Hello Ahmet and all,
The drip less seal arrived Tuesday morning. Mike and Liz Callahan form
Callahan's
Marinaallowed me kindly to use their address for UPSshipment. Great people!!!
The installation went great without heaving to haul the boat out.
I was happy and I said to my self, I will have a real meal Tuesday evening at
the restaurant
at the east end of Oneida lake. Well That night it decided to stay closed. Too
bad.
After Oneida lakethings run relatively smoothly until I got to lock 9 of Erie
canal.
About 20 feet away from the lock a squall gusting about 50 knot wind and
horizontal
blowing rain was pushing me to the lock full speed. I was full throttle reverse
and still going forward.
I through a line to the lock master and while he grabbed and wrapped to the
cleat
I went forward and got a bow line and while jumping out to the dock the wind
moved the boat away and there I was in the water. within seconds the PFD
inflated and swam from dear life
towards the ladder so the hull wont crush me against the wall.
A Niagara35 that we where together in the same time spun around stern first
in the lock and ruined the rod under the bow-sprit.
With not much else Left to happen (that was what I thought) except weeds in the
filter I docked at Catskill in the morning, fueled up and got ready to step the
mast and waited for the tide to flood. Stepped the mast and it
was 20:30before I was done with the rigging and the sails and all the little
things that take time. I crushed to bed and woke up 01:00to continue the
pleasant journey.
Taking advantage of the tide I was cruising at about 6,5 knots enjoying the
night and the bliss of being alone (whatever that interprets to).
05:30the engine stalled and while I went down bellow to check I saw the
fuel-water separator full
of water and the I felt the mud under the keel. Before I realize that I should
have dropped the hook
I was aground big time by Esopes Lighthouse. I head the fine idea to raise the
sails and heel the boat so I can sail it out with the help of the now running
engine. I was deeper in the mud.
I called Sea Tow and he came after about 1 hour and could not do nothing to
save my butt.
So he went to bring the bigger boat. No result whatever we tried.
By 12:30the tide started flooding and i took my Bruce with the dinghy to deeper
water and tide the
wrapped the rode to the primary winch and then to the secondary. Whenever there
was I powerboat
with considerable wake I would crank the winches and full throttle. By 15:00a
navy boat PT728
went by a couple of times and in an attempt, the boat got unstuck just like
that and went flying to the deep. Caught me by surprise and I could not figure
out why the rope is getting looser, well DUH!!
I was unstuck!!!! Yea Haw!!!!
I pulled the anchor and did not want to disturb anything I left as fast as I
could.
I asked permission to dock in a marina further ahead to clean up and tidy up.
Nice people, hoses, water and help if I needed.
By 12:00on a dark night I anchored 25 NM north of the mouth of Hudson river. I
was exhausted.
I the morning I fuelled up and by 13:00I was heading out. Those water axis are
a killer for wake.
Tens of them back and forth.
Again overheating and alarm went off. Weeds in the raw water filter. Again. If
I'd saved them
weeds and dried I could have had lunch for a week.
The trip from New Yorkto Cape Maywent relatively well but I had to lower
the sails for the most part of the night since there was an active search going
on. Coast Guard was looking for an MOB and an unmanned boat. I was very pleased
to see how persistent they where combing the waters with about 10 vessels and
three Helicopters.
I had to move out off their way few times so I was motoring. The weather report
was calling earlier for 2-3 foot waves. It was more like 10-12 and the 35-40
feet depth did not help either
east, off the NJ coast.
Twice I had alarm off for overheating with weeds stuck i the raw water filter
and I had to turn off the engine to clear the filter with a dental pick. It was
not pleasant at all rolling in those short waves. I made it without getting
sick.
While underway I disconnected the tiller pilot. Heavy sea's put a strain on it
and I was
worried that it will break in to pieces. I was falling asleep on the tiller and
I could hardly keep my eyes open.
By 09:45I got in Cape Mayand it was 11:00before I was sleeping to rest. I
talked to Paul Esterle for an update and by 18:00I was heading north on
Delaware bay. By 04:30in the morning the
avouchment was heard clear and loud, the C & D canal is closed due to fog.
I stayed there by the anchorage and waited.
08:00I was free to go through. NICE.
In the middle of the canal again somehow weeds went in and same story over and
over again.
Finally a was happy to leave the canal and enter East River (?) and as I was
getting a taste of the Chesapeakewater I heard the noise like the philharmonic
orchestra of New Yorkstate.
Check the engine room and the valves were playing music and the water was
poring from the head gasket along with smoke from some engine oil.
I could not believe that!!! Unheard of and absurd.
Now sitting in the cockpit I was wandering what to do next. Take a minute and
relax.
talked to Paul again. An suddenly it dawned on me. I could sail!!!!. It is a
sailboat Ya????
I am in the Chesapeakeand it is sailable. Yea Haw!!!!
Raised the sail, hooked the wind-vane and there I go sailing south.......after
1/2 hour the wind died.
making the long story short I had the fine idea to tow the boat with the
dinghy. I did and the wind picked up again.
.....back and forth I did the few times and it got dark.
I was so tired I could not figure out why I could not tack.. It was raining and
cold and
the dinghy was full of water. I dropped anchor north of Baltimore in 12 feet
of water and slept all night like a hog.
The same story again and suddenly my speed was 0.00000. Looked at the chart
plotter, 0.0000
Crab pot caught in the on the rudder.
I had no choice but cut it and release.
The wind was just playing games from south and died again. I raised the
spinnaker and was doing a breath taking 0.5 knots just to get me of the
shipping lane, I forgot to mention that in my last attempt to tow the boat to
the Bay bridge the outboard impeller went out for a ride with the blades. I
have a spare but I was missing the 10 MM socket hiding somewhere.
I had a good sleep. I heard wings flapping. It was a sleeping seagull, huge
bird, touching the dinghy,
flapping his wings to move away and again....
By dawn I had wind was blowing from the North and wing on wing I saw
Annapolisin a distance
under the BayBridge.
The negotiations with Port Annapolis Marina failed and I continued to
RhodeRiverto Casa Rio.
I made it. Haulled out and made reservations to leave it there for the winter
and do the repairs in my
own pace. Grabbed a flight and Back in Stoney Creek. Monday the 13 th I am
flying to Indiafor three weeks and I November I will see for the future.
Yanni Marinated
S/V Princess Thalia
Columbia 8.7 #73
Casa RioMarina
Cradle Creek Mayo MD
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