We took ownership in Dec. 2001 while she was on the hard in Riverside Marina, NJ, way up the Delaware River between Philly and Trenton. She was splashed Monday, 22 Apr 02 with the delivery sail planed for 26 - 28 Apr.
While still docked at Riverside Marina at approx. 1900 25 Apr 02 Jim Turner brings us a bottle of 1796 Caribbean Rum, chats & wishes us a good voyage. Around 2000 we sample it and put a dollop over the bow.
2325 25 Apr 02 commenced to warm-up the diesel and remove shore connections. At 2350 'Evening Light' departed Riverside Marine, NJ (Upper Delaware River) with crew Bev Crighton (sailor extraordinaire'), Mike Berman (previous owner & Captain of 'Evening Light'), Mike Thorpe (Captain of 'Journeys End', CD36) and me (the newbie Captain).
After clearing the harbor entrance Mike T. and Bev retired for the night and Mike B. and I piloted down the Delaware under motor for the next 6 hours. A lot of tug & tow traffic - must keep on your toes. With all the city lights they blend in until you realize the 'tower' in front of you is about to roll over you! Also, from a very impartial point of view, it was VERY *&^%^$#@ COLD. And that river is full of trash. I have seen the last of the Delaware River (hopefully). We passed under the Delaware Memorial Bridge at 0543.
We had an enjoyable sail through the Delaware Bay with Jib, following wind and the diesel. Entered the Cape May Canal at 1530 and tied up to the South Jersey Marina at 1645 for fuel / water top off.
Departed Cape May at 1730 'Evening Light' heads into the North Atlantic at 1800!! Mike T. heats up RA's Tortellini soup and we all partake of two bowls
Our initial plan was to head directly to Montauk Point, LI, NY, but with the wind on the nose we ended up closely paralleling the NJ coast, turned out to be a good move. The weather off shore deteriorated AND the newbie Captain got seasick. It's true - had a close 'experience' over the rail and took another day to shake off the 'feeling' and a headache. Approx. 1330 we rounded Sandy Hook heading for New York City and sailed all the way to the East River wing-&-wing
At 1830 passed thru 'Hell Gate' (which I found to be no big deal) and by 1930 we were in Long Isl. Sound - 'home waters'. Mike T. makes beans & hotdogs – my Sat. eve favorite!! We measured 10 gals in the F.O. tank and added an additional 5 gals. from the Jerry can to the tank. 15 gals. for 75 +/- NM - no problem. We double reefed the main (based on marine weather forecast) and motorsailed (mostly motor) up LI Sound at ~6.2 Kts., neglecting to change the Genny in favor of the working jib (the captain still not fully 'with it'). 'Evening Light' easily motors at 6+ Kts.!!
The bad weather forecast for the wee hours did not appear (high southeast winds heavy rain), just a light wind out of the East and drizzle. Approx. 0700 the wind starts to pick up, eventually to around 25 Kts., the rain gets heavy and it is cold. By 0835 we had Bartlett Reef on the port bow with ETA at Shennecossett YC (SYC) of 0930, and I so telephoned that info to Ruth Ann.
Now the excitement;
0830 - Motor shuts down on loss of fuel. Oh well: A) We are a SAILBOAT and B) She is a Cape Dory - we'll sail in. We start to routinely bury the rail with a furled Genny and a double-reefed main.
~0900 - The wind veers from east to NE - NNE. This will make the Pine Island Bay entrance a 'wind on the nose' situation - things are getting complicated. I'm on the helm with the cold rain trying to tack into the wind to get to SYC without going aground on the New London Ledge or surrounding rocks in Fishers Isl. Sound. Visibility approx. 1/2 mile - we cannot see the shore we are trying to make.
~1000 - While crossing the New London Shipping Channel (and three Ferries in route) the furling line parts, fully deploying the 150 Genny - OH *^%$#@. Mike T. reports at one point we buried the lifelines!! Bev is at the LORAN with the chart to navigate around the ROCKS. Mike B. goes to the bow and knots the fueling line and attaches a second line to the furling line with a rolling hitch. We can now furl the Genny a little, but not take it in - this is not good for our planned 'sail to the dock'.
~1100 - Mike and Mike go to the foredeck, lower the Genny to Bev in the forepeak, reeve a spinnaker sheet as a furling line and bend on the working jib. (FWIW; While without a jib and under double reefed main in this blow the boat goes more leeward then forward, a beam reach is about the best we could do.)
~1130 - We avoided the rocks and closed on SYC. The wind clocks slightly to the East and we are able to enter Pine Isl. Bay on a starboard tack. We head for the Fuel Dock (T-head at end of D-Dock) and head up, furling the jib and luffing the main. The engine starts, runs for 10 seconds and quits. 'Evening Light' starts to blow sideways heading for the area between D-Dock and E-Dock - we harden up the main for forward movement getting just parallel with the head of E-Dock, luff the main and parallel park at T-head of E-Dock (with a fairly 'soft' landing). Mike and Mike jump to the pier with fore & aft dock lines and Bev and I start fighting the fenders between the dock and Evening Light.
1145 - Moored
1220 - RA brings 5 gal. diesel fuel and we add it to the fuel tank, draining the fuel filter bowl twice.
1300 - Started the engine and moved Evening Light to berth D-1 (Next to the fuel pumps at the head of D-Dock).
Lessons Learned:
1. Change out the headsail if a blow is forecast while still in calm weather.
2. Replace the roller furling line before 9 years in service.
3. Refuel when the opportunity arises (In this case - City Island.)
3A. The Westerbeke W27A uses close to 1 gal/hr under full load (hull speed). So about 1/2 gal/hr at 80% of hull speed.
3B. Leave the Jerry can full for emergency reserve. (Can on Heather Ann.)
4. The dial-a-shock wristband does not work for me. (I haven't been seasick since Feb. 1965, never took anything. Now I try the wristband and no joy??)
Afternoon we all went to my home and showered, shaved, changed and RA gave the crew and Barb a wonderful dinner. (For the crew it was the first meal of the day.)
Fair Winds,
Leo
Evening Light CD33 #38
Homeport; Groton, CT
macdoNOSPAM@aol.com
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