It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

Cohansey River, NJ N 39 21.236 W 72 21.621

Tuesday, July 4, 2006

Monday night, just after I posted my blog, the fireworks started. We were treated to multiple simultaneous fireworks shows, two major ones and three or more smaller shows. Spicing up the action was a thunderstorm somewhere down near Baltimore. The lightning from the storm complemented the fireworks. Libby said she never had stereophonic fireworks before.

We were anchored way out from shore because the Bohemia river is shallow. That meant that we had lots of power boat traffic going past us. Fourth of July is especially hazardous because of all the alcohol. Twice I had to use my searchlight to warn off boats that were in danger of colliding with us.

Tuesday morning we got a good start and reached the C&D canal just in time for the current to assist us. The heat was oppressive in the canal, but as soon as we emerged on the Delaware side we were greeted with a nice breeze. We raised the sails and by 1500 we were across the canal and halfway down the Delaware toward Cape May. We put into the Cohansey River because of warnings on the radio about severe thunderstorms on the way.

The river is hard to anchor in. It was up to 77 feet deep within 75 feet of shore. In addition, there is a 5 foot tide. Anyplace we could find shallow enough to anchor in, left us in danger of swinging onto the river bank and being high and dry when the tide went out. Our guide book said that the horseflies in this place were overwhelming. It was right. By the time I had the anchor set, I was tormented by the flies. They bit and it hurt. Every fly that I killed had a full load of blood in it. Libby went below while I hastily did my chores on deck.

Soon the storms arrived and boy were they intense. There were two storms about an hour apart. The peak gust we measured was 54 knots (60 mph, 100 Km/h) Tarwathie was tossed to and from but the anchor held fine. A few things flopped around on deck because I didn't secure them properly (my job securing stuff was done hastily because of the flies.) The bimini cover blew back and it lifted the boom right off the gallows. Fortunately, nothing was damaged. I'll have to make it standard practice to remove the canvas from the bimini when preparing for heavy winds.

After the last storm, the wind blew us onto the river bank. We hastened to put out a stern anchor to hold us away from the river bank.

Now, as a write this, the winds continue to bluster because of nearby thunderstorms. I won't get much sleep. If Sara had returned with us to go sailing, she would not have enjoyed this night.

Tomorrow, we head for Cape May. The weather forecast calls for evening thunderstorms, hail and more.

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