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Overnight Sail NJ Coast

8/30/2014

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After a lovely yoga sessions overlooking the New York City skyline in the distance, we set off from Atlantic Highlands, NJ for a planned 20-22 hour sail down the Jersey coast to Cape May, NJ. Easy peasy day with no major issues—lovin’ it!  No wind to speak of either, so this was a motor boat ride.  Dinner while under way, then bed for me to try to get 4 or 5 hours of sleep before my midnight to 4 am watch. 

What does it mean to stand watch?  Well, before we leave on any passage, we have studied the paper charts for the area and read any guide books available.  We have decided what our course will be and how long it will take, on paper.  Then we go to Zeus (our electronic chart plotter, aka, my boyfriend!) and set the course and waypoints. While on watch, we are on the lookout for anything or anyone in our way (both visually and via the radar overlay on Zeus) and to make sure we are on course. 

We have a system called AIS, required equipment for commercial vessels and optional for recreational boats.  AIS tracks vessels with AIS and displays on our Zeus the name, description, size, whether they are under way (sometimes these huge cargo ships are anchored in what seems like the middle of nowhere!), and speed and course, if they are under way.  The system then calculates, given their speed and heading, when and how close the closest point of approach (CPA) will be. There are two types of AIS—receive only, which allows recreational boaters to see the ‘big guys’ and transmit/receive, which allows them to see us as well.  We opted for the transmit/receive version, which means not only do we know who is nearby, but they also know where—and who—we are, as well.  And having a name comes in quite handy if you need to call the bridge of a commercial vessel on the VHF! 

Speaking of the VHF, we also monitor the VHF radio (tuned to Channel 16), fuel levels and engine temperature, as well as depth, wind speed and direction, and our speed.  We wear a life jacket with a safety bag and a harness attached.  Any time we leave the cockpit, we clip our harness to the Jack Lines, lines which are tied to the boat.

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Our inflatable life vest--if we hit the water it will automatically inflate and lights up a strobe light attached to the vest
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Inside the zipper pocket on our lift vest, we have a safety knife and a whistle
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Our safety bag, which included a personal EPIRB, personal AIS and a laser light
How do we stay awake and alert during watch? I start by drinking just enough coffee to be alert for my 4-hour watch, yet no so much that I am not able to fall asleep after…a delicate balance!  And I read…mostly cookbooks (don’t laugh, it is one of my favorite ways to relax!), as recipes are generally short enough so I don’t get too distracted for too long and not keep a keen watch.  Lately, though, with my new pupil, I have been reading textbooks—math and science, specifically!  I also read biographies, novels, devotionals…just about anything!  Thank heavens for our Kindles!!!

Up and ready for my watch at 11:30—who’s excited??!!  Heeelloooo Atlantic City!  It look so pretty from the water on a clear night. Color me crazy, but I actually love standing watch in the middle of the night!  The stars are AMAZING with very little ambient light and it is easier to see what is around since they are lit up. 

The next day is not so fun, however!  Wasn’t it just a few years ago that we could party like rock stars all night and then get up and actually be productive on a few hours’ sleep??!!  OK, so maybe it was more like 25 years ago…

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Happy Birthday Michael...

8/25/2014

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And we are off!  Finally.  Getting out of the house was brutal, but at 11:30 am (~ 1 ½ days behind schedule), we did it!  Last boxes to the attic, last bags to the donate pile, last bags to the trash, and last load (!!) for Ally Cat to the car. Whew!!

Tomatoes? Forgot to harvest the last batch of tomatoes!  Everyone to the garden!  The perfect place for me to say goodbye to Meadowbrook Lane.  I am so very grateful for the half day I spent there on Saturday, and for Tam’s visit and help!  Also, so grateful Michael was able to get seaweed on most of the beds and put my “beds to bed.”

Arrived at the Leisure Shores Marina, where we have been tied up for the past week to load, to our very own farewell committee:  Bashawn, Emma, Hannah, and Noah. So sweet!  Loaded the dock cart and headed to Ally Cat—finally!

Michael tried to warn me.  All of those loads he and Ally had been making of everything I had packed and set out to go were on board…and basically FILLED the salon!!!  Oh my…where do I start?!  I guess the packing and sorting isn't quite done.   Just start.  Michael went to the grocery (to get more stuff to put away—haha), park the car at the house and walk back.

We said our goodbyes to the Thorells.  Ally’s having such a hard time saying goodbye to Emma—particularly since they have spent just about every waking moment together this summer.  But she cries, and gets it all out, and then seems OK.  Bob Field popped by to wish bon voyage.  We left the dock at 2 pm…wahoo!!!  Hey, there are the Sheridans paddling and swimming out to say goodbye.

Heading out of our cove, I couldn't help thinking that I was leaving everything I know and love.  Talk about pushing past your comfort zone in just about every direction conceivable! However, I was amazingly calm inside.  Peace.  Or maybe it is just exhaustion!

I unpacked and stored all the way to Cuttyhunk.  Time to stop and make a toast (courtesy champagne from the Carrolls):  To our crew of three! Crew of Three.  Hummm, I like that!  I think that just might be the name for our blog.

Amazingly, I had cleared the salon enough to sit at the table for dinner, typical boat fare: grilled chicken, potatoes and onions, and cukes from Laurie’s garden.  Then birthday cards and a giant cookie cake (thank you Jerilyn!), complete with candles.  And bed!!

PS-The potatoes were from our garden, too.  Tam and I harvested about 30 lbs of potatoes, which is interesting since I didn't plant any this year!  They were all volunteers from what did not get harvested last year.  I guess I should work on my potato harvest techniques, but I sure am glad we have a basket of our own potatoes for the trip!

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Cuttyhunk...our first stop
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August 23, 2014...D Day (By Kimberly)

8/23/2014

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Auntie Lynn with (L to R) Hannah, Addie, Ally, Emma, Sam and Noah. We will smile and think of each of you whenever we use our beach sheet!
We have been planning this trip and aiming for this date for more than 2 years. And while we have been making steady progress toward our goal the entire time, the past 2 months! With a lot of hard work and A LOT of help from dear family and friends (Auntie Lynn and Uncle Walter, Laurie and Rob Hellstrom, Bashawn and Christian Thorell, Jerilyn and Mike McQuade, and Walt Schneider) we are finally SOOO close to departure that we can taste it--the salt water that is!

On Friday, I said we would sleep on the boat on Saturday 8/23 if it killed me. But that is not what this trip is about--deadline and schedules, fighting what is and forcing MY plan. It is about flexibility and adventure and peace and making smart decisions, based on the weather, the circumstances and our crew of three.

I am so grateful for my sweet, VERY logical husband. And for the magnificent sunrise over the cove that I woke up to this morning. And for starting the journey in a more sane frame of mind! Yesterday, instead of 'killing myself' I had a beautiful afternoon gardening with Tam Macuch--the perfect way to say "so long" to my precious gardens and the perfect way to connect with my precious friend!

We are planning to push off from Leisure Shores Marina either this evening or early tomorrow morning. If we go tonight, we likely will just go around the corner and drop an anchor. Tomorrow we are likely to go FAR...to get this trip started!

The next 2 weeks, though we have a destination and will end up in DC by 9/7, we are on 'vacation'. Michael has to work thru the first week of November, so while Ally and I will be starting home (boat!) school 9/8 and learning to live aboard s/v Ally Cat, he will be going back and forth to Jacksonville to finish up open enrollment with his client.

Once I post this message, I will be turning off my computer and putting it on board. My plan is to FULLY embrace this vacation time and not be back online until 9/8. One of Ally's first assignments will be to research where we will have our blog and to design it. I will be sure to post the address when we have one

Thank you for all of the love, help and encouragement! Sometimes I think we are CRAZY for doing this, but I am ready to take this HUGE leap of faith!

LOVE YOU ALL!
Kimberly, Mike and Ally

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