Delivery Trip – Home and Haul Out

The last day of this “delivery,” the final 51 nautical miles from Port Jefferson to Shennecossett Yacht Club in Groton. Our spirits were high in spite of the fog and dreariness that faced us at 7:00 am.  

I guess it’s a good thing that there were very few crazy boats out here with us. Autopilot, AIS and radar are our friends today. There were few opportunities for photographs along the way eastward on Long island Sound.

And so it went, uneventfully (which is good on a day like this), for 7.5 hours. By the time we had Avery Point in sight, it was lightly raining and still overcast.

To say we were excited is to put that in mild terms. Our friends, Dean and Mary Jo, were waiting at the little lighthouse to take photos of our return as we passed in front on Ledge Light and then by Pine Island. This is the third time they have done this for us – first time was leaving for the Bahamas on the sailboat, second time was our delivery of the Mariner Orient, and now the third time for the delivery of The Edge. (Check out the banner photo at the top of the blog.)

Let the photographs speak for themselves —

Mary Jo and Dean next raced back to SYC to help us into the slip.

The delivery trip from Kilmarnock, Virginia to Groton, Connecticut covered 404 nautical miles, taking 57.5 hours over 78 days (6 days of travel and 1 stop for weather.) That means our average speed was 7 knots, although it ranged from 6 knots to a high of 13 knots through Hells Gate. 😳

Not only did Dean and Mary Jo take photos and help us into the slip, but they brought Prosecco and chocolate for celebration.

We secured the boat in the slip in preparation for a rainy and windy day and went home to REST. As Mary Marie said, (may I quote you?) “Does this mean you are no longer living on the edge?” Good one, Ems! 😄

Saturday was haul-out day. The day may have begun at 38 degrees but it warmed up to 50 with the bright sun and cloudless blue skies.

What an adventure this has been. Twenty-seven years ago, Al bought an abandoned sailboat at auction for $1200. During our 25 years of marriage, he gradually “watsonized” each of the successive four boats that came after that auction boat; and now he has the boat of his dreams, a Kady Krogen 39. Not bad, honey, not bad at all.

I don’t think anyone, not even me, could have predicted how quickly this would happen. Once we knew the Mariner Orient was sold (and would be in good hands), everything fell into place with lightening speed. I think we may very well be the only people to attend a Kady Krogen Rendezvous as “wannabes” and leave as “newbies.”

This adventure would not be a complete story without the biggest, deepest, most heartfelt thanks to four dear friends. Anthony and Annette were there every step of the way, knowing when to be silent and when to cheer for us. Over the 7 days of our delivery journey, they were ready and eager for any phone call or text, and full of encouragement.

Dean and Mary Jo have always been there to welcome us home with open arms and Prosecco, when we return from months of cruising and when we return with a new boat. The photos they take are wonderful, but their friendship and smiling faces are even better.