Sandy Hook Bay, New Jersey

Leaving Delaware Bay, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry on the horizon

We pulled up anchor at 2 p.m. yesterday and headed out of the mouth of the Delaware Bay for the open sea. The wind was under 10 knots until midnight, so we had to motorsail. Then, as I finished my watch, we were able to kill the engine and sail the rest of the trip into Sandy Hook Bay. Throughout the night the wind was a steady 12-14 knots, and Peter was able to keep awake tweaking the sails for the best performance from our trusty boat. The wind was behind us, so he had to jibe a couple times to tack along our course. He tells me the sky was clear and the seas were only one foot, so it was very pleasant. 

Sunset off the coast of New Jersey

Sunrise off the coast of New Jersey

Around 5 a.m., I relieved Peter. For about an hour between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m., the wind abated and we had to motorsail. Fortunately, the wind picked up again to 15-17 knots. The seas rose to three foot waves as the day progressed. We perhaps cut too close to the east shore of Sandy Hook on our approach to the bay and found ourselves in shallow water which created bigger, erratic waves, so Peter had to manhandle the wheel as gusts howled, but Mantra performed beautifully and we made it around the corner without incident. We were going to anchor halfway down the bay, but the water was too choppy, so we continued on to the southern end to tuck in with some anchored craft behind the breakwater for Atlantic Highlands at 2 p.m. 

Sailing into Sandy Hook Bay with the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge and the NYC skyline on the horizon

About half a dozen boats left Breakwater Bay off Cape Henlopen heading toward NYC yesterday afternoon, and we were able to keep track of our fellow sailors with ASI. After we anchored, the single-handed captain from Hadhammer came to chat. He is heading up to Albany, his home.

Peter only slept for short intervals, which is his habit, so he was pretty tired after we arrived. After we stowed gear, I made a big salad for lunch, and then he took a very long nap, just waking up around 7 p.m. Night sailing is akin to taking a red-eye flight. You might get some sleep during the night, but you feel fairly drained upon arrival. I also took a nap, but only for a couple hours. 

Now we are making our plans for the next several days. Where we spend the next week until Rob and Susan arrive next Tuesday will depend on the wind, the tides and the currents and, of course, how much work Peter wants to do on the boat.