![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/9-16-12a-018.jpg\" "\\"OLYMPUS")
<\/a>Even the casinos look warm in the early light. \u00a0![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/9-16-12a-019.jpg\" "\\"OLYMPUS")
<\/a>It’s hard to believe how many massive buildings are crammed into such a small space.\u00a0![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/9-16-12a-016.jpg\" "\\"OLYMPUS")
<\/a>Much of the area around us is a general anchorage that can easily hold a dozen boats or perhaps more. \u00a0 Believe it or not, this entire complex is a single hotel, Harrahs. \u00a0I guess that millions have to be lost there to keep such a massive facility in business. \u00a0 As they say, “the house always wins in the end”.<\/p>\nHappily, the winds held up all day and did so from a great direction so for nearly the entire trip from Sandy Hook to the entrance to AC we had the wind behind the beam, making for a brisk ride. \u00a0 Pandora really excels in these conditions making better than 8kts with 15\u00a0apparent\u00a0just aft of the beam. \u00a0The fastest speed for us yesterday was better than 9kts but most of the time we sailed in the high 7s and low 8ts. \u00a0 \u00a0There were a few hours where the winds were nearly behind us which cost us some speed so our overall speed for the day was 6.6 including the nasty hour that we slogged from Atlantic Highlands to the tip of Sandy Hook.<\/p>\n All and all, a very satisfactory performance for the day and I even caught a brief\u00a0glimpse\u00a0of a pod of\u00a0dolphins\u00a0twice, my first for the trip.<\/p>\n Today we have a short 30 mile run to Cape May where we will wait until the north winds shift to the south to make our run up the Delaware. \u00a0 We expect to meet up with our friends on Blue Highway again as they made the run there yesterday from Atlantic Highlands, choosing to wait till later in the day and make the entire run to Cape May in a single overnight run.<\/p>\n<\/a>You never forget that the ocean is nearby as nestled in the midst of all of this glitter is the sobering presence of the Coast Guard station. \u00a0 Personally, it’s the sight of this that pleases me most.\u00a0<\/a>Yesterday was indeed a wonderful run. \u00a0Covering 80 miles in a single day under sail isn’t something that I do every day and to make an 11.5 hour run with the engine on for less than two hours was a treat. \u00a0 I am certain that yesterday was one of the longest runs\u00a0uninterrupted\u00a0by motoring that I have ever had and certainly the longest for Brenda. \u00a0As fun as it was, I was tired when we reached AC at dusk last evening. \u00a0I was apprehensive\u00a0about making the approach during dusk as I didn’t really know what to expect even though the charts seemed clear enough. \u00a0 The buildings along the beach in AC are imposing to be sure.\u00a0<\/a>The shoals all along the southern coast of NJ go way out and as we approached AC I had to stay well off to avoid being in water less than 20′ deep. \u00a0 As I took this photo we were about to take down the sails and motor up the channel. \u00a0As the sands shift constantly only the outer most approach\u00a0buoys\u00a0are even on the chart.<\/p>\n