Ocean City NJ to Cape May NJ

Long Beach NJ to Ocean City NJ

Start time and hours                  0908                         3335.05
End time and hours                   1420                         3340.40

     After spending a comfortable night on anchor in Long Beach NJ we headed out for day two of our NJICW trek.  We would be passing through Atlantic City and stopping in Ocean City for a night on anchor.  

     Once again the horror stories of the NJICW were false.  We had no trouble keeping track of the markers and had plenty of depth.  We started our trip on a rising tide and had no problems.  

     This was the day that we would be requesting bridge openings for the first time.  I called it the Bascule bridge day.  I love it when people on the VHF radio call me Captain, makes me feel important.  All of the bridges opened promptly upon request and the bridge operators were friendly and helpful.  

     Again, we saw newer homes along the water.  They mostly looked like the other homes we saw on the first day, with a few exceptions.  We also saw plenty of birds and marshes.  There was little traffic to contend with, but at one point we got waked by a NJ State police boat just north of Atlantic City.  

     We got to the anchorage, the Rainbow anchorage,  fairly early and set anchor without any problems.  Our new #44 Rocna has so far held like a rock.  

     We had dinner and turned in for the night.  About 5am we were awakened by some severe rolling.  At first I thought that we were being waked by fishing boats going out but soon realized that this was not the case.  I got up and saw that the winds had picked up considerably and the waves were up also.  The anchor was holding wonderfully and we were not dragging so we went back to bed and tried to sleep a few hours more.

The anchorage on the first night

Current over wind, notice the rode.

Good dinner.

     We got up around 8am and looked out the window and quickly decided that we were not going anywhere today.  The seas and winds were a little too much for travel.

Our only neighbor in the anchorage

     We settled in for a day at anchor in bouncy conditions.  A little reading, a little napping.  It was good when the wind and current were consistent but at times the current was against the wind and were sideways to the waves.  At dinner time it was a little rough and we just had cheeseburgers and Kraft macaroni and cheese.  The anchor held perfectly and we went to bed with a little more than a gentle rocking hoping that the next day would be better.

Manasquan NJ to Long Beach NJ

Start time and hours                          1000                        3329.45

End time and hours                            1545                        3335.05

     

     After three nights in Manasquan NJ we gave up on going outside to Atlantic City or Cape May.  The weather reports were just awful for the rest of the week.  20+ knot winds and 6-9 foot seas. 

     This meant that we would try our luck going “inside”, the New Jersey ICW.  I have read many opinions on blogs and websites about this route.  They range from beautiful and easy to awful, you will run aground, you will lose the channel, don’t do it.  With little to no choice we decided to give it a try.

     We started off by going through the Point Pleaasant Canal.  We went through just after slack low tide so there would be less current.  A full tide current can be 4+ knots.  Needing to get through the canal at slack tide meant that we would be travelling the NJICW on a rising tide.  This means that if we run aground we can wait for the incoming tide to float us off of the bottom. 

     This northern portion of the NJICW was a very pleasant cruise.  The water was calm and the winds were mild.  You just had to pay attention to the markers and watch your depth.  I think the lowest we saw all day was 3.6ft.  We draft about 3.3ft so had no problems. 

     You really notice all of the new houses alongside the water.  I think these may be rebuilt new homes because of Hurricane Sandy.  Most of the homes have similar architecture, but a few here and there stand out.    We saw lots of birds and small fishing boats but only a few fellow cruisers.

     We cruised through Barnegate Bay and past the inlet then went a little more south and anchored off of Long Beach at the Beach Haven anchorage behind Ham Island.  We were the only boat there and the night was calm and peaceful.

The Beach Haven anchorage in Long Beach

Mamaroneck NY to Manasquan NJ

Start time and hours                               0935                                     3321.00

End time and hours                                 1755                                    3329.45

     We left Mamaroneck NY and cruised through New York City and on to Manasquan.  

     Our initial plan was to go to Sandy Hook NJ and wait for a good weather window to go on the outside route down New Jersey to Cape May.  However, the cruise down the East River and through New York Harbor was so easy and fast that we decided that we would try for Manasquan and wait there for our window.  There was a Brewer marina there and we could use our last two free nights and any additional nights would be half price.

     The weather and seas were calm cruising down the west end of Long Island sound and under the Throg’s Neck Bridge and into the east river.  We had good tides and made great time.   We passed through Hell Gate just past slack tide and carried an ebb tide all the way through New York harbor and under the Verrazano Narrows bridge.

     It is amazing at how much commercial traffic is in the East River and around lower Manhattan.  The ferry traffic is nonstop and you really have to pay attention.

     After first considering stopping at Sandy Hook we looked at the marine forecast and saw that the seas off of New Jersey were forecasted to be only 3ft.  The next few days were going to be snotty so we had to decide if we wanted to sit at Sandy Hook or Manasquan.  We decided on Manasquan, a mere 3-4 more hours south. 

     The seas were every inch of 3ft.  Probably closer to 4ft with short intervals.  It was a very rocky ride down the coast.  It was never dangerous and we never felt unsafe, but the ride was uncomfortable.  I believe it was a good decision to continue on to Manasquan because we stayed at the Brewer Crystal Point Marina for three nights and is was more relaxing than staying on the hook in Sandy Hook.

     Entering Manasquan inlet in rough weather you go from bouncing around like a coke bottle on the water to perfectly smooth in a matter of about 100 yards.  There is a decent current in the river and docking was a challenge, we went bow in because the wind and current were too much for out little single engine trawler. 

    The Brewer Crystal Point Marina https://www.byy.com/marinas/brewer-crystal-point-marina-point-pleasant-nj/ is a new acquisition by the Brewer/Safe Harbor company.  They really are a work in progress as they have no services there except showers and bathrooms.  The fuel dock and pump out are self service.  There was no Wifi, no grills, no dock hands, nothing. 

     We spent the first night recovering from out bouncy ride down the coast.  The second day we did the same exact thing.  We slept late and relaxed all day.  The third day we walked to the Super Stop $ Shop to re-provision.  It was a nice walk after being on the boat for a few days. 

     We had dinner at the River Rock bar adjacent to the marina.  http://riverrockbricknj.com/  The food was good and the beer menu was barely adequate.  The noise from the TVs was overwhelming.  We could barely talk across the table.  It was so loud that I wondered why OSHA wasn’t requiring ear protection.  My ears were ringing for the rest of the night.  The worst part was listening to the bar patrons cheer on the Yankees as they beat Cleveland in the playoffs. 

     The next morning as we got ready to leave we discovered that the pump out hose would reach our boat without us leaving the slip.  A very convenient surprise.  

Stratford CT to Mamaroneck NY

Start time and hours                                0930                                  3316.23

End time and hours                                  1415                                  3321.00

     Every day should be this easy.    We left Stratford in the morning for the short trip to Mamaroneck NY.  We had the tide against us going out of Housatonic River but as soon as we made the turn to head down Long Island sound we had a following tide almost the whole ride.

     The weather was warm and mostly sunny.  This was our third day of our trip and our first day wearing shorts.  This is the way cruising is supposed to be.  The seas were calm, one foot or less and the winds were barely 5kt.  As it is late in the season, boat traffic was minimal.

     We pulled into Brewer Post Road Boat Yard early https://www.byy.com/marinas/brewer-post-road-boat-yard-mamaroneck-ny/      If you come here, as you approach the marina hug the right side of the channel.  We were coming down just left of the middle of the approach channel when I noticed 3ft on my depth sounder.  We draw just over 3ft so an abrupt turn to the right kept us off the bottom. 

     This is not really a marina.  It is a boat yard.  However, what amenities they have are very nice.  The marina is right downtown.  Everything is within walking distance.  After three days on the boat we needed to get out and take a walk.  We walked down to Trader Joe’s (1.1 miles) and got some provisions.

     Dinner tonight was filet with bernaise and roasted red potatoes, onions, and peppers.  Accompanied by a cabernet.     

Friends always ask, What do you eat on the boat?   Filet with bernaise, roasted red potatoes,onions, and peppers, Cabernet.

Moonrise over Mamaroneck

Content Captain after backing into a very narrow slip

Happy Admiral after directing the Captain to back into a very narrow slip.

In the narrow slip at Mamaroneck

Entering the harbor

Entering the harbor

Just outside the harbor

It looked a lot narrow when I was backing up into this slip

Very calm Long Island Sound

You are right downtown at this marina.

View from the grill area

Tucked in for the night

Mystic CT to Stratford CT

Start time and hours                           0900                3307.50

End time and hours                            1800                3316.23

     We left Mystic CT and started out for Stratford CT.  The forecast was for better than the day before but still a little rocky.

     The cruise began with trying to get off the dock with a good breeze pinning us there.  We had to back up to the end of the fuel dock and the wind pushed the stern into the fairway as our bow came off the dock and we were able to get away.

     It is about 30 minutes from Brewer Mystic to the end of the channel and Long Island sound.  During this time the wind was not too bad and everything looked good.  Once into the sound the seas were much better than the day before but it was still a little rocky, probably 2-3ft seas and 15kt winds on our bow.  It was a long day as the tides were against us all day.  We travelled about 56 kt miles in about nine hours. 

     It was really just an uneventful day of cruising.  We did have lunch (much better than the day before). 

     We pulled into the Housatonic river and cruised up to the Brewer Stratford marina https://www.byy.com/marinas/brewer-marinas-stratford-ct/      It was almost slack tide when we arrived but still a bit strong.  We had no problems docking and were very comfortable in our slip for the night. 

     For dinner we had Italian sausage and pasta with a cream tomato basil vodka sauce.  We then watched the Patriots beat the Bucs in the Thursday night game.  Good wifi at this Brewer’s and we were able to stream the game on Amazon Prime.

     The next morning we went over to the fuel dock to pump out and were on our way to Mamoroneck NY.

Entering the Housatonic River, Stratford Ct.

Tucked in at Brewer Stratford marina

Just because you are cruising doesn't mean you are out of touch.  Patriots vs. Bucs   (Pats won, like I had to tell you).

Lighthouse leaving Stratford Ct

Fishermen on the Housatonic river

Leaving Stradford Ct.

Warwick RI to Mystic CT

Greenwich Bay to Mystic CT

Start time and hours                         0905                        3299.93
End time and hours                          1645                        3307.50

     We left our home marina in Greenwich Bay and headed out for Mystic CT.  When we started the weather was very comfortable and the seas were good with a 5-10kt wind.  We were sent off the dock with a supportive crowd of dock neighbors wishing us good luck and calm seas.  The good luck we had, the calm seas, not so much.

     The first two hours were not so bad as we cruised south past the Jamestown bridge and on to Beavertail.  We had an outgoing tide pushing us along.   Just before Beavertail the seas began to pick up a little and things got a little bouncy.  Nothing we had not experienced before in this area.  As we rounded Point Judith the seas picked up a little more.  Not to worry, things always pick up around Point Judith.  They will settle down once we get into the sound. 

     After rounding Point Judith and heading into Block Island sound the forecast of 10kt wind and 2-4ft. seas turned into 15kt winds and 3-5ft seas.  Fortunately, the waves and wind were right on the bow.  Our boat takes head on weather very well.  We were pitching quite a bit but at least we were not rolling side to side.  Uncomfortable but not dangerous.  When I say uncomfortable I mean that around lunch time I was silently singing “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” in my head as I told the admiral “fellas its too rough to feed ya”.  Luckily seven pm never came around.    

     These conditions continued for the next three hours as we slogged out way to Watch Hill and Fisher Island sound.  Once into Fisher Island sound the seas calmed a little bit but the tide was still against us as we continued toward Mystic.

     We got into Brewer Mystic  https://www.byy.com/marinas/brewer-yacht-yard-at-mystic-mystic-ct/  after the dock staff had gone home.  I called to let them know I would be in after closing and they told us to tie up at the fuel dock because of the wind.  Docking was easy as the wind pushed us right onto the fuel dock and pinned us there.  We had a very enjoyable evening, had dinner and slept well.

     Dinner was grilled teriyaki pork loin with grilled sweet potatoes, zucchini, and summer squash.

     If you want to see video about Mystic see our earlier posts about visiting here.  

Leaving Greenwich bay

Tied up at the fuel dock at Brewer Mystic Ct.  

Brewer Cowesset is $2.00.  I have to tell our manager Matt