This is the fourth time we’ve sailed the Delaware Bay and I can say definitively that I don’t need to do this again. Yes, it’s quiet and peaceful, but it’s also buggy and boring.
We’re always surprised when we’re well offshore or at least out of sight of land and suddenly get beset with all manner of flying things, mostly biting flies. Today’s variety are what my mom used to call sand flies, little yellow numbers that swarm around my head and bite my ankles. Jack is on the warpath with the fly swatter but it doesn’t seem to do any good. Reinforcements keep the numbers up and we’re fighting a losing battle.
Also a losing battle is our progress up the bay. The current wasn’t going to be with us until mid-afternoon but we didn’t want to wait that long so we’ve been motorsailing against 1.5 knots of current which should turn in our favor soon.
The only ships we’ve seen so far in the Bay have been anchored. I don’t know whether that says something about the economy or about the undesirable buggy-ness of the area but the only dodging we have to do is around the many shoals.
The “little yellow numbers” are surprising when you are well offshore! How do they get there with their tiny little wings?? Makes me think of my battles with Maine’s black flies, talk about nasty little buggers! Don’t get them in Camden, but go inland .5 miles and they zoom in for the kill!!
Hmmmm, anchored ships in the Bay ~ economy sounds right! Guess I’m in my pessimistic mood.
Have fun dodging the shoals…..
We had a lively trip up the Delaware with lots of boats, barges, ships and LOTS of flys!! Where do they come from?? We had to duct tape the fly swatter back together.