pretty but not the poetry of billowing sails one moment to be furled by the skillful deck hands on the yardarms the next.
The rest of Baltimore was much like the ships, not quite worth the effort, so off to St, Mike's.
Upon arrival we were treated to this husband and wife concert in the park while we waited to visit some old friends.

Here the town was in full swing for the wooden boat show which in addition to the Wooden boat museum made up for Baltimore's lacking.

On to our much anticipated return visit to Annapolis as this is along with Charleston is a possible future land base for the crew. After two nights at anchor HD was secured to the Annaplois City Marina for the next week. Good thing as the heat was oppressive and AC could be run with the aid of the electricity dockside.

While docked we were treated to daily learn to sail kids plying their new skills in the Harbor.
Each day it seemed a different class sailing dinghy would make their way past HD to compete using their new learned sailing skills. I guess this is one reason why Annapolis is such a sailing mecca.

It is nice to see the dedication to continuing the art of sailing in a new generation. It reminds the captain of two little Mathias girls in Wisconsin many years ago learning in their little sailing prams. The youngest of which, sailing with her long time friend, Catlain who now between them have three little bunking that I hope they also pass on this skill.

Many wonderful meals, great local coffee houses ( sorry Harold, Starbucks, while in two very convenient locations didn't get a visit) and catching up with friends met last fall made for a fast and fun week.
Cin was then off to West Palm to help Tara get organized in her new digs for Pharmacy school starting next month. On the way to BWI airport the crew took advantage of having a car and made a Costco run for  more Peligrino and supplies.
While the first mate is land based for the week, the captain will single hand HD up to NYC and meet Cin on her return from Florida.