This morning in Cape May was glorious! After helping other Loopers untie shortly dawn to head north, we left Utch’s Marina around 0815, wound our way through the Cape May Canal, passed the Coast Guard station, and headed east out of the Cape May inlet into the Atlantic Ocean. We had not boated in the Atlantic since Key West. Offshore boating the first time can be intimidating, but with good planning it is very doable.
Donovan’s Shady Harbor Marina, north of New York City on the Hudson River, hosts an annual Pig Roast to celebrate the start of the Erie Canal season. Recently we have spoken with many Loopers whose schedules over the next days are designed to get them to Donovan’s on time.
Today we traveled with other Looper boats, including our friends Jim and Marilyn on Spinning Dreams. We convoyed offshore from Cape May to Atlantic City with Spinning Dreams and Blue Sky, and saw other Looper boats ahead of and behind us.
After an easy 4.5 hours at 10 mph we arrived at the large and busy Farley State Marina, located – of course – behind a casino hotel.
We and Spinning Dreams checked out one of the marina restaurants this evening.
Our plan is to do a long (90+ miles) day to Staten Island tomorrow to get through this Atlantic Ocean stretch while the weather holds.
