Sunday, 8 June
At 0915, roughly four hours after leaving Gardiner’s Basin in Atlantic City, Steadfast still followed a few hundred yards behind the same Catalina 42 that had moored behind her overnight. Both progressing at the same pace, about 5.6 knots, northward along the Jersey Shore. Coincidence? To find out, the call went out on channel 16 and the skipper of Gertie responded.
“We’re headed to Atlantic Highlands. That’s our home port.”
That also was where the crew of Steadfast hoped to be this evening, sometime before dark. The Highlands lying some 80 miles from the Atlantic City inlet, this seemed a somewhat ambitious undertaking. But the radiant dawn boded well, as did light so’westerly slipping over a two-foot southeast swell.
The glass monolith of the Revel Casino is brilliant in the light of the rising sun.
The 30-mile mark was passed at 1043 just east of Barnegat Inlet. Steadfast came left to a heading of 028 magnetic and stayed pretty much on that the rest of the way. By 1230, the wind backed to the so’east and built enough to coax out the 135 Genny, then the main. Gertie unfurled likewise and both boats picked up a knot or more.
With all sail set, the Catalina 42 Gertie leads the way up the Jersey Shore to Sandy Hook.
The GPS topped out at 7.2 with most readings in the upper 6s. Manasquan Inlet went by at 1415, more than an hour ahead of schedule. With Asbury Park abeam, the wind seemed to lay down some so sails were furled for the remainder of the run to Sandy Hook.
Still out front, Gertie showed the way through “False Sandy Hook Channel,” shaving precious minutes off the trip. Then at Green 11, the turn to port yields a dramatic view, undiminished by haze.
Even hidden behind an evening haze, the skyline of Manhattan is unmistakable.
An hour later, at 1900, Steadfast cleared the breakwater at Atlantic Highlands, set the hook and, with an assist from Fred, the crew celebrated. Seventy-nine-point-nine nautical miles, Little Red running for 13 hours, 31 minutes at an average speed-over-ground of 5.9 knots.
Kate’s second straight day on the ocean proved memorable. It was great to have Gertie there for company, one of the few other vessels northbound this long day. And yes, it was a Dark & Stormy night!
After working as hard as she did yesterday, Red welcomed Monday’s rain and drizzle that led to a lay-day to rest up before the sprint through NYC up the East River.
Steadfast out.
At Sea with Steadfast 
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