Adapt and overcome

Today was one of those days that experience and the ability to change on the fly paid off in a big way.  As already mentioned, the day started off with a bit of rain and TONS of FOG.  It was the kind of day you just hunker down at the dock and wait it out.  We couldn't see a thing with the fog and after talking with everyone we could in the marina, we still had no idea if we could get out the inlet.  The forecast off-shore was 5 to 7 feet with some remaining fog and light rain.  However, the radar showed different and the various internet sites I use for weather said we were going to get a weather window.  Then along with a good buddy (Capt Dave Hawley) who checked wind speeds and other factors, we talked out the various scenarios and thought if we could in-fact get out the inlet, we could at least make a run down to Cape May. (Thanks Dave for the help and support!)

Well, as luck would have it, we had two things go in our favor.  First, right at 12:30 pm, the fog lifted and it got a bit brighter.  Second, we called the dredge working the Great Egg Harbor Inlet and explained the situation.  They said if we got down there, they would help us get out.

So we fired up the engines and pulled out of the slip at 12:45 pm and got on down to the inlet.  The guys on the dredge could not have been more understanding and helpful.  When we called them on the VHF, they actually sent out one of the tug boats from the dredge, met us at the turning buoy in the bay and escorted us out the inlet to deeper water.  Let me tell you something, it is a good thing they did.  There was absolutely no way, and I mean NO WAY I could have gotten out that inlet on my own.  There were huge breaking waves on both sides and we zig-zagged all over the place to stay in good water and get out beyond the sea buoy.  The pucker factor was off the chart!

Once out in to deep water, the weight of the world was off my shoulders.  I could breath.  We started running down the coast toward Cape May and noticed that the seas were getting better.  The fog was completely gone and the sun was now finally out.  The swells were every bit of 7 feet, but they were about 8 seconds apart and the waves were not bad, about 3 feet in the opposing direction.  Still a bit rough, but with a 54-footer, she took them like a champ.  About an hour into the trip, my mate, IC Ron, (the IC is a running joke at our marina as Ron did a trip with MarineMax last year down to the Bahamas, so he refers to himself as International Captain Ron) said we need to keep running with this weather while we have it.  I said, "You know what?  You are right."

So I got out my paper charts, went below and started to figure out where we could go and how it would effect the rest of the trip.  I came up with the idea of running off-shore down to Ocean City, MD instead of running up the Delaware Bay and down the Chesapeake.  By doing that, we can continue to run off-shore to the mouth of the Chesapeake (save a lot of time, fuel and miles), and hopefully get to Norfolk around noon.  This will allow us to get through all the bridges and locks before they close for rush hour in the afternoon and allow us to continue on.  If we are able to make all the bridges and lock, then we should make Coinjock, NC tomorrow night and Wrightsville Beach on Thursday.  If it all works out, and that is a big if, we will end up cutting a whole day out of the trip.

Sometimes all the stars align for you.  Today was definitely one of those days.  What started out as a total bust, became a total win.  The weather forecast still has some high winds and seas, but it should improve over the next few days, so we hope the worst is behind us.

Every trip is a new adventure.