Atlantic Highlands, NJ

We arrived at Atlantic Highlands September 29^th, and have been here ever since. This has not been by choice but because there have been strong winds and large waves in the ocean that has prevented us from leaving to go out into the Atlantic Ocean and around to Cape May. September 30^th and October 1^st, a tropical depression hit the area with wind gusts as high as 40 knots. We had both our anchors out and could hear the wind howling constantly. We did not have the best nights sleep those two days. We had one nice afternoon on the 2^nd of October but it has been windy (15-20 knots) ever since, and it seems to always increase in the night. Yesterday the wind switched around to the West. A lot of boats left this morning, but we stayed put as the winds are going to increase tonight and tomorrow again. Friday is the day. We have talked to a bunch of other sailboats making the trip and we seem to agree that Friday is the best window (as the winds will be 5-10 knots and seas predicted at 2-4 feet) It is to remain like that for the entire weekend. The plan for Sal and I will be to leave as early as possible Friday morning and see how things go. If we find that the waves are too much to handle, then we will go into the Mannasquan Inlet and along the intercoastal route all the way to Cape May. If things are going well and the weather stays calm, we will make the 24+ hour trip all the way along the outside.

We reprovisioned with food yesterday, and will be filling up with fuel and water today. Tomorrow we will have everything ready to go, deflate the dinghy and prepare our food and all our equipment we might need. Then Friday will be go time.