Cape Canaveral, Florida to Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey

In just over five days, we traveled 900 nautical miles, doing an average of 180 nautical miles a day, from Cape Canaveral, Florida to Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. We typically saw 12 to 20 knots of wind. The boat speed averaged 6 to 7 knots and we had up to 5 knots of current. Although we ran directly downwind or sailed into weather at some points, we were mostly reaching. We traveled from 28 degrees of latitude to 40 degrees of latitude, and dropped 10 to 15 degrees Celsius in temperature.

Four knots of current due to the gulf stream

On Thursday, May 25th, we left Ocean Club Marina in Cape Canaveral, Florida by 1:30 pm. I tidied the saloon and cabin while Justin and Uncle Mike took the boat out of the marina. We motored out to sea. We tried to sail, but the wind died. So, we motored until 5:00 pm. During the afternoon, we all sampled three different chocolate cheesecakes. I made spaghetti for dinner. Uncle Mike made strawberry shortcake for dessert. Justin and Uncle Mike played crib. I read and went to bed early. We maintained our shift schedule: I did from 12 am/pm to 4 am/pm; Justin, 4 am/pm to 8 am/pm; and Uncle Mike, 8 am/pm to 12 pm/am. The wind was blowing at 15 to 20 knots, and the boat was cruising at 7 to 8 knots. In addition, we had 4 to 5 knots of current. We did over 200 nautical miles in the first 24 hours of sailing.

Rocket launch pads in the distance as we leave Cape Canaveral

Uncle Mike and Justin enjoying the homemade strawberry shortcake

The next morning, I woke up to find Uncle Mike reading the boat manuals (on the feathering propeller and the water maker) for some light reading material. The boat was moving at 4 to 6 knots on a square reach, and we had an additional 2 knots of current. During the day, I wrote my MC speech for my cousin's wedding, and I got in a Pure Barre workout. Uncle Mike started reading a Robert Ludlum book. Justin played strategy games from his childhood on an emulator and took a nap. We had tacos for dinner, and Uncle Mike made strawberry shortcake again upon unanimous requests. We again did more than 200 nautical miles over 24 hours.

Good morning!

Uncle Mike ready on a lazy afternoon

Justin catching up on sleep

On May 27th, Justin and Uncle Mike sewed the main sail where the stitching had come undone because it had been rubbing on the spreaders. I sorted pictures for the blog. Justin updated his boat log. Uncle Mike finished reading his book. We were on a broad reach with 8 knots (at beginning of the day) to 20 knots (towards the end of the day) of wind. The boat was doing 4 to 7 knots, with up to 1 knot of current going with the boat. We were making very good progress. At 6:00 pm, the wind had shifted such that the boat was on a square run. So, Justin took the main sail down and put the jib on the spiniker pole. The batteries ran low early in the night, and Uncle Mike had to hand steer for the majority of his shift. To charge the batteries, we ran the motor for the entirety of my shift. I got in a Ballet Physique workout on my night shift.

Uncle Mike and Justin mending the main sail

Justin sewing the main sail where the stitching had come undone

Atlantic sunset

The following morning, we were going to shut down the motor at the beginning of Justin's shift, but the throttle controller ceased. So from 4:30 am until 12:00 pm, Justin and Uncle Mike were fixing the throttle controller. I made everyone french toast for lunch. We played card games (Iota and Game of Thrones) during the afternoon. We had 12 to 20 knots of wind. The boat was traveling at 5 to 6 knots. Also, there was an additional 2 to 4 knots of current. We started having lightning and thunder around 5:00 pm, and it carried on until 3:00 am. We ran the motor from 8:00 pm until 11:00 pm, when the wind temporarily died. Afterwards, the winds came right back up to 12 knots, and we did 4 to 6 knots on a square reach. I did pilates and watch episodes of Bones on my night shift. Justin and I wore sweaters on night shift, and we all slept in either blankets or sleeping bags (the first time since our rough open water passage to Jamaica).

Justin and Uncle Mike fixing the throttle controller

We had fog all morning on May 29th, and we discovered that the radar wasn't working (probably because of a loose connection). We wore sweaters or jackets during the day. I pulled out my whool socks. We played Rummy, chatted, and listened to Uncle Mike's music. During the day, the wind was blowing at 10 to 20 knots. We cruised along at 4 to 7 knots. The wind swung 270 degrees over the day and we started going into the weather at 1:00 pm. Justin took a nap. I made hamburgers for dinner; we had chocolate cheesecake for dessert. The wind died and we motored at 5 knots between 12:00 am and 5:00 am.

Low visibility due to morning fog

All of us enjoying a game of Rummy

The following morning, Uncle Mike made us scrambled eggs for breakfast. We cruised all day on a broad reach at 6 to 7 knots with up to an additional knot of current. We played crib and cards (crazy eights). Although the temperature only dropped down to 18 degrees Celsius, we minded the cold, partially due to the dampness and windchill from the water and partially due to lack of acclimatization. Justin and I had to wear jackets and hats throughout the day. Justin made basil pesto and chicken pasta for dinner. Uncle Mike booked his flight home to Nova Scotia for the next day. We turned on the motor at 7:00 pm for traversing the Sandy Hook Channel. Justin made hot chocolate to warm us up. Justin got the radar working by jiggling the wires. We anchored at 9:30 pm in Sandy Hook Bay by Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, just outside of the the southern channel to New York.