With sunny skies and a variable wind forecast we slipped lines at 6:30 AM and departed Cape May with slack outgoing tide. Our sail plan was to make as much headway as possible in the NNE winds before they were predicted to die.
We sailed downwind at about 8 knots for about an hour to avoid the shoals off the coast with code zero, stay sail and main (1 reef). When we made the turn up the bay Kailoa picked up speed to 9.5 knots on a close reach. It was a fantastic sail while it lasted!
At about 10:30 AM the winds switched and died, and we pulled in the sails and turned on the motor. We had traveled about 20 NM and had 50 to go against the outgoing tide. We avoided the shipping channels and picked a direct path up the Delaware. The size and number of ships/tankers carrying goods up the Delaware River was remarkable. One boat measured 750 ft in length. We could see the plum of vapor from the Salem Nuclear Power Plant cooling stack at the mouth of the Delaware, but it was seven hours later when we finally reached the ominous site.
The 12 NM slog up the C&D canal against the tide felt long and hot. Lack of wind encouraged the flies to invade. The C&D Canal is a bit of a marvel. It was hand dug by 2600 men in 1824, who received a daily wage of 75 cents. Truly “mud, sweat and tears.” The site of Shaeffer’s Canal House was a relief at 6:30 PM. We were welcomed by about 300 people eating dinner and a band as we docked.
Scott recalled his family’s summer vacation sailing trips on their boat the Winward Ho. After the long trip Scott admired his parents’ energy and adventurousness, remaking “how did they do this with 2 kids and a dog on a 30 ft sailboat.” With 7 states and nearly 500 NM, this is written with appreciation for Scott’s parents Don and Gloria.
Hold Fast.
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