Enjoying South Jersey

After spending 2 nights in Atlantic Highlands observing the NY skyline across the Raritan Bay we moved further south. We left our nicely protected mooring just after lunch on Tuesday for our trip to Cape May.

Sandy Hook that was devastated in Hurricane Sandy. But a little power boat that apparently got too close to the beach.

Monday we spent walking around the town and catching a movie at the local cinema then going back to a nice dinner on board.

Monday evening I found that 2 of the screws had come out of one of our bilge lights in the cockpit lazarette so decided to take the launch into town to get some new screws to replace them. The bilge lights are the only ones I haven't completely replaced with LEDs. I have the replacements just need to get the all in. Now that I have some extra screws I will be more confident about doing the replacement.

We waited in Atlantic Highlands for a  small front to come through that had unsettled weather and some high winds. We would have liked to use the high winds to sail but the seas would have been uncomfortable so there was no need to be miserable so we waited and left Tuesday.

View of the Highlands.

We motored out and around Sandy Hook with little wind but a nice current. After a couple hours the wind began to build and we went to sail. Only problem was the wind was of course right on our nose. So we sailed very comfortably but needing to tack frequently. We made about 4 tacks and the wind began to die off. So, recognizing that neither o us would get any sleep if we had to tack every hour or so we went back to motor. Linda came on about midnight and we followed the contour of the Jersey shore at a safe distance until my watch came up about 0400.

Last views of NYC.

When I came on we actually had a nice breeze building on the beam so I went back to sail and we sailed right up until we needed to head into the channel at Cape May. Very nice sail doing about 6 kts with just comfortable chop for about 4 hours. Watched the lights of Wildwood turn into daylight with the Jersey shore skyline appear out of darkness.

We motored in the channel with the incoming tide and into the marina. Not much traffic asfolks were just starting to stir. We fueled up and then into a slip.

The end of South Jersey.

Today we did some more boat chores and biked around the town and back to the boat for a great dinner of the scallops we bought in Stonington. Tomorrow the beach!