Barton & Gray Mariners Club's Commodore, Lyman S.A. Perry has a 2005 Hinckley Picnic Boat that bookends her summers in Nantucket on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. In order to accommodate such a decadent lifestyle, Lyman is forced to take True Blue III up and down the coasts of Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts twice a year. Barton & Gray joined True Blue III this Spring to see how she handles on a very un-picnic-like excursion.
Overall, the Boat performed wonderfully. The crew may have had a few hiccups from time to time, and the weather was mixed, but the trip was completed in less than 35 hours and very efficiently on the Hinckley's single Yanmar Diesel engine. Cruising speed hovered in and around 19 knots, which burned .90 gallons per mile, or about 17 gallons per hour. The crew ran the boat without any lay-overs, save a meal in Cape May of Oysters, Lobsters, Steak and the accompanying starches and vegetables. Those on-shift were comfortable in the Stidd Seats at the helm and the off-shift crew relaxed on one of the many couches about the Picnic Boat or the v-berthed sleeping quarters below deck. One of our favorite parts of the Picnic Boat is the absence of a television - the boat possesses almost every amenity from AC to outdoor hot showers, but is intended for activity, not passivity.
Our journey was a spectator sport as we never where more than 10 miles from shore. Up the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake to the C&D Canal, passing the Naval Academy, Baltimore and some huge bridges. The C&D Canal spills into Delaware Bay, where we found the wind and tide were in a bought for the title - the Picnic Boat breezed through the 4-6 foot chop with ease. Running Southeast down Delaware to Cape May seems counter-productive on a trip Northeast, but when cruising the east coast, the compass is never steady. True Blue pulled into Cape May, New Jersey for a rest, gas and oil check, some provisioning and a much needed proper meal for the Captain and Crew at the Lobster Pot. After dinner the compass pointed the yacht northward along the Jersey Shore for New York City. The shift was bright with Atlantic City to the Port and a spring lightning storm to the starboard. Everyone awoke for the entrance to NYC with some fog and a 4am light, the Statue of Liberty, the New York City Skyline and the bridges of the East River were both eery and wonderful. Our timing was not perfect as the East River's currents ran against us, however the Hinckley was on plane and moving right along until we reached City Island and Long Island Sound. The Sound was as calm as a frog pond. Outside of some ferry wake and the inevitable rips near New London the boat sliced the waters at over 20 knots all morning. The same cannot be said for Block Island Sound and Buzzards Bay, True Blue III was in New England now and hopping through it. Once past the Elizabeth Islands and up into Vineyard Sound, things calmed down enough for us to bait some lines and see if the Stripers were biting. After answering that question, we powered back up and pushed our way into Nantucket Sound and into our final destination of Nantucket Harbor.
After a long winter the skipper was able to dock True Blue III with ease. The crew worked to put the boat into order, unloaded the spent provisions and salty clothing and cleaned up the boat. One would think a sailor would run for dry land after 33 hours on a 36 foot boat, however the Spring Crew of True Blue III settled into a seat aboard and recounted the journey and a few much needed cocktails.
The Hinckley Picnic Boat is designed for and primarily enjoyed as a run-about, or dayboat, terrific for swimming, a harbor "put-put" or a starlight onboard cocktail party. For 33 hours we saw this boat as transport and cruising vessel and she was more than capable, comfortable and eager for the job. |
