At Sandy Hook, you can really feel the boating lifestyle.

Saturday, September 5

Departure at 9:30 AM, heading for Sandy Hook. Patrick and Maryline, from Sailing Far & Away, left around 9 AM. We don’t yet know what their destination will be: Coney Island, Sandy Hook, or Cape May!

We leave the harbor. There are a lot of cargo ships, not too many ferries, and traffic is good. Nothing to panic about; it’s much easier than I thought.

We even set the sails. It’s pretty dead, so we turn the engine back on and do a bit of motor sailing. Not too long in the end; our engine was on for about 50 minutes total.

When the wind is light, I’m at the helm. Jonathan likes it fast, so we get along well! Even though our course isn’t exactly in that direction because of the wind, we sail along the coast of Coney Island. It’s different to see the park from the sea and Jonathan wants to take photos. He even takes the first photo of the Atlantic from Éolo!

The wind picks up. Jonathan takes the helm for a while, then I take over again until we anchor in Sandy Hook Bay, at Horseshoe Cove.

We originally wanted to go to the marina and anchor close to the moorings, but the beach calls to me. Two sailboats and several small motorboats are already there.

On the way to the anchorage, still under sail, we see our first dolphins! They head out to sea and we see them surface several times.

We drop anchor around 2:30 PM. The bay is very busy with motorboats and there is a noticeable swell from the traffic.

We board the dinghy toward the bay beach so that Miela can relieve herself and also to go see the ocean-side beach, less than a 15-minute walk away!

The beach is beautiful, but as expected, dogs aren’t allowed there before September 15. We take turns dipping our feet. What a joy!

We head back. We find a slightly more open spot, a bit closer, and cross toward the bay. You have to be careful—there are ticks in those grasses.

Arriving at the beach, I realize I’ve lost my cellphone. We try to locate it, but it doesn’t work. I retrace my steps with Jonathan’s phone to make mine ring. I finally find it on the other side of the street, just before we crossed.

I’m relieved!

We get back in the dinghy to return to Éolo. While I secure the dinghy, I hear a strange noise that I don’t identify at first. Then I hear Jonathan say, “Dolphins!”

It was the sound of their blow that I heard. They were really close! There were many of them, two or three groups, and we watched them swim for quite a while.

The bay gradually empties of its motorboats. They’re mostly small boats that came to enjoy the water and the sun for swimming. But slowly, more sailboats join us. There’s even one very far away…

We finally realize it’s aground. It called TowBoatUS, which tries for about 45 minutes to get it out of its awkward position. But it’s a big, heavy sailboat, and the tide is at its lowest. They end up leaving it there. It will be easier with the incoming tide.

We make ourselves a nice dinner: curry and lemon chicken with a good risotto, accompanied by a Beringer.

A little later, we notice that the stranded sailboat finally managed to get off its sandbank.

Sunday, September 6

We get up early, hoping to see the dolphins. We think we can predict their habits now that we’ve seen them twice!

The grounded sailboat has joined us. There are now nine of us at anchor and we are the only Canadians.

Today is a work day on our Éolo blog. After all, it’s been 22 days since we left and we haven’t kept you very informed about our movements.

We’re neglecting you! You might think you’re bothering us when you write to us, but it’s quite the opposite. We love sharing with you. That’s why we do this blog: for our memories and for you!

No dolphins today!

Several boats are in the bay. Some depart, some arrive.

Monday, September 7

A huge yacht and a really beautiful boat drop anchor near us! The bay is very busy. It’s also Labor Day in the United States.