Homebound – The Final Leg

May 21, 2007 through May 25, 2007

After waiting a grand total of 10 days in Cape May for the wind and seas to settle down, we finally got a good weather window on Monday, May 21st for an overnight sail up the New Jersey coast through New York Harbor, the East River, and into Long Island Sound. We left Cape May at 2:45 p.m. with NW winds around 15 kts. and gusting to 20, but expected to turn SE around 10 kts. after midnight. We had an easy overnight run up the coast with calm seas and very little commercial traffic in our path. During the night while about four miles offshore we were surprised to hear loons calling out to us. We accepted this as a good luck sign for safe travel back home.

The following day and 180 nautical miles later, we arrived at Manhasset Harbor in Port Washington, NY shortly before 2:00 p.m. I would have to say that Jupiter and Tula were very excited to make landfall after keeping their paws crossed for 24 hours. Needless to say, it was a very quick dinghy launch to get them ashore. Much relieved, we all returned to the boat for some nourishment and much-needed rest.

Wednesday morning, after a few maintenance tasks, we departed Port Washington at 8:30 a.m. for a short 35-mile run up to Port Jefferson, NY. We arrived at 1:45 p.m. and took a mooring for the night. The next morning we awoke at 3:30 a.m. to prepare for the final 100 nautical mile trip back home to Bristol. We got underway at 5:00 a.m. and had a nice downwind sail most of the day. Around 1:00 p.m. we rounded the point at Watch Hill and arrived in Rhode Island waters. Although we were exhausted from our travels, we were both thrilled to be sailing up the West Passage, past Dutch Harbor, under the Jamestown Bridge, around Prudence Island, and up the East Passage to Bristol Harbor. It was a sight to behold.

Safe and sound, we arrived at our new downtown mooring at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 24th. Since it was getting late and we were worn out after a long day on the water, we decided to spend our final night onboard the boat. Early Friday morning we gathered up a few of our belongings and headed for the house. We were so grateful to find our home and property in perfect condition under the attentive care of our dear friend Dan Dougherty. He’s simply the best!

It is now almost a week since our return and we are finally getting our land legs back. The next few weeks will be filled with reunions of both family and friends. Although it was an incredible trip filled with many memorable events, people, and places, we’re happy to be back home in beautiful Bristol!