Dutch Island Harbor, July 30, 2008

We are waiting until Friday before we head north to Maine. There is a low pressure system that will go across the area tonight and Thursday. Yesterday we took the Jamestown Ferry and crossed the East Passage to Newport, Rhode Island. The ferry stopped at Rose Island Lighthouse so we explored the island and the refurbished (built around 1870 and refurbished to 1912) lighthouse. Currently the lighthouse is open to visitors as well as people renting the place for a vacation week. The island was used by the army for munition storage during WWII. An old army barracks is also on the island but it was never fully completed nor used. We haled the ferry with a yellow flag and it stopped and took us across Newport harbor, past the Nantucket Lightship which was anchored in the harbor and now a "private yacht". We spent the rest of the day looking at the tourist shops and art galleries in the town of Newport.


"The Jamestown Ferry"














"Rose Island Lighthouse"

We had a picnic lunch on this lighthouse island.

Gordon leaping on the rocks that surround the lighthouse.

The Nantucket lightship was a surprise to see.

July 28, 2008 Dutch Harbor, Rhode Island

Yesterday we caught up with our sleep and then the clouds came in with threats of rain and thunderstorms. We watched the boats leave their anchors to head back up the bay before the storm hit. The radio was turned to the weather station and we watched the storm on the Internet. As the wind picked up with gusts to 35 knots, Gordon put on the engine to ease the strain on the anchor but this may have caused the anchor to brake loose, so we hauled up the anchor and quickly set it again just a few hundred feet from our previous set. The storm passed after a few hours so we settled in for the night. The darkening skies prose came to mind after dinner.


See the storm is brewing and the boats are fleeing. The radio indicated that the storm would produce high winds and waves in Block Island Sound and travel up both Buzzards and Narragansett Bay. I caught a picture of a fleet of boats sailing north up the bay and under the Jamestown Bridge.

Darkening Skies

What is that, I see my dear?
As we lay quietly on anchor rode.

The clouds pass quickly, the rain is near.

Make haste and put on the foul weather gear.

The lightening flashes under the darken sky.

The rolling thunder rumbles aloud.

The waves have white caps, as they build and fall.

They swirl and whirl as the tide is high.

Alas, the captain he loudly said.

All hands on deck, in the pouring rain.

The boat is dragging too close to shore

Pull up the anchor, we quickly fled.

Where is that safe anchorage we quickly seek?

Why it is only a few hundred feet!

The anchor is set, a firm aground.

The boat quietly rocking , now safe and sound.

July 26,2008 Dutch Harbor, Rhode Island

We made the journey from Sandy Hook, N.J. to Rhode Island in a 28 hour run. The New York harbor was busy as we rounded the bend of Sandy Hook. We had little wind so motored most of the way with a few hours of sailing as we moved along the outside of Long Island. After passing Montauk Point, we had a beautiful sunrise and saw many fishing and pleasure craft, passing on the west side of Block Island. We sailed past Point Judith Light then past Whale Rock as we entered Narragansett Bay. Throughout the night the we heard of a search for a boat in distress and the coast guard was busy cruising along the coast with blue lights flashing after someone reported a flare. As we got ready to anchor the boat, we found a friend on the deck, somehow a squid landed on the cabin top. Unfortunately the squid was as dead as a door nail.

Sandy Hook, J.J.

Montauk Point, Long Island

Whale Rock, Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island

A late night visitor.

July 24, 2008 Sandy Hook,N.J.

We have been on a mooring for the past few days. We have been delayed for a few days as Gordon had to order and obtain some injector boots for the engine. We were able to rent a car and didn't have to go too far to get the needed parts. We also have been waiting for a low pressure weather system which had heavy rain and thunderstorms to pass by. Last night the there was quite a lightening show that lite up the sky. We anticipate leaving tomorrow morning for a 24 hour run past Long Island, Montauk Point and on to Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. We met a traveling family yesterday which will be heading out to Block Island so will will have some sailing company as we head out tomorrow.

Another moored boat just abeam of us. The cloud cover is finally breaking up and the sun is trying to peak out.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon writing some prose while waiting for the launch to take us to shore. So enjoy. "The Launch" See that boat going back and forth between the boats and mooring lines? That is no boat the captain says, its the launch we must hail soon! We need to stock our supplies today, tomorrow we sail the seas again. So hail the launch the first mate says and get the list we need to use. Bread and wine and cheese my dear, but don't forget the Budlight beer"!

July, 21, 08 Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey

Arrived here on Sunday morning 9 a.m. after leaving Hampton, Virginia on Friday the 18th of July at 8:15 in the morning. Gordon got a surprise when he got the anchor up-as it was tangled with a "line and a bag of clam-shells". He had to lean over the rail and clip the line with a large pair of cable cutters as I held the boat steady until the muddy anchor was cleared and cleaned up. This small task to about 45 minutes! Once the anchor was cleared we headed out the channel to be greeted with Navy ships, container ships and commercial fishing vessels. It was a very calm sea with little wind.

As we headed up the coast the wind picked up and we were able to sail with 10-15 knots of wind. At night we had some shipping traffic and the following night we were along the shipping channel along the Jersey coast. So the radar was used to follow the traffic and keep watch on the barges and fishing vessels. We passed Atlantic City at about 6 p.m. and the city shimmered in the haze and heat. It was nice to have a breeze to keep us cool. As the wind picked up, the waves of a following sea made the ride a little rocky. The large sailing genoa sail was full of air and our speed was over six knots. We needed so slow the boat down as it would have us coming into Atlantic Highlands at 4 a. m. So we took down the genoa and sailed with the main sail with one reef. This allowed us to "slow our speed". At night the wind lessened and we were cruising along at 4 knots, when it slowed to 3 knots, we put the engine on to give us enough speed to get us into Atlantic Highlands at a reasonable hour. As always when we approached NYC the shipping traffic was busy with Cruise Ships, Barges, Tugs, and many, many pleasure fishing craft trying to "catch the big one "and keep cool on an already hot morning. We sailed around Sandy Hook- which really is a lovely white beach with cottages and condos in the background and New York City with its sky line just north of the "hook".

One of the many Navy ships heading out to sea. As we listened and watched the shipping traffic a air craft carrier came down the channel but we were too far away and off the shipping lanes to get a picture of it.

After the sun set, the sky was a beautiful red and contrasted against the dark blue sea. We saw several dolfins as we sailed up the coast, a sea turtle heading south, and three small sting rays. A few birds thought we were a "fishing vessel" as they tried to hover over the sails and mast, thankfully the mast and rigging kept them from trying to land on the boat!

July 17, 2008 Hampton, VA

We are waiting for a favorable weather window to head up the coast of the DeMarva Peninsula ( Delaware, Virginia, Maryland) and then on to New England. We are currently anchored in a small anchorage between boat docks along the Hampton shoreline. One could literally swim to the shore in about 5 strokes. I wanted to add a post script to yesterday's blog regarding the history of the area. In 1752 Col. William Crawford, a merchant and ship owner founded the town of Portsmouth and many of the streets of "Old Town" are named after its "sister city, Portsmouth, England. The British occupied the town in 1781 headed by the patriot-turned traitor- Benedict Arnold. The area is really steeped in early American History, and later in the Civil War, the battle of the iron sides- the Merrimac and the Monitor occurred in Hampton Roads Harbor a few miles west of our current location. My mind is on early American history, not just because of our location but because I am currently reading David Hackett Fischer's Washington Crossing (the Delaware) which is about the battles of Trenton and Princeton, N.J. It is a "good read" and the author has you right there in the early years of the American Revolution. I purchased the book while at the National Achieves in Washington, D.C. An excellent book to read while we are waiting for a favorable weather window.

A clock tower at the local college campus just across from our anchorage.

The full moon rising after a beautiful sunset while we are at anchor.

Today, Captain Bloom took a few minutes to relax and catch up on his current novel after checking several weather reports and planning our course headings for the next few days.

July 16,2008 Hampton, VA

Some of the Navy ships we passed as we headed from Portsmouth, Va. across the bay to Hampton. Some of the ships had very angular shapes as this picture demonstrates. Yesterday we visted a small museum that told the history of the Portsmouth navy yards which date back to the 18th centry and walked around "Old Town" with many historical houses. We also toured the Portsmouth Lightship which not only protected ships along the coast of Virginia but also served time as a temporary "lightship" off the coast of New England around the island of Nantucket.

We crossed over the bay from Portsmouth , VA to Hampton, VA after a 2 day stay at the Tidewater Marina at Portsmouth, VA for some routine maintenance on the new engine. The weather is warm but has a nice northeast breeze to keep the humidity down. We took a lot of pictures of the navy boats as well as the busy traffic of barges, container ships, pleasure craft and tourist sloops as we traveled on the edge of the shipping channel. A large container ship passed us as we headed up the channel.

One of the railroad bridges that lifted as we and other craft passed under the bridge. There are several bridges along the inter coastal waterway close to the city of Norfolk that boats try to "time their way" along the river so you can get through the bridge without "waiting" for the next half hour or hourly "lift". The bridge engineer usually radios the next bridge to alert the bridge tender that a group of boats is headed their way. One of these sail boats has a "French Flag" flying and I watched them taking a lot of pictures from their bow as they approached the busy port of Norfolk.

One of many Navy ships we passed along the Norfolk Navy Yards. We also saw aircraft carriers and submarines not far from these ship docks.

This "tourist sloop" was full of people enjoying the sail in the busy Norfolk Harbor.

Another Navy ship.

July 13, 2008 Great Bridge, Virginia.

Great Bridge, Virginia. We have been docked at the side of "this large draw bridge" for the past few days. There is much activity along this section of the inter coastal waterway from large commercial barges, tugs, as well as pleasure craft.
After spending a few days in Washington, D.C. it was nice to get back to the boat. The "town dock" is a nice place to stay as it is close to grocery stores and the Laundromat...so we restocked our supplies and got a few clothes washed.

One of the many barges that past us. These barges are seen during the day, and at times they pass us at night, rocking the boat as they whiz by toward the Great Bridge Locks which are just north of the bridge.

A beautiful sunset at Great Bridge. I took this photo yesterday evening while standing at the bow of Jabberwocky looking forward at a sailboat that was docked a few yards ahead of us.

July 9, 08 Great Bridge, Virginia

We have been traveling north up the intercoastal waterway stopping in Great Bridge, Virginia (Cheasapeake area). Gordon has a training session in Washington, DC so we have rented a car and will be heading up to DC today and returning tomorrow.

As we approached Great Bridge, we heard and watched several military planes practicing landings and take-offs. I took a picture as a plane flew by us. This was very noisey after the quiet days on the intercoastal waterway with nothing but Osprey birds, their chicks, and butterflies.



The birds loved building their nests ontop of the channel markers. We delighted in watching the parents fly off and then come back to feed the birds or "repair the nests" with branches from the nearby marshes.











A fishing trawler with its big nets waving to-and frow. What a lovely day to go fishing Although every afternoon their was thunder and quick fast showers.

Morehead City, NC Saturday 4 July 2008 - INDEPENDENCE DAY

Happy Independence Day!!! --- Happy Birthday America!!!

THANKS TO OUR TROOPS THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB

North Carolina folks enjoying themselfves on a small island about 200 yards from our dock.

At the inspiration of a friend from Solomons, MD, Bill Gregory, who is cruising single handed in Maine on his Vancover 32 Rincewind for the summer we wanted to introduce our mascott Ms. Put In Bay. Those who know the Erie Isles in the west end of Lake Erie (Great Lakes) will know the place. I bought her has a souvenir in Switzerland many years ago. She came on board (we are not sure how) when we originally brought Jabberwocky from Sandusky Ohio in 2003 and has been on board ever since keeping an eye on things.

Also to bring luck on our trip to and from Bermuda we follow an old maritime tradition of a coin attached to the mast. The top is a British Pound with Queen Elizabeth and the lower is a Bermuda 25 cent piece with the famous Bermuda Long tail. Sailors are a superstitious lot.

Beaufort/Morehead City, NC Thursday 3 July 2008

We arrived late morning after a 9 day trip. Here is buoy RW BM at the start of the Beaufort Inlet Channel with 5 miles to go to shore.

The big challange of the trip was to stay far enough south to avoid stormy conditions that covered the western Atlantic from the New England coast to Virginia. You never are sure where you are going to end. The idea is to keep safe and treat your vessel kindly.




We began our return trip on the 25th of June and arrived in Beaufort, NC the 3rd of July. We had wanted to go to Newport, RI but a series of cold fronts working against a very large high pressure system east of the Bahamas created very strong SW winds and large seas on the rhumb line to Newport so we elected to stay a bit south of the whole thing. We had good sailing conditions for 75% of the return voyage which give us our first real feel for the boat for "off shore" sailing conditions. Gordon had several problem solving challenges that always seemed to happen just before his "off watch sleep time" such as Why is there more water in the bilge then usual?, Why is the self-steering mechanism getting too loose?, Why are we not getting enough amp power even though we are running the engine a few hours a day? He is good at crawling through all the nooks and crannies of the boat while it is heeled over in 7 foot seas, tightening bolts, etc. etc. How can we reduce sail without getting our lines tangled up in wind gusts of 25 knots etc. etc. So I was really glad to get to land and made sure the Captain had a Grog of Rum and a Extra Thick Steak for all of his skilled efforts-that is the First Mate bought him a shore dinner! Also, desiel fuel prices are better here as they are $4.89 vs $7.74 per gallon in Bermuda.




The early evening sky at sea.

















Sunset














Some folks inquire if we fish while we are at sea. The answer is that we let the fish land on the deck. Here is one of our larger catches of a rather small flying fish.