The Month-Long Delivery 72′ Hatteras

WARWICK, RI TO FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
Average Speed: 8knots
Total Miles: 1348NM

Hours Traveled: 156 Hours

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Day 1: WARWICK R.I to PORT WASHINGTON NY

Nov 7: I have never stayed in New England so far after the “summer season” as we did this year. Per the owner, we were given a requirement that we shall not pass into Florida waters before Dec 1.

At first, it was a pleasant change to feel the cool nights and witness the fall leaves changing colors, and we made a point to drive through the Berkshires of MA and the Green Mountains of VT during our free time.

But after two months of 40 degree averages, I was long overdue for the tropics. Finally, I received the O-K to begin our journey South towards FL. (Living onboard, this temperature seems MUCH COLDER as yachts aren’t built with the same insulation as found in houses)… Not to mention the incessant East winds that make for short/impossible travel opportunities.

DAY 2: PORT WASHINGTON NY TO CAPE MAY NJ

Our next travel day was NYC through the East River. I had heard and read of the challenges of transiting the East River, with its 5knot+ currents, Hell Gate, impossible NY ferries and the dangers of being under-powered in a foul current. I planned my transit carefully, and with nervous anticipation, we made way with a breeze! We were rewarded with killer views of the city, and a stunning smooth day at sea. Next Stop, Cape May!

DAY 6: CAPE MAY NJ TO NORFOLK VA

It was in Cape May that we encountered our first (of many) weather delays. We arrived just a few hours short of a 5 day blow. We watched the temperature plummet as forecasters described “historic lows”. Would you believe We even had a bit of snow on deck departing day.

DAY 13: NORFOLK VA TO MIDDLETOWN NC

Virginia was our next stop-over for yet another few-day blow. We stayed for the first time in Norfolk at Waterside Marina, where the Dockmaster had offered us $1.25/ft/day for a week-long stay. The location was walking distance to many restaurants and shopping, and I would certainly add them to my future stop-overs destinations.

Next stop on the list was the ever-famous Coinjock Marina. With exceptional fuel rates, we usually prefer to grab fuel here. This little joint is the kind of place where: when you call ahead for dockage, they also take your dinner order. This time around, we had to dine and dash, and Coinjock happily obliged with a dockside delivery of the goods! Talk about full-service!

At night-fall, we tucked into a small anchorage along the West side of Pamlico sound “middletown Anchorage” where my great friend and mentor John Wampler recommended. John is a 30-Year Yacht Guru and Coast Guard Vet. I trust his advice implicitly.

You can Find Captain John Here: http://www.yachtaide.com/about.html

DAY 14: MIDDLETOWN NC TO BEAUFORT NC

It was in Beaufort that we saw Old Man Winter rear his Ugly Head. For what seemed like an eternity, we held tightly to Beaufort Town Docks, doubling and tripling dock lines; watching, waiting as wind gusts of 30, 40, even 50knot storm cells passed by. In Beaufort they give out these little wood coins that you can cash in at the local pub. We cashed all the coins we’d been saving over the years.. and waited and waited for good weather.

DAY 20: BEAUFORT NC TO WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH NC

DAY 21: WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH TO GEORGETOWN SC

With uncooperative weather, there are instances where you have to pick your battles. Departing Beaufort was one of those instances. Frying Pan Shoals are significant shoals off-shore from Cape Fear which you must travel 40 miles offshore to pass around. We never saw the weather opportunity to get around Frying Pan Shoals… So we took the inside route: Wrightsville Intracoastal Waterway to Georgetown SC… 

We could have shaved even more miles off of this leg by taking a “secret channel” up close to the beach ahead of Jay Bird Shoals, navigated by turning hard starboard at Marker 15 and keeping a close eye on depth sounder. (Courtesy of Captain John Wampler at http://www.yachtaide.com/about.html). But I decided to skip this time and stay the course to Georgetown SC.

DAY 22-23: GEORGETOWN SC TO PONCE, FL

After a fuel stop and rest in Georgetown, we saw the weather opportunity for a 30-hour offshore transit. We had wanted to travel offshore the entire trip, and this was our chance! The weather promised us safe passage, so we set course for St Augustine, FL.

The following morning, we watched the sun peak above the endless horizon, as marvelous as ever an Ocean Sunrise can be. We decided that such luck of calm seas and light winds should be taken full advantage of, and so we pressed on passed St Augustine, instead making Ponce Inlet before dusk that same day. We were rewarded with a mid-morning catch of Mahi-mahi and a treat of “Rock Shrimp” courtesy of Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor. And we had made Florida Waters EXACTLY DEC 1.

DAY 24: PONCE,FL TO COCOA INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY

As our favorable weather came to a halt, we continued our chug south, this time by the inland river “intracoastal waterway”. In this stretch of Florida, the river banks are unspoiled by marinas, boat traffic, and the real estate often found elsewhere on its waters. We saw almost no one, and enjoyed abundant nature in the form of manatees, dolphins, hawks, and overgrown mangroves at every turn. It is places like these when we sit back and watched the world go by.

DAY 25: COCOA TO FORT PIERCE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY

Transiting from Cocoa to Fort Pierce: another day of chugging down the intracoastal. The river gets very narrow in some areas of this leg, and we found ourselves watching our instruments very closely at times. We planned to arrive at Fort Pierce during a slack tide, as this area is renowned for its extreme currents.

DAY 26: FORT PIERCE TO PALM BEACH

In this area of the Florida shoreline, the Gulf Stream is the closest to shore: 15NM or less. This can make for great fishing, and we were excited to get out there! Headed East, once we reached 100ft water depth we made our turn south and began Trolling. Within 30 minutes, we hooked into a Black-fin Tuna. I was after a Wahoo, but they didn’t produce for us. We pulled into Palm Beach docks at dusk with 3 Black-fin Tuna, a Skipjack and False Albacore for the day.

DAY 27: PALM BEACH TO FORT LAUDERDALE

The last day of a delivery is always a somber day for me. I take time to reflect on my journey, and feel gratitude for a successful trip and experiences gained. But as I passed between the rock jetties forming the Port Everglades Inlet, I knew I was headed back to land-life; it would be a while before I spend as much time at sea as our month-long slow-and-steady southbound journey. I would miss her… I would miss the sea.

And the sea, she was calling for my return.

• Warwick, RI to Port Washington NY 135NM 14Hrs
• Port Washington, NY to Cape May, NJ 137NM 9Hrs
• Cape May, NJ to Norfolk, VA 153NM 11Hrs
• Norfolk, VA to Middletown, NC 122NM 16Hrs
• Middletown, NC to Beaufort, NC 78NM 11Hrs
• Beaufort, NC to Wrightsville Beach, NC 73NM 10Hrs
• Wrightsville Beach, NC to Georgetown, SC 120NM 13Hrs
• Georgetown, SC to Ponce, FL 300NM 40Hrs
• Ponce, FL to Cocoa, FL 55NM 10Hrs
• Cocoa, FL to Fort Pierce, FL 65NM 8Hrs
• Fort Pierce, FL to Palm Beach, FL 60 NM 8Hrs
• Palm Beach, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL 50nm 6Hrs