I got confirmation today that Robin's new autopilot has been shipped to Connecticut. Maybe by the end of next week, Robin will be ready to head to the Chesapeake. That will depend on the availability of crew. I won't make that trip alone, not this time.
Sailing alone offshore has its challenges. The greatest of these is managing your sleep so that you can both keep an honest watch for other vessels and keep your body and mind intact. Beyond that, solo offshore sailing is fairly simple if physically taxing.
Sailing solo close to shore, however, is filled with danger. First, there is traffic density. Compare a dead end country road with the New Jersey Turnpike and you have an idea of the difference.
Close to shore, there are freighters and tankers, barges and tugs, huge powerboats on autohelm and sailors blinded by their sails.
There also are buoys (and offshore buoys can be enormous) and breakwaters and, if you are sailing along some coasts like those in Maine, rocks or reefs.
There is no sensible way to sail day and night close to shore. In the 20 minute nap you might take offshore, you could run across all of the above within sight of land or even a few miles farther out.
I've had enough close calls in years past near shore to know that this is true.
So whenever a voyage requires sailing (or motoring) for 24 straight hours or even close to that, I won't do it without help. This may not be macho, but is the only fair way to treat your fellow boaters.