I crewed for the return delivery of the Dragonfly 35 that was at the Annapolis show. It was impressive how quickly after 5PM they cleared the docks and broke up the show dock configuration. Unfortunately the most "amazing" thing I saw at the show was the McGregor guy who "gunned it" as he departed and almost sent some people standing on nearby docks into the water as they rocked with his wake.

Unfortunately we didn't do much sailing, as the winds were either light or unfavorable most of the trip north to Raritan Bay, NJ. We sailed for a while in light air leaving Annapolis, until the winds died at dusk (then returned from the north) and we motor-sailed all night up the Bay eventually dropping sail, through the C&D, and down the Delaware Bay at dawn Tuesday. It was a very dark night and cold, and with cold wind in our faces it made for watery eyes and we could only peek around the dodger once in a while... We couldn't spot the crab-pot markers until they came into the dim light of the bi-color bow light (too late to react effectively) so it was a game of chance. Fortunately we didn't catch any. (BTW I'm now a convert back in favor of fixed windshields. Seeing through distorted plastic doesn't cut it when you need details).

We had a VERY nice sailing stretch Tuesday, however -- before the winds veered north. As we turned NE at Cape May the conditions couldn't be better as the wind rose from the NW during the morning. From Cape May to Atlantic City was a beautiful sail, within a few miles of shore beam reach NW winds 20-25 gusting to 30. The strong steady winds and fairly flat water close to shore made for "dream" sailing conditions! We threw in a reef and ripped along in the teens, sustaining 14+ for over an hour and hitting a top speed of 16+. See video linked below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti3s7PjI2Vo

Unfortunately all good things come to an end, and with a prediction of the winds veering north and sustaining strength overnight Tuesday, the thought of spending the night bashing to windward in near-gale conditions or motoring into a severe chop with wind-against-current (and temps in the 40's) didn't appeal. Even worse was the thought of attempting to seek refuge through an unfamiliar inlet after dark.

We needed fuel regardless, and discretion ruled as we headed into Atlantic City and tied up to the State Marina at Trump to take on fuel and get some much-needed rest and hot showers. The prediction for Wednesday (yesterday) was for continued winds out of the N but at much more benign (5-15) velocities. So we decided to resume at dawn to get the boat to it's home port before today's Northeaster.

As it turned out, yesterday's winds started strong out of the north (20-30) and we did some bashing under power upon departing Atlantic City at dawn, but the wind strength steadily declined as we proceeded north and by noon the conditions were generally placid, eventually becoming SE at 2-5 knots. We motored all the way at about 7 knots and pulled into port as dusk turned to darkness and the temps once again dropped quickly.

The boat is very impressive in finish and sailing performance. It points as high as any performance-cruising monohull, is excellent in light air and very nicely balanced in all conditions (appropriately trimmed).