Cape May, NJ To Annapolis, MD

October 17, Sunday:
After 3 lay days in Cape may due to the high NW winds we were able to get underway. Last night we had a coctail party aboard the Ziraffe, Lisa and Danielle from Canada hosted a great BYOB party on the same floating dock we were on good fun with new friends.
Winds were down to 15-20 NW and we gave it a go. Heavy slogging up Delaware Bay with reefed main and jib. We were able to stay on the same tack all the way up the bay. Winds slowly dropped from 20 to 15 and by the time we entered the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal at dusk it was down to 10. We continued on in the dark thru the canal which is well lit on both sides. I got quite a shock when around the bend 200 yards ahead of us appeared a ship about the size of the empire stated building. No kidding this car carrier had a weather deck about 10 stories high. We edged over as far to the right as we dared in the dark and it seemed like we could reach out and touch the ship as it passed. It was the Bosporous Highway a monster of vessel. We overnighted at Chesapeake City 2/3 of the way thru.
Early the next am we set off for Annapolis in calm winds, sunny and cool but warming weather. Motored all the way getting in at 4pm. Docked at Eastport YC. Very friendly folks. The bartender Juanita, knew Tom Rock, Gary Franke and John MacGonnagle from duck hunitng on the eastern shore near her home town. Eastport YC races J80's like our own WYC and have been to Winnipesaukee as have our guys come down and raced here in Annapolis. They remembered Ed Philpot, Kevin Hayes and a bunch of others, small world. Stayed at cousin Bob's in Edgewater had a nice meal while watching the Yankees and Rangers on TV.