Harrowing Passage

A Potter 19 and crew run into some trouble

Story Mark Schlichter | Illustration Joseph Buchanan

After each crest the hull plunged into the following trough with a thunderous shake.

A year ago, on my 60th birthday, I drew up a bucket list of meaningful things I’d like to do while I still can. One of the first items on the list involved my West Wight Potter 19, Allegro, which I’ve owned for some 20 years. During this time I’ve cruised much of the middle and upper Chesapeake Bay, as well as enjoyed daysails and sunset outings on the ocean, out of Cape May and Ocean City, New Jersey, where my in-laws own a home. Now was the time for a longer coastal cruise—the 30-mile passage from Cape May to Ocean City, NJ.

My crew for the passage would be my soon-to-be son-in-law, Bill—a good boat guy and a fine fisherman, though he doesn’t know a lot about sailing. So we make a good pair onboard: I love to sail and he loves to fish, and there was going to be plenty of ocean surrounding us all day.