Champlain Canal Update

 Champlain Canal 

Lock C-1 (Waterford) through Lock C-6 (Fort Miller) – Open

Lock C-7 (Fort Edward) to Lock C-9 (Smith’s Basin) – Closed 

Lock C-11 (Comstock) to Lock C-12 (Whitehall) – Open

 

Champlain Canal Scheduled Lockings and Double Draining 

Lock C-1 (Waterford), Lock C-2 (Halfmoon), Lock C-3 (Mechanicville), and Lock C-4 (Stillwater) will pass recreational vessels three times daily.  Lock C-1 will pass northbound traffic and Lock C-4 will pass southbound traffic daily at 8:00 am, 10:00 am, and 2:00 pm. Locks C-2 and C-3 will pass traffic when the vessels arrive from Locks C-1 or C-4. 

Additionally, these locks will operate on a "double draining" procedure.  Each lock will be maintained in full condition and emptied twice during locking operations.  For northbound traffic, the locks will be drained twice before traffic enters the lock chamber.  For southbound traffic, the lock will be emptied and refilled once before the vessels are admitted into the lock for southbound passage.  The second draining will occur with the vessels in the lock.

Vessels will not be permitted to moor overnight at the Lock C-1 (Waterford) and Lock C-4 (Stillwater) approach walls.

NYC

The Champlain and Erie Canal in the Mohawk Valley will be delayed as a direct result of the recent weather-related high-water event that impacted Central and Eastern New York.

Lisa was going to come to Nyack to visit.  Later, we decided it might be more fun for me to come down to the City.

Spent a wonderful week in NYC  

Sailing in Manhattan

Liberty to Nyack

On Tuesday, I departed Liberty South for the 35-mile run to Nyack.

There was very little traffic passing the George Washington Bridge.  

I got to Nyack and anchored at 1630

I visited the town, going to Staples to print forms for Leslie and picking up groceries at Bingo.   It was a 10 km walk back, but an Indian lady gave me a lift back to Nyack.

The next day, I went to the post office at 2:30, but they were closed with no explanation. 

The departure of Winston

Last night, I discovered the holding tank was very full.  I confirmed that the NY Canals were not going to open on May 16 as scheduled due to heavy rains recently.  Some buoys were not out. 

I decided to go get a pump out and do some sailing since there was no point in heading north.  NYC was a nice place to hang out. 

As we approached the fuel dock, I determined we needed fenders.  I asked Winston to put out the fenders and make sure they were tied up.  H pointed to a stern fender and said it was.  I asked him to check the others as well.  He skipped a fender and went further to untie one from the lifeline to attach it to the toe rail.  I told him not to tie to the toe rail since the line would be at a poor angle for the fender.  I retired the fender to the lifeline.  I asked him to attach a bow dock line to the forward cleat that was used for the anchor.  I had laid out the dock line, but he could not see it.  I yelled at him that it was on the deck, and he picked up a fender line.  I got frustrated and abandoned the approach, then reapproached the dock after I figured out which was the dock line.

We were getting a pump out when he told me he wanted to leave.  He said that I was belligerent.  We had a gentlemanly discussion, and he said he could stay if we would try to work together.  I hesitated, and he said that since I was hesitating, I really didn't want him around, which was somewhat true, so he left.  He determined that he could catch the Ferry to Brooklyn, where he had an aunt and then rent a car to drive back to Montreal.

I departed the dock and motored south to go sailing, eventually anchoring at Liberty Island to the south.  A new anchorage for BELLUM.

Cape May to NYC - OVERNIGHT

The winds were strong on Friday morning, and we waited until 12:30 to get fuel at U Marina.  It was low tide, making it challenging to get into the marina.  I had to try twice, after a confirmation from the marina that I could do it.  I hugged the marina bulkhead and made a blind, sharp turn. 

We lingered at the marina and departed at 2:15 p.m. for the long overnight journey to New York City or Atlantic City.  NYC was 120 nm, and Atlantic City was the Plan B if we couldn't do it.  Atlantic City was 35nm.

Once we left the Cape May canal, we put up the jib and then a reefed main and eventually a full main.  

The winds consistently decreased.  We covered 40 miles by 4 a.m. (14 hours) - much of it with Winston when I figured I had to start the engine.  Then, we completed another 80 miles in 15 hours, arriving in NYC at 5:30 p.m.  

Overall, about 35 hours.  Supper was Lamb Chops.

Cheaspeake City to Cape May

We departed Chesapeake City down the C&D Canal, down the Delaware River and Delaware Bay, and Cape May Canal, arriving at 7:30 PM.  A long day.  The current was against us in the first part of the Bay.  The current was with us in Middle Bay and against us before approaching Cape May Canal.

On Friday, we decided to take a tour of Cape May.  

The dinghy ride to the marina was a long one.  Winston asked the marina if they had showers.  They asked if we had a slip. It would have been better to find the showers and see if we could sneak in.

We ended up doing a 16 km walk to the Cape May lighthouse and back, and had supper at the Raw Bar.  We thought we were at the Lobster House.  I was disappointed with the softshell crab sandwich.  Winston was allergic to shellfish and had a grilled chicken sandwich. 

To Chesapeake City

We got off the anchor at Middle River at 9:30 and arrived in Chesapeake City around 3 PM.  An easy run.  

The public dock was possible but tight with the dinghy-tow attached, so we anchored.  Perhaps I was a bit lazy or a little rusty after my break from sailing.

We toured the town, which was uninteresting.