Cindy's mom, Sophia arrives and south to Annapolis

On Sunday, October 2, 2011 our newest crew member (and first grandbaby!), Sophia Gabrielle Stuyck, arrived via C section in London. She and her proud parents, Chrissy and Jaime Stuyck,  are all doing well.  Thank you, God!  We were fortunate to be able to hear via telephone the quite assertive wail of Sophia less than  two hours after  birth. The crew is anxiously awaiting our in person introduction in two weeks. The now new "Mum" was already sailing at two weeks old and it is hoped Sophia will take to the water like her Mum. More pictures on the next blog!!
Back to sailing....After quite a thorough cleaning (mostly the ship) HD and crew greeted Mary Span, Cin's Mom, at the White Plains airport and stole her back to HD once again, now docked in Essex, CT. The next two days itinerary was a result of a comment made by Mary in a phone conversation a month prior that she had always wanted to visit Cape Cod. The first mate arranged a land excursion for the two girls to a B & B in Chatham on the Cape, as a surprise early 80th Birthday present for Mom!  The Mom/Daughter trip was a blast...both were surprised that Cape Cod was not a single town, but rather a collection of little villages!  So they "cruised the Cape" by car from Chatham to "Ptown" and stopped for our very first ever HUGE Lobster Roll at a hole in the wall spot on the water near Dennis-AWESOME! 
HD was repositioned to  Guilford, CT for a day sail to Norwalk for the early morning flight for Mary back to St. Pete. Sailing through light fog HD and crew successfully arrived once again to Norwalk Cove Marina (HD had spent a week there in the parking lot back when "Irene" passed through). All enjoyed  Jonathan and family's visit for dinner and the catered food extravaganza he whipped up for us. Frizze' lettuce?  Delish as always.
At 6 the next morning the crew piled into Jonathan's loaner car and deposited Mary back at the White Plains' airport for a thorough scanning.
At noon HD sailed to Manhasset Harbor, home to Port Washington, where the captain had purchased a Rhodes 19 thirty years ago and sailed back to Greenwich, Connecticut with Jonathan and their father as captain.  This was the first of a week of rarely leaving the ship while in transit to Annapolis for the Sailboat show.
One night in Great Kills Harbor on Staten Island and a rendezvous with Greg (who brought mail and boat parts; thanks!) at John's Pizza on Bleeker in the West village.
The next three nights the crew never left the boat while navigating what is called "The North Atlantic" on the charts. Anchored one night each in Shark River, Atlantic City and Cape May, NJ.
Transited the Delaware Bay and the C& D Canal in one day before reaching the Chesapeake.
The seven hour, 50 NM sail down the Bay to Annapolis was in favorable winds and tides resulting in  record sailing performance by HD.
So, here the crew sits; anchored in the South Harbor of Annapolis in view of the biggest sailboat show in North America. Two years ago at this show the crew together picked out the Tartan 4300 as the boat of choice and test sailed one a month later on a return visit to the Chesapeake. Last year after delivery of HD to Michigan, the new sailors procured all the toys at this show.
The goal was to sail to the  show this year on the way south and the crew is blessed and grateful to have been able to do so, with all the gifts we've been given. It has had a profound impact today as we read last week of the passing of Steve Jobs at the early age of 56. Today is a gift we have been given to do with as our free will allows. We pray that we use this day as He would have us.
God bless.

Nantucket, Martha's Vinyard, Newport & Essex....Oh Yeh!!

After going south from Boston via Plymouth then thru the Cape Cod Canal, stopping at Woods Hole on the lower Cape, HD screamed onto Nantucket. Sailing with the tidal currents HD reached 10Kts under sail making the 30NM trip to quaint and marvelous Nantucket as nice the the Island itself.
The first mate took advantage of the stop over and had two days of retail therapy, picked out a nice restaurant for dinner and then took the crew to a  play.
Having not been to Nantucket before and hearing of it for ever, to be able to stand up to its' reputation was quite a feat. It did. HD will be back next summer for a bigger dose.
Edgar town on Martha's Vineyard was quite nice as well and had the added advantage of providing a roomy and comfortable anchorage for two days to wait out a little front which came through.
Thinking HD had seen the best of NE we headed for Newport, a trip of 60NM. Being after the season HD was able to find room in the complimentary anchorage with convenient dingy dock.
Newport provided the quaintness of the islands with shore side conveniences like provisioning. The crew made a lot of new  friends not the least of which is the eccentric artist, Peter Tyler pictured here.
Newport has the distinction of the crews favorite stop so far. Sailing is in its' blood. Ships from the world over make this a stop and many could be seen moored in the picturesque harbor.
The Seamans' Church Institute located right on the wharf with the dingy dock provides meeting rooms, showers, laundry facilities and an extensive library of nautical books of all kinds. The Chapel dedicated to those of the sea is spectacular.
The crew took the advantage of the shops catering to the sailor and replaced worn deck shoes and picked up a pair of comfy  "Newport"cabin pants for, you guess.
After three days of what the crew would like to  be 30 next year, HD headed south to Essex, Ct. Another trip of 50+ NM puts the crew in position to pick up Cin's mom, Mary, at the White Plains Airport.
 Taking advantage of having four wheels with a motor the crewed secured the new anchoring system from West Marine in Norwalk, raided both Costco and Sam's, loaded on bagels from Bagel Maven in Westport, picked up mail and packages from our East Coast mailing address, Jonathan's home, and finally found room for a New york pizza for the freezer.
The crew successfully picked up Mary and headed back to Essex for the night and the girls surprise trip the next day. We'll save that for the next submittable.
Be well and God bless.

Boston and new crew, Tara

After spending three days motoring into 5 foot seas in rain and fog, HD and crew were rewarded with a visit by Tara, who brought with her the best four consecutive days of sailing weather experienced so far!!With Massachusetts' stops in Onset, for really good pizza; Plymouth for provisions and thickened epoxy from West Marine to re-anchor the boom vang; and finally Hingham, just south of Boston, where the welcomed aboard Tara and her friend, Lilia. the next morning.
After a day sail as Tara and Lilia's introduction to sailing, HD anchored in Hull Bay. We enjoyed grilled veggy's on the barby and all settled in for a comfy night's rest before heading for Marblehead the next day.
Great sailing day # 2 in 10 kts of wind, calm seas and sunshine. Picked up a mooring ball from one of  the local Yacht Clubs in Marblehead and the crew was ushered away in their launch to town while the captain worked on logistics.
Marblehead is touted as the "Yachting Center of the North East" and it was very impressive including the NC mooring ball. The harbor is jammed with boats, mostly sail, all of which are beautiful.
After some retail therapy for the crew and returning to HD to freshen up, all enjoyed an authentic "New England" dinner at a fish house in town.
Monday, Tara's day of departure, the crew was up early and sailed toward downtown Boston in our PJ's. More retail therapy for the female crew in the famous Quincy Market after which HD motored across the harbor to the airport. Borrowing the dock where the water taxis leave off passengers on their way to the airport, Tara jumped on the airport's shuttle and was safely whisked away to Boca. It is duly noted in the ship's log that the first mate and captain have qualified a new crew member who seemed to take to sailing as an inherent skill already possessed.
HD sailed back to Hull Bay for a restful nght at anchor. Sailing day #4 onto Plymouth and then through the Cape Cod Canal to the Cape.

The next three months plus will be all south for HD as it begins its' trip to St Pete for Christmas.

Good Bye Irene and Hello Cape Cod

HD relaunched on the Friday, 9/2 after Irene visited Norwalk, Ct. While she caused extensive flooding (Ali & Phil lost their road in Vt.) and local power outages (Jonathan and Family do you have power yet!) there was little to no damage in the marina parking lot where HD was sitting during the hurricane.

As it turns out everything worked out well; HD got her hot water heater replaced after a month of cold showers by the crew, a leaking sea cock was replaced which is far easier on land than in the water, and the leak in the rudder post's gaiter was replaced with a newer model less prone to springing a hole.
Before departing Norwalk on our way to Boston via Port Jefferson, L.I. NY, she got her rigging tuned by the folk's who used to do the same for the new Tartan's that were sold locally when the Dealership was located in Norwalk.
A very special thanks to Jonathan, Gail, Lily and Zach for their hospitality during our extended stay including sheltering the crew in their house the night of the hurricane. We now have a fully detailed list of "to Doe's" from Zach on how to fix our decorating including measurements he took while advising us.
HD has been on one nighters since Norwalk as she makes her way to Boston to meet Tara on Saturday 9/10: Port Jeff, to Shelter Island, at up to 9Kts, at the tip of L.I. ( where on arriving well after dark HD was a boat length away from hitting the jetty protect te harbor when the First Mate yelled " LAND HO" and we were able to back tract and anchor outside in the lee of Shelter Is.; The private buoys were not where the chart had them),  to Block Is. again at up to 8 kts. to Cuttyhunk Is at the tip of Cape Cod.
This was a memorable stop which was elongated into two nights due to stormy weather. The first morning as the storm hit dragged her anchor for the first  time. After much commotion in 30 kts winds she got reconnected to the bottom and stayed there until departure the next day.
While attempting to dock at the town docks and fill her water tanks she ran aground (in the charted channel) and had to call USBoat for a tow. However, the helmsman was able to shake hr loose 20 minutes after the call for help and the tow boat was cancelled.
Then while docking at the small ferry dock with better depths the wind pushed HD into the Ferry which was already docked and luckily only hit her rub rail which is there for that purpose and not real damage to report. HD probably won't stop at Cuddyhunk on her return south.
Last night rested comfortably at anchor in Onset Harbor at the west entrance to the Cape Cod Canal which is the trip planned for today when the tide turns favorable as there is a 4 kts current in the canal.
Lessons learned are many. Boat wise a new bigger anchor with an all chain rode has been ordered. this entails changing the gypsy on the windless for which Lewmar is gladly sending to our East coast address in Weston (Jonathan's) for a shamming $450. A small price to pay along with the ground tackle coming from West Marine for the security of a sound night's rest.
The lessons learned emotionally mainly by the Captain are many. Not the lest of which is acceptance and the continued requirement " to practice the principals in all of our affairs".

All in all, a very happy crew on HD continues their journey geographically and personally.