That was why I wanted to take my chances with Atlantic City as our next destination despite the risks involved in approaching such a large urban center. Coastal cities—especially ones with significant maritime industries and tourism infrastructure—represented my best opportunity to find functional vessels and potentially locate survivors with sailing experience.
Atlantic City had been a major resort destination before the outbreak, with extensive marina facilities, charter fishing operations, casino-resort complexes with their own yacht services for high-roller guests. If I could find a vessel there capable of ocean crossing, and if I could somehow acquire the knowledge necessary to pilot it safely...
Then maybe—just maybe—reaching Saint Petersburg wouldn't be completely impossible. Just extraordinarily difficult and dangerous, with odds of success that any rational person would consider unacceptably low.
