Halcyon Days - The Circle Completed!

The leg from Cape May back to Annapolis was an interesting one - Up the narrow shipping channel of the Delaware River at night, with channel lights that weren't on the charts and nuns that were on the charts, but no where to be seen; then across the C&D and meeting a huge car carrier coming around the bend at 0200; then down the familiar Chesapeake Bay, complete with a final perfect close reach home.What a great trip!Well organized by the World Cruising Club and Andy, Mia and Isabelle; very competent crew that knew their sailing and safety, who all pitched in and did what was needed and who were fun to be around; and provisioning that was unbelievable - we ate like kings and the only hard part was deciding what wonderful dish to have for dinner - "tonight let's have Asian Pork with. read more...

Halcyon Days - Where was the wind?

We had a smooth voyage from Portsmouth to Cape May - departing at 0600 Wednesday and arriving in Cape May at 0800 on Thursday.There was a gently rolling sea on our starboard stern quarter and light westerly winds the entire trip...just not enough wind to sail once we turned the corner to head north, so we motored all but a few hours.Now we are tucked into Cape May for the day - some sightseeing for the crew that hasn't visited yet, relaxing for some...some sleep for all....then ready for the home stretch tomorrow/Saturday.The crew, Peter, Gary and Jim S, are all very experienced blue water sailors.Gary has done the DelMarVa twice before with other groups - and in both directions!He regularly sails with his NJ sailing club.Peter has a large number of passages to all sorts of destinations. read more...

Halcyon Days - Delayed a Day

Weather forecasts kept us in Portsmouth an extra night, but we have a 36 hour window for a 32 hour sail and will leave the slip at 0600 today, bound for the Atlantic to make our way up to Cape May, along with 22 other boats in the Rally.  The crew is doing well...three blue-water experienced sailors and an bay-sailing skipper looking to get blue water legs, are now a working team, despite never meeting each other before - helped by good food (provisioned by Marcia) and a good boat. More about the team later.  Jim. read more...

Halcyon Days - One leg under our belts...

After a slow start at 10:00, with light winds and some sail changes, Halcyon Days and her crew motored for several hours through the evening, then sailed like a dream through the night when the westerly winds picked up.With the only sounds the winds and the hull pushing through the water, we had a fast and relaxing, first-ever, night sail to Portsmouth, arriving at 10:00 the following morning.image1.. read more...