NEW LONDON TO ANNAPOLIS

NEW LONDON, CT TO ANNAPOLIS, MD

SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 3, 2017

We departed Crocker Boat Yard at 0654 hrs on September 30^th for Annapolis, Md.  The purpose of this trip was to have Horton Marine Services install a new SeaFrost DC Refrigeration System.  The original SeaFrost Refrigeration system that had been installed in our Valiant 40 in 1991 was engine driven.  This is a good refrigeration system but requires that the engine be run twice daily for about 45 minutes each time.  Also, it makes it difficult to leave the boat unattended for any length of time.  We used to get around this by packing 40-50- lbs of ice in the freezer and refrigerator.  This would last about 5 days and give us some freedom to leave the boat.  We took this system around the world and it performed well.  At times a line would break and we would lose all the Freon; given the long run of cooper piping, small leaks were inevitable; the system was 26 years old; it’s not good for a diesel engine to idle along for 1-1/2 hrs per day.  This is a good system for day/weekend cruisers but blue water cruisers making extended long distance passages, under sail and not needing the engine, find it cumbersome.  I had wanted to keep the engine driven system as a backup for the DC one but it proved to be impossible.  The holding plates in the engine driven system were too big to accommodate the DC system. 

The decision was made to remove the old engine driven system entirely.  This necessitated removal of all the copper tubing and holding plates.  Given the fact that our freezer/refrigerator space is fairly large, it was decided to have two DC compressors running the system.  If one compressor should fail, the other one could be used to keep things cool until a repair could be made.  Additionally, since I decide to have both compressors installed the Port Locker; the water cooling option was added to the standard air cooling one.  In hot humid tropical conditions both cooling systems could be used simultaneously.  To do this meant that the boat would have to be dry- docked to install a new thru-hull fitting.

Once we got out into Long Island Sound, there was a good NE’ly wind blowing 15-20 kts so we decided to take the inside route through NYC.  This put the wind and seas on our stbd. quarter and was comfortable.  The wind continued to increase to 30 kts in squalls but we were under a reefed jib so all was under control.

Oct 1, 2017.  After a long day of sailing with brisk winds, we decided to put into Port Washington in Manhasset Bay (40-49.692’ N; 73-43.439’ W).  At 0148 we dropped anchor in 15’ water depth with 90’ of chain out.  It was well protected so we had a good night’s sleep.  At 0500 hrs in the morning, we picked up anchor and motored through NYC and out of Ambrose Channel.  We set sail but the wind was going light.  At 2100 hrs, it died completely so we started motoring.  This would continue for the rest of the trip to the Delaware Bay.  At 2020 hrs on October 2^nd, we dropped anchor at Reedy Is. anchorage (39-32.768’ N; 075-33.127’) in30’ water depth with 150’ chain out; the current was running hard.

October 3, 2017.  We heaved up anchor at 0730 hrs and entered the C&D Canal westbound; we exited the Canal at 1045 hrs.  It’s 65 nm from the western end of the C&D Canal to Annapolis.  We were able to motor sail on some of this trip.  Going through the Canal is delightful and quite beautiful.  Actually, the upper Chesapeake Bay is very beautiful.  We dropped anchor in Back Creek, Annapolis (38-57.732’ N; 076-28.925’ W) at 1830 hrs.  This position is just off Bert Jabins Boat Yard where we were going to have the DC Refrigeration installed.

The Annapolis Boat Show was scheduled to begin on Oct 5-10 so we knew that no work would begin until after the show.  Also, some of custom holding plates for the new system had to shipped from SeaFrost in New Hampshire.  Installation didn’t begin until October 25^th and finished on October 30^th.  Nathan Horton is the son of Cleave Horton who is the owner of SeaFrost.  He does excellent work; that is why we had stopped in Annapolis on our way North to have him take all the measurements and waited specifically for him to do the job. 

Ideally, one should be thinking of departing Annapolis after the Boat Show and start heading south.  We were a little late and the frontal systems were starting to be felt.  We wanted to take the outside route around Cape Hatteras but it was weather dependent.  As it turned out, we would have to take the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway) from Norfolk, VA to Southport, NC.; that’s a lot of motoring and helming.  It requires constant vigilance as there are shallow spots and obstructions along the way; still it’s a good alternative to the stormy waters off Cape Hatteras.