more on the trip

Posted By: rip stanwood
Date: 6/13/08 12:07p.m.

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In Response To: Our new/old Nimble30 arrives in Cape Cod (rip stanwood)

We went up the Chesapeake through the C & D canal, down the Delaware to Cape May. Had a hose go in Delaware Bay, spent a day drying out the boat, then another waiting out a noreaster. Then to Atlantic city and the Trump marina. Through the inland waterway (very narrow here) to Barnaget Light, waited another day for a southeaster to blow through then around Sandy Hook, throught the East River to City Island. Two days down Long Island Sound to Pt Judith RI, then across Buzzards Bay in the only fog to West Falmouth and the mooring off of the family home. Had some great sailing. The N30 easily handled 30 knt winds and 5' seas with cross swells. It requires just the right sail combination then the helm balances well. Tells you when to trim and you had better listen because the boat is a bit big to horse around with a tiller (450 sq ft of sail.) But sails one handed when trimmed. 6' 2" headroom with a lovely skylight hatch in the middle of the main cabin overhead. Good storage and full sized bunks with a second hatch in the forepeak. Plenty of room in the head. The diesel sounds so much nicer than our little outboard in the N20. I think the 3 cylinder Vetus burns about 2/3 gal per hour but could be less. Under sail it has a very quiet, relaxed motion over the waves. Easy sailing and motoring at 5 to 5.5 knts. We hit 8 knts surfing down Atlantic rollers. The big spade rudder steering pressure is affected by the lateral angle of the boat more so than is a full keel boat. On a broad reach with following seas, once in tune with these pressures you can easily steer a good course but must pay attention! Very dry on deck into the waves.