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Bill[_12_] Bill[_12_] is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Jan 2017
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Default 113 nautical miles in dense fog

Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 6/1/2018 7:25 AM, John H. wrote:
On Thu, 31 May 2018 21:58:10 -0400, Wayne.B wrote:

We left Cape May, New Jersey this morning in fog so dense we couldn't
see either breakwater on the way out of the inlet, couldn't have done
it without RADAR. The expectation was that the fog would lift by
mid-morning and we'd have clear sailing up the Jersey coast into the
NYC area. It didn't happen. If anything the fog got worse as the day
went on and we never saw anything for the entire 113 nautical miles
until anchoring in Atlantic Highlands late in the evening. It was
instrument flying all the way on RADAR, GPS chart plotter, compass and
AIS for the entire trip. There's a nice sense of accomplishment in
doing that but it's also very stressful and hardly a pleasant day on
the water. We'd have waited for clear weather but there's a 3 day
nor'easter in the forecast and we have family obligations in NY next
week.

More dots for 'Airree:

http://tinyurl.com/waynebspottrack


Scary even thinking about it. I'd have probably turned right back
around. Glad all went well.



I don't mind fog that reduces visibility to about 25-30 yards or so but
when it's so thick that you can barely see the handrails on the
bow pulpit where the anchor sits it gets hairy especially in congested
areas in a harbor. That's what it was like when we left Montauk harbor.




We have lots of fog here at certain times of the year. What scares me is
idiots going fast in the fog. Years ago, we were navigating down the
Sacramento River Delta via compass and going from Marker Light to Marker
Light, days before GPS, and here bass boats running flat out. Visibility
of maybe 10 yards. I can remember as a kid, coming back from the Farallon
Islands via compass and a portable radio as a direction finder. KGO tower
was in line with the Golden Gate Bridge.