Crew Wanted: Sailing long island sound to sandy Hook, then cape may, then the icw.

[Atcowboy]

Boat: 1979 cape dory 27
Current crew: 36 year old male skip, two small dogs.
Current location: Three Mile Harbor, Gardner's Marina

The boat is a well founded cape dory in good shape, single cylinder yanmar diesel, two sittee-berths for seaway sleeping and a v birth. The boat has Hank on headsails so head sail changes require deck work. I've equipped the boat with a Hebridean wind vane for self steering. The dogs are super friendly, one is 25lbs and one 40lbs.

I'm working my way West through long island sound and currently harbor hopping, but it's hard to make miles single handed. I would love some company for the trip. Please PM me if you are interested.

Thanks,
- AT

[Atcowboy]

I've decided this isn't my year. Please consider the position no longer open. I do not have the option to delete the message.

[pjShap]

I'm sorry to hear you've reached the end of the year. I understand completely. I had hoped to sail from the Chesapeake to the Bahamas this year, but decided I didn't want to spend the whole winter alone. I'll do my last sailing the next couple of weeks in the Chesapeake. Maybe we'll be lucky and the situation will improve next year. Best wishes to you. Where are you wintering the boat?

[JimsCAL]

Decided not to make the trip?

Love the dog pic. They look happy!

[thruska]

I made that trip down Connecticut river , Long Island sound, hell gate, Atlantic highlands,, around sandy hook to mannesquan, ended trip in Southport nc .
Experienced snowballs and ice on deck !
Two big poodles as crew!
Sorry you have to stop .
Are you sure ?

[Atcowboy]

Originally Posted by thruska

I made that trip down Connecticut river , Long Island sound, hell gate, Atlantic highlands,, around sandy hook to mannesquan, ended trip in Southport nc .
Experienced snowballs and ice on deck !
Two big poodles as crew!
Sorry you have to stop .
Are you sure ?

Did you Marina every night with the dogs, or anchor and dink? Or were your pups good enough to go on deck?

- AT

[Atcowboy]

Originally Posted by pjShap

I'm sorry to hear you've reached the end of the year. I understand completely. I had hoped to sail from the Chesapeake to the Bahamas this year, but decided I didn't want to spend the whole winter alone. I'll do my last sailing the next couple of weeks in the Chesapeake. Maybe we'll be lucky and the situation will improve next year. Best wishes to you. Where are you wintering the boat?

Looks like the home Marina, Swansea. Not there yet. Still wrestling with myself about it.

[Atcowboy]

Originally Posted by pjShap

I'm sorry to hear you've reached the end of the year. I understand completely. I had hoped to sail from the Chesapeake to the Bahamas this year, but decided I didn't want to spend the whole winter alone. I'll do my last sailing the next couple of weeks in the Chesapeake. Maybe we'll be lucky and the situation will improve next year. Best wishes to you. Where are you wintering the boat?

Looks like the home Marina, Swansea. Not there yet. Still wrestling with myself about it.

-AT

[thruska]

I wrote a lengthy reply but it didn’t postreply

[thruska]

Maybe a moderater can find it ???

[thruska]

Anyway at 63 years young it was an adventure of a lifetime lol. Im now 69 on 11/15.
Boat is on the hard in our yard in Mobile Alabama
Sally blew the cover off but thats about it other than a bit of water intrusion. Its a boat lol.
On that trip we spent Christmas n New Years in Oriental nc. Collected lots of free pecans.

[Chotu]

I can appreciate this. Singlehanding is a lonely business and it screws with your mind. Lots of FOMO.

But you’ve also been isolated out there and in awful weather. If you have a reliable motor, head down Long Island sound on some of the calm days. Don’t worry about “conquering the sea” through sailing alone or whatever other BS you read on here. It’s more important to have a good experience. If you just motor on some nice, calm days in the sound, you’ll soon be in the ICW and back in civilization.

Where you have been is no mans land in the off season. The liveliness and hustle and bustle of NYC, all the stuff along the ICW. Tinder or whatever in the different POPULATED harbors. And for gods sake getting down where you don’t need to be in a snowsuit.

That will help morale a LOT.

Don’t be dead set on the destination. Just be set on the warmer weather and having a fun trip. Just getting to Florida is something. Even just St Augustine, it Georgia or the Carolinas.

Once it feels good outside, you’re warm and you have people around, things will change.

[Chotu]

Also, the Long Island sound and ICW are nice, comfortable rides compared to everything you experienced leaving from Swansea and getting to where you are.

You just did the most uncomfortable seas in the whole trip.