July 24

July 24. We are finally on our way north. We would like to be in the inlet at 0830 to take advantage of the ebb flow. It’s a nice change of pace to be able to get up at a reasonable hour, walk the dogs and head out across the bay at a relaxed pace.

The tide has just started falling as we negotiate the Oyster Creek Channel and we’re getting sucked along at 8 knots. We just came in the inlet a month ago but the channel has changed so much that we managed to bump bottom twice. Thanks to the extra speed of the falling tide we were able to barrel through the “skinny” spots. Calling it a channel is being way to generous.

By the time we were in the inlet we were doing close to 9 knots. When we turned north we threw up the sails only to discover that there wasn’t enough wind to sail with. The wind was from the northeast and was light and fluky until we approached Sandy Hook.

The wind backed around and built to about 16 knots so we were able to sail for the last couple of hours. We also caught the tidal flow into Sandy Hook so we were sailing along quite nicely at over 9 knots SOG.

On our way north we did see several pods of dolphins. We even saw a flock of pelicans and we realized that neither one of us could remember seeing pelicans this far north before.

I also tried my luck at trolling again. I drag a 100 foot hand line behind the boat which ties to a diving plane. The diving plane presents the lure at a controlled depth a few feet below the surface. Attached to the diving plane is ten feet of heavy monofilament which is clipped to an 8 foot wire leader. The monofilament acts as a shock absorber and the wire keeps the fish from biting your lure off. Or so they tell you………whatever monster of the deep hit our lure bit clean through the wire leader. When I reeled in the line we discovered that the steel leader had been lopped off. At least I know the lure worked.

We dropped sail at the end of the breakwater in Atlantic Highlands. When we came around the end of the wall we found ourselves virtually alone as there were no other boats anchored there. The moorings were full of unoccupied boats but no one was anchored here at all.

After dinner 2 more boats did come in so we had some others to share the sunset with. Tomorrow we’re off for Long Island Sound but we don’t want to reach The Battery in Manhattan before 1300 hours because of the ripping currents in the East River. So we don’t have to leave here before 0930, oh look, another late start. Yes!!!!!