To Block!

We did a shakedown sail on the 4th of July in order to get prepared for a safe passage to Block the next day. Most importantly, we got acquainted with setting up a preventer system. This ensures we do not accidentally jibe when sailing by the lee. We did this just before the trip, because our research indicated that we would have a broad reach on the whole passage and that we would have the main out to set the proper sail configuration.

Overnight to Block on the outside of Long Island. Just missed our sailing connection / new friends on Sailing Characters (@sailingcharacters) by one hour leaving Sandy Hook.

Well, we had a lovely departure and started to make a lot of speed. Of course, it’s not sailing unless there is a race. This boat cut behind our stern and just couldn’t crank the wind as hard as we did. Coney Island was in the background. We enjoyed a red sunset as we crossed the Fire Island inlet just a few miles offshore.

At around 9:30 pm, well East and about 3-5 nm off the coast of Fire Island I was asleep in the cockpit and Rachel is at the helm. It is – it was dark with very little moonlight. I awake to her worried voice and concern about what appears to be a fishing trawler that is on a collision course with us.

We were on a starboard tack, we saw them off our port side heading directly towards us. Every time we adjusted to avoid collisin, they would turn into us. We turned left, they followed, we turned to the right, they followed. So after an unproductive series of radio engagements aimed at clarifying our maneuvers, we decided to stop our boat and let the trawler pass by. While I was speaking with them on the VHF radio; it wasn’t a pleasant call and perhaps I could do better with this. But my protective instincts kicked in. They kicked in so much that SV Characters heard us loud and clear 200+ nm away in/near Cape May. The conversation with the trawler was strange, because the captain seemed to be enjoying the stress and trouble he was causing us.

Early morning we tacked directly for the entrance on the great salt pond. We saw the windmills on the South side of the island.

We motored into the mooring field at around 8:30 am. 18-19 hours after departing Atlantic Highlands. How lucky were we to walk right up and get a free/open mooring? We had no wait!

After setting up the mooring, we watched 20-25 knot winds blow and blow for the entire day. We took a launch taxi onto shore and then had a very nice lobster meal at the Beachhead. The heavens opened up during our meal and we watched a tremendous storm roll through.

We woke then next morning and decided to fuel up and get the water tanks filled. That was interesting, because we had to squeeze ourselves into a 75-100 ft dock space with our 48-50 ft overall length; I’d never done that before! Some guy in a powerboat rolled up and took the spot that I was waiting 15 minutes for. Let’s see you try to keep a 40,000 lb sailboat sitting in idle during high wind and current within a marina area. Enough complaining.

We went back into the mooring and used our dinghy to go to the shore. We spent the entire day on the island. It was gorgeous. We got scooters and drove the kids around to all of the sites. All I can remember was the beautiful properties bordered by these long rock wall fences.

Next morning we pulled away from the mooring and motor sailed to Port Jefferson as our 9-10 hours away. we got some experience with The Race and went through Plum Gut. That worked exactly as planned though it was choppy going through. There were ferries going back and forth from the mainland to Plum Island. It’s a government held island, interesting history.

Our friends from Atlantic Highlands are already sitting on moorings at Port Jefferson Yacht Club. Very cool to be able to cruise with them. Just 10 feet before we reach the mooring and start the delicate process of lining up, I received a high temperature alarm on the engine. Rachel quickly grabs the mooring penants and we shut down the engine. We go to shore for very nice showers at the Yacht Club. We meander back to the boat and start tidying up.

We are invited to go ashore with our friends for dinner. However, the rain is coming and forces us to sit out in the mooring field. We use that time to prepare Skyward for the coming Tropical Storm Elsa. We batten down the hatches and then got ashore for a great Ramen meal at Slurp Ramen. Then, we found the fun park neat the marina and had Audrey pose for some cool pictures.

The rain let up for a while that evening. We walked back to the boat. By the way, we found these yellow rainsuits on the boat that must have been 20 years old. They completely leaked water through them during the storm. Although they were useless, I felt like a true sailor with this one on. Although, this chair made me feel like a tiny human being! We walked past the EarthCam for Port Jefferson, which was a bucket list item.

The next morning brought winds of 20-30 knots and hard rain. Elsa was packing a punch. Skyward was sailing all over the mooring, and we thought for sure that we were dragging the mooring. But the harbormaster / dockmaster / launch master assured us that our 600 lb mooring was well designed.

Our new sprayhood extension came in VERY handy for this storm. How fortunate that we had it installed before we left Deale, MD.

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We discovered while the storm was brewing that our raw water strainer was plugged. We also leaned that our raw water impeller had cracks in it. We serviced these pieces and the high temperature alarm was cleared. We also noticed that the oil was about a quart low. You have to maintain your boat.

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We know that our 24v alternator regulator has failed. So we called Balmar technical support. They guided Rachel how to jump the regulator and engage the regulator fully. We test it at idle and it seems to work because the batteries start getting charged quickly.

We go to shore for the day and just walk around. There are so many ice cream shops in Port Jefferson, I’m convinced you could eat at a different one every days for a month. We eat at a nice restaurant, have crepes and of course another stop at Kilwins for ice cream. The TV Show TURN is one of our favorites, so this place (Saugatuck?) is totally fun to visit due to the history with the Washington Spy Ring and the rebels. We can’t thank the Port Jefferson Yacht Club enough for their hospitality.

We end the day and prepare for a return trip home on Saturday down the East River. We shove off from the mooring. It is early and quiet in the mooring field. It doesn’t start out well at all. First thing, we hear loud squeaking from the engine compartment. Second, as I increased RPM, there began white smoke and burning smell coming also from the engine area. We did circles just outside the mooring field trying to troubleshoot. We go back to the mooring and tighten up the 12v alternator belt which was very very loose. That took an hour; 4 times longer than it would have to do the same task on a car in land.

We pull again off the mooring and a increase RPM. Guess what? Smoke and burn smell again. We go back to the mooring regretfully. We decide that the alternator windings must be fried so we undo the temporary wiring to disable the 24v alternator. This thing is troublesome, and it is time to replace it.

We finally make the last attempt to leave Port Jefferson. No problems along the way this time. We motor sail and catch a bit of wind for a couple of hours, which was a welcome sign. Then a huge pod of dolphins swim past us going West on the Long Island Sound.

As we approach Throgg’s Neck the wind stops dead. We do catch the current perfectly and run between 9-12 knots down the entire East River!

We reach Atlantic Highlands by 3:30 pm, fill up with diesel and water and also get a pump out. What a great trip!