After an easy passage from Atlantic City to Cape May, at the southern tip of NJ, we secured ourselves dock space at South Jersey Marina. The familiarity of Cape May resonated as we looked across the lagoon at the Lobster Pot, a favorite destination during land-based summer visits.
Eileen and Mark, long-time friends from NJ, made the trek to visit Monday. We had a great lunch at the C-view Inn and a Willow Creek Wine excursion. We enjoyed reminiscing about old times and catching up on each other’s lives and families. Eileen and Mark are troopers in life always looking for fun in the face of adversity. Mark who had recently come down with shingles managed to be his playful self. Thank you both!
Arriving in Cape May, this time via sea, we were both immediately struck by the scale of the commercial fishing industry. A little internet research revealed that Port of Cape May/Wildwood ranks among the top 25 in the country in commercial landings.
Before colonization the Lenni Lenape tribe fished the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay, spending summers along the beaches to harvest fish. Like many mid-Atlantic coastal communities commercial fishing has been a mainstay since the 1600s and included whaling at one point.
Cape Mays proximity to the deep ocean canyons is a mecca for fishermen. About 50 to 100 miles from the shore lies more than 70- deep canyons on the continental shelf that drop to 10,000 ft. The canyons are home to a variety of fish including tuna, marlin, and wahoo.
After we docked a few neighbors moved in. Two pleasure vessels were 100 ft in length and the third was 120 ft in length. We have observed that the number and size of these boats has increased dramatically in the last 15 years. A private “Below Deck” the yachts were each manned with a captain, crew and other staff. We learned from one Captain that cruising at 18 knots consumed 200 gallons of diesel an hour. To conserve fuel the captain typically cruises at 12 knots to reduce the burn to 60 gallons an hour. These boats have a max capacity of 5,000 gallons of fuel. At $3.50/gallon it cost the owner $17,500 to fill the vessel. By comparison Kailoa holds a max of 55 gallons. We fill the boat every several weeks when it’s half full at a cost of about $90.
Our stay at Cape May was extended because we were wedged in between these boats. Because sailboats are difficult to maneuver in tight spots we were stuck. The big boats blocked the already limited air flow to the hatches, and it became oppressively hot to stay on the boat. This combined with a high heat advisory, and passing thunderstorms that required us to close hatches made it even hotter. With temperatures and humidity in the 80s and 90s the heat index ranged between 90 and 106, just outside the danger zone. We managed to secure an Air bnb that allowed pets in Willwood Crest to provide some relief from the heat.
This leg was a lesson in patience and adaptability. We were grateful we had the means to pivot to a rental car and air-conditioned apartment. We used the time to rest, rehydrate, take a bike ride, walk to the beach, and absorb the views of elaborately painted Victorian Homes. Staying in Wildwood Crest proved to be a good decision because severe prolonged lightning and thunderstorms occurred every night. Fortunately, Kailoa avoided any lightning strikes.
We are well rested and prepared for the 70-mile leg up Delaware Bay to the C&D Canal and Chesapeake City.
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