Tuesday, October 13th

New York City

Another day in New York City. I walked Central Park and then went through the Metropolitan Museum, before seeing Natasha for coffee and to say bye-bye. Maybe we'll meet in the Bahamas next?
Before I returned to the boat I went to Trader Joe's and found the bacon flavored chocolate bars I wanted to try. They will be my treat tomorrow (and a piece of cake)

Day 43, Wednesday, October 14th

New York City to Barnegat Light

Track on Viewranger

Today Caprice's 'Trip to the sea' reached a mile stone - we (the Caprice and I) reached the Atlantic. The water coming out of my pressure water system is now briny.

We had to leave the mooring early this morning to make it far enough down the coast to reach a good inlet. Because of tides and the big draft Caprice has, most inlets are either impossible or difficult. Barnegat was in range if we left early enough and avoided being slowed by the incoming tide too much. However, the sun doesn't rise before 7 now and I didn't want to drive through NY harbor in the dark. I departed the mooring at 79th Street at 5:30 and motored along Manhattan in the dark.

There wasn't too much traffic at that time on the Hudson and I reached the tip of Manhattan when it started to get brighter

Next past the Statue of Liberty, and now it was bright enough to deal with the traffic in the harbor

Dodge the Staten Island ferries

And when I got under the Verrazona Narrows bridge it was bright and sunny.

I had motored through the harbor, but when I got though the traffic I raised the sails to gain extra speed against the rising tide and stabilize the Caprice a little. The way across the Sandy Hook Bay was quite choppy. As I approached Sandy Hook I passed close to a Coast Guard Cutter, who's captain came onto the bridge and shouted at me that I should keep more distance, so I waved an apology and went around him. Once I got to Sandy Hook I closely hugged the shore and the ride got much smoother. The wind was perfect and I soon switched off the motor and went the rest of the day by sail at a perfect speed and comfort.

The coast is all beaches and small towns and the occasional larger city like Asbury Park. I didn't take photos as there wasn't anything particularly outstanding. I approached Barnegat as planned with ample time and fought my way through the ebb, carefully following the instructions in Activecaptain. I saw my first pelican of this trip, I didn't know they come that far north. I anchored in the middle of the mooring ball field of the Yachtclub here, but everything seems pretty deserted so late in the season.

I'll have another early start tomorrow to make it to Cape May.