M/V Sunshine Launch and First Weekend Cruise Reports!

Friday, July 11, 2014 - SPLASH!

SUNSHINE is floating! I had every intention of photographing the launch but when we reached the ramp, several squadrons of green head flies began a coordinated arial assault. Thousands made it through our meager defenses. Between our launching tasks and swatting flies, there was no time to take pictures. Once in the water, the Evinrude E-Tec started right up. By the time we reached Little Egg Harbor Bay (a couple of minutes) there were hundreds of dead green heads littering the sole. We motored about for a bit before heading to our slip.

Sunset during our first weekend cruise aboard the newly renamed M/V Sunshine.

We’ve been experiencing very low tides for the past few days. At dead low, there are only a few inches of water in our slip. We arrived at our slip in the West Creek Town Dock at 1400 hours. Dead low tide is 1630 hours.We made it into the slip, but the bow was in the mud and we were about six feet from the bulkhead. We tied up and got off. There were only a few green head flies around, nothing like Parkertown! 

Josh and Rose seemed to enjoy the boat ride. The highlight for them was getting splashed on occasion. 

After the children went home, we gathered our supplies while waiting for the water to come back. Dead low was at 1630 hours. At 1930 hours we returned to M/V SUNSHINE to set out on a weekend cruise. The forecast predicted daytime temps in the low 80s with nighttime temps from 60 to 65 degrees F.  Winds were forecast to be light all weekend.

We motored out Westecunk Creek in near calm conditions. The first order of business was to find a fuel dock, but we were closing in on 2000  hours and most of the fuel docks we know would be closed. Many LBI marinas had severe damage from Superstorm Sandy and while many have rebuilt, quite a few no longer pump fuel. We decided to look for fuel in the morning. On this night, we enjoyed a twilight cruise on Little Egg Harbor Bay. Having no idea what Sandy did to the bottom, we stayed in the marked channel to Beach Haven. The hook was dropped in 4 1/2 feet of water on the leeward side of Mordecai Island.  

Such was the start of our first cruise aboard M/V SUNSHINE.

Saturday, July 12, 2014 - Our Return to Barnegat Bay!

Calm anchorage - Mordecai Is.

I consider Barnegat Bay to be my home waters. It is the bay on which I learned to sail.  As we made our way up the NJICW, passing the towns of Long Beach Island on our starboard side, we  noticed that most of the homes seem to have recovered from the hurricane. 

We passed under Route 72 between LBI and Cedar Bonet Island. The fixed bridge ledger board showed sixteen and 1/2 feet of clearance. We passed under with ease. We left the channel to fuel up at the Surf City Marina, where we took on 17 gallons of fuel. We remembered to put fuel stabilizer in the tank, something we don't have to do in Florida because most of the marinas sell gas that does not have alcohol in it. Not true in NJ.

Passing from Manahawkin Bay to Barnegat Bay, most boats stick to the channel. 

The big motor boats proceed with impunity, giving no courtesy to smaller craft. We were rocked several times. Our experiences on the ICW are totally different. Most vessels make radio contact and offer a slow pass. Not in NJ!

The flags mark the location of the Hot Dog Boat
at Tice's Shoal

By early afternoon, we had the anchor down in Tice's Shoal, a very  popular daytime anchorage.even though the anchorage is exposed to all but east wind, hundreds of boats of all shapes and sizes show up here, with their inflatable toys for a fun day on the water. There are always interesting things to see with lots of entertainment. Today was no exception. A most pleasant afternoon was spent aboard. By early evening, the wind had clocked to the southeast and we were no longer in the lee of the island. By dinner time, the wind strengthened as it continued to clock southwest. The anchorage was getting lumpy so we raised the anchor and set a course for a small cove on the other side of the bay. 

About an hour later, the anchor was down and dinner was on the grill. As we enjoyed our meal, a passerby recognized the boat's design and commented favorably on it's "classic lines." That's funny because someone   at the Tice's Shoal anchorage waded up to us to tell us he and his friends had been admiring our boat. These folks were not familiar with Nimble or Ted Brewer. We certainly stood out in a sea of white plastic vessels.   

Our neighbors at Tice's Shoal

Dinner preparation underway.

Anchorage mate at Berkley Island Park

Sunset from the Anchorage at Berkley Island.

Moonrise at Berkley Island.

Sunday, July 13, 2014 - The Trip Home!

At about 0200 hours, the wind, which had built to about 18 knots, finally subsided. It wasn't completely calm, but our "hunting" slowed considerably. The protected anchorage off Berkley Island County Park was relatively calm. The forecast for today has changed considerably since Friday evening. We're expecting scattered afternoon thunder showers and SSW wind in the 15 - 17 knot range with gusts to 20. We'll be underway at 0600 to take advantage of the predicted lighter winds. We expect the trip back to West Creek will take 4 hours. 

So we retrieved the anchor at 0455 and were underway at 0500. As we rounded the point, we were greeted by south wind blowing at 8 to 12 knots. We plowed into the one foot chop with speeds approaching 7 mph. The morning was cool, so we motored into the wind with the hatch boards in and the window door closed. 

Our progress was so good that we made it home in only three hours. We tied up, off loaded our gear and left M/V SUNSHINE at peace in her slip until the next time!

All systems on the boat performed flawlessly (after I repaired a short in the GPS antenna cable).

Returning home to Westecunk Creek.