Ocean Run to Cape May, New Jersey

Hampton to Cape May, New Jersey – 150 nautical miles sailed

As we spent the day on the ocean, practically alone on the water, in pristine conditions, it was hard to believe we'd be in Cape May by the following morning. Cape May was the first offshore ocean destination of our journey, which we reached in October of last year and it was such a thrill. Graduating from the protected waters of the Erie Canal and the Hudson River to the Atlantic Ocean was a major transition and the moment we arrived in Cape May felt like we were truly on our way, and the dream of reaching the Bahamas in SeaLight was possible, maybe even probable. We had fully partnered up with Ben and Kate in SV Waddington by that point and were buddy boating our way south in the comfort of having friends nearby.

I remember the discussions Ana and I were just starting to have in Cape May, and which would intensify as the days and weeks went by. These conversations were about the journey thus far. It had been great – no doubt about it – but we had a better understanding of the work involved, the distances, the slow progress, the challenges, and wondered what lunatic would ever consider making this punishing trip every year. There were cold mornings, difficult ocean passages, boat issues, navigational challenges, close calls, and so much decision making under intense situations. The trip was turning out to be more difficult than we had anticipated. Not bad, not unenjoyable, just a little harder. Our thoughts were tending towards this being a “one and done” sailing adventure.

Then…we reached the Bahamas. All those months of traveling and challenges and difficulties melted away as we found ourselves floating in quiet anchorages, catching lobster and conch, snorkelling with incredible sea life in impossibly clear water, making new friends around mystical beach campfires, exploring small villages, hiking through peaceful island trails, popping corks in SeaLight’s cockpit as the hot sun slowly sank into the endless ocean horizon.

The difficulties of the long journey were forgotten.

And then, at the south end of Long Island, as Ana and I held hands and walked the powdery sands in front of Gordon’s Beach Bar, we realized we had gone as far south as we would go and the next day would be the first of the turnaround and long journey home. Of course, we still had plenty left to explore in Bahamas, and we did, but when we left Treasure Cay, Abaco for the 230 mile run back to the US, that truly felt like the start of the return trip. And we wondered if it was true, what other cruisers had told us, that the spring journey north was much faster than the autumn journey south.

They were right.

We will return to Cape May tomorrow and the miles since Treasure Cay have gone rapidly and painlessly (mostly). I don't know why it has felt like this; maybe the increased hours of daylight, maybe it's the anticipation of summer in Canada, maybe it's because we know the route and what to expect, maybe it's because we've stopped less to explore, maybe it's because the constant winds have enabled us to sail more frequently, maybe it's because we've done more overnight ocean runs. I really don't know. We’ve had fun along the way, experiencing new places and new routes, and it hasn't often felt like a slog. It has certainly gotten colder, but the weather is warming up, and soon we’ll be putting on sunscreen again. We now understand how people can do this trip every year, despite the distance, cost, and time required. The journey is the destination and the destination is remarkable.

It's worth it.