running backstays are on, the storm sails are ready, the third reef point is in the main, the jerrycans of water and fuel are secured, the life raft and EPIRB are inspected and are in place. We had to sit through a great week of weather while we waited for the canvas man, and waited for a part for the outboard. When you are finally, finally ready for the big adventure, the patience wears thin and you just want to go. Finally, we did. Our first leg was to Portland, where we visited with friends and waited for another good weather window. Looking back, I have to admit, the universe knows. We have to pay attention to that. Had we left a week earlier, there is a good chance that we would have gone offshore earlier, and gotten involved in the severe early-November storms, and Hurricane Sean. As cruisers, and in life, we need to listen to those gut feelings, and allow for the delays. And then really enjoy the ride. Oct. 5, 2011: Ahoy there, we are finally under way! We departed Portland Harbor at 0830. There’s a smallcraft advisory, which could really affect us, but we are going with the northerly winds and the wave action. It is great. We are making good time, so not sure how far we will go today. The sun is shining, the bow is pointed south, life is good.
Oct. 6: We headed out of Portsmouth, N.H., at 7 a.m., under a beautiful, clear sky, but it was ohhhhh so chilly. I should have done some rodeo training before we left. It was like riding a bucking bronco today for a while, so we ducked into Gloucester after a five-hour passage. Also, maybe we pressed a little too much because another sailboat came from way behind, passed us, and went way, way ahead. We were averaging seven knots, so they had to be doing . . . I don’t want to talk about it. Anyway, we are at the Eastern Point Yacht Club. Very nice. Very old. Walked into town – a very long walk – and caught the bus back. Here we are. Early start toward the Cape Cod Canal tomorrow. Oct. 7: We awakened this a.m. to a beautiful, clear sky and still quite brisk temps. The Gulf of Maine and Cape Cod Bay were beautiful — for water-skiing. No wind, so we motored the whole day with significant rock-and-roll action while the seas calm down from the past several days of big winds. So there wasn’t much going on. I spliced a new line for the dinghy painter, and Larry and I talked about weather. For me, it’s kind of like understanding electricity: I have trouble making the connections. But Larry, he thought a cold front is when his fly is open. I don’t even want to ask what he thinks a high-pressure system is.
GRUNDY CLASSIC BOAT INSURANCE s 3URVEYS ARE .OT 2EQUIRED
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Points East August 2012
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