The Captain's Logs are below.

Read the Crew's Views.

Back to Captain Logs 2001

We are ahead of schedule having arrived here near the mouth of New York harbor (our next destination) at 0615 hours this morning. After a morning of rest while the off-watch cleaned up the ship, all hands are now turned-to on ship maintenance.

The motor down the Delaware River and Bay Friday was uneventful even though it was more against the current rather than with it because of our delayed departure from Philadelphia. There was virtually no wind and, in fact, a bit of dense fog at the entrance to the Bay. Motoring in flat water meant easy piloting through the dark and fog with radar plots confirming GPS waypoint navigation.

Saturday brought a change to the weather by giving us westerly wind instead of the southeasterlies predicted by the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Considering the stalled front in our area, I am not surprised that the local forecast was wrong. At least the wind came at the strength predicted, if not the direction. By midday Pride II was sailing off Wildwood, New Jersey, under full sail and light winds that eventually backed to southwest, as finally accurately described in a modified weather report. It is always more pleasant aboard when the engines are off.

I purposefully navigated the ship well off shore in anticipation of the easterly winds the NOAA weather reports promised for early today. When they arrived, somewhat suddenly at 0145 hours and with some force, we were well positioned to withstand the strength of the wind that ranged from the predicted 10-15 knots rising to an eventual 30 knots. It kept the crew busy during the wee hours of the morning reducing sail. And wasn't it a cold wind! Soon, too, the sea was up and some of the newer crew got seasick. But before too long, Pride II rounded the north end of Sandy Hook and sailed into its lee and smooth sea. Once anchored and the last of the sail struck, all but the on-watch went to sleep draping their wet cloths and boots as best they could to let them dry.

Tomorrow we have an early wake up at 0600 when we will immediately haul back the hook and sail away towards the Narrows between Staten Island and Long Island and into New York harbor. Then we prep the ship for a dockside reception with the Maryland Port Administration. It will be held at Liberty Landing Marina located near the famous immigration point, Ellis Island, which is next to the unmistakable symbol of New York, the Statue of Liberty.

Cheers

Captain Jan C. Miles