We are currently motorsailing 40 nm east of Barnaget Inlet, NJ. Finally, the wind backed a bit and we can maintain our course to the turn at cape may (245M).
In the last two hours, an airforce of NJ flies has attacked the boat. Experts suggest that the flies were most likely attracted by the left over bouquet of smells from the race and a few pieces of gear left on board. Whether the experts are right or not, they make sleeping difficult. What are they doing 40 nm offshore? Were they blown out here and now are seeking refuge?
We spent much of yesterday evening dodging t-storms heading offshore from NY. In one, we had driving rain and wind mostly in the upper 20s with gusts into the mid 30s. In several others, only a little rain, but a lot of lightning. They made for a pretty night especially after a really nice moonrise that, at first, was so red, I thought the first speck of light was a red navigation light.
In all this excitement and generally the lumpiness of the conditions yesterday (upwind in 20+ kts), buck and I had a sandwich at lunch yesterday and nothing substantial until a remake of the same sandwich at lunch today. Tom (Sean’s dad) skipped lunch yesterday altogether. It turns out that in pitching this delivery, Sean used words like “pleasure cruise” “nice trip” and “good food” and even suggested that Tom bring some wine. Sean failed to say things like damp, lumpy, cold, then hot, biting flies, and diet cruise.
We are currently around 95 nm from our first turn at cape may.
