Cape May, New Jersey - Post 3

The Canyon Club Resort Marina, home to large sport-fishing yachts, was located just outside the Cape May Canal, just after the second bridge in the canal. We crossed the second bridge and turned to port towards the marina, but the current had other ideas. In a couple of seconds Rosalind had done a full 180 degree turn as the current had carried her bow all the way around.  So now we had to turn hard to starboard and get some power in the water to prevent the current from sweeping us past the marina entrance. Before long we were in. 

Negotiating our slip was the next challenge. Located on the other side of the fuel dock, we had to get in the marina, turn to starboard, avoid the shoal area, then do a 180 degree turn. It would be a tight turn for a twin-engine powerboat, let alone for a single-engine sailboat without a bow thruster. Folks from the neighboring powerboat came out to watch; we are guessing part entertainment, part concern about us hitting them. But we got in and Rosalind came to rest against the dock ever so gently. The docking was a success. It was time to cool down so we went to get an ice cream at the marina store and checked in. 

Rosalind in Canyon Club Resort Marina, Cape May, NJ

Later that afternoon we used the marina shuttle to get to town and enjoyed walking and seeing the Painted Ladies, the Victorian homes Cape May is famous for. We really liked the town, because, while filled with tourists, it had a clear history and was not all made up and artificial.

Painted Lady, Cape May, New Jersey

Painted Lady, Cape May, New Jersey

The next day was packed with running errands: getting fuel, going grocery shopping, tracking down hardware, deflating the dinghy and storing it on deck, and getting Rosalind ready for her two-day offshore passage to Block Island. While we were getting Rosalind ready, a grandmother with her grandson walked down the dock and came to visit Rosalind. We were the only sailboat on a dock full of sport fishing boats. With wide eyes, the boy asked, "Are you pirates, and is this a pirate ship?"

Rosalind at Canyon Club Resort Marina, Cape May, NJ

We looked at the tides and were ready to leave at first light but there was not enough water in the marina for us to get out so we had to wait until almost high tide. At 10:00 am we were heading out of Cape May Inlet in the company of dolphins! We were heading offshore to Block Island, 220 nautical miles (410 km) away.