Newport, Block Island, Cape May
Chris and I left Newport and motored out of Narragansett Bay on Wednesday morning, still a little groggy from the bon voyage blowout the night before. The wind was expected to build out of the southwest that afternoon and I wanted to be at Block Island before that started. And after a blissfully uneventful five and a half hour motor sail, we were anchored.
We spent the next two nights there waiting for the southwest breeze to tire itself out and a fresh northerly one to take its place. On Friday morning we weighed anchor and set out for Cape May. The breeze was a gentle 5-10 knots until compeltely dying at noon, the sails came down and the motor pushed us along until it filled in, this time from the northeast, at around sunset.
During that afternoon, I witnessed something I hadn't seen before at sea. What started as one or two small flies buzzing around the boat had turned into what seemed like at least three dozen, of all varities, as well as a couple of flying ants and wasps. We ransacked the cabin looking for a source but found none. The only explination I could think of was they were being blown off the land and using us as their liferaft, that is until they met their fate with a rolled up magazine.
Later that night the breeze continued to build and clock around to the northeast. By morning we were running with a gusty 15 knot breeze and a 4' sea under jib and jigger and a cloudless sky, more or less ideal. Dolphins on the bow (and one running into the keel with a distinct thud) and sea turtle sightings rounded out a great day of sailing.
By 7 that night the wind died again and we motored the remaining 50 miles to Cape May, having to kill time outside of the harbor inlet to wait for the sun to rise.
We are now at anchor by the Coast Guard training base. Thinking back to three years ago, it had taken John and I over 12 days and two new(er) sails to get this far. So far so good on this trip though, not a hitch nor hiccup, knock on wood!
We spent the next two nights there waiting for the southwest breeze to tire itself out and a fresh northerly one to take its place. On Friday morning we weighed anchor and set out for Cape May. The breeze was a gentle 5-10 knots until compeltely dying at noon, the sails came down and the motor pushed us along until it filled in, this time from the northeast, at around sunset.
During that afternoon, I witnessed something I hadn't seen before at sea. What started as one or two small flies buzzing around the boat had turned into what seemed like at least three dozen, of all varities, as well as a couple of flying ants and wasps. We ransacked the cabin looking for a source but found none. The only explination I could think of was they were being blown off the land and using us as their liferaft, that is until they met their fate with a rolled up magazine.
Later that night the breeze continued to build and clock around to the northeast. By morning we were running with a gusty 15 knot breeze and a 4' sea under jib and jigger and a cloudless sky, more or less ideal. Dolphins on the bow (and one running into the keel with a distinct thud) and sea turtle sightings rounded out a great day of sailing.
By 7 that night the wind died again and we motored the remaining 50 miles to Cape May, having to kill time outside of the harbor inlet to wait for the sun to rise.
We are now at anchor by the Coast Guard training base. Thinking back to three years ago, it had taken John and I over 12 days and two new(er) sails to get this far. So far so good on this trip though, not a hitch nor hiccup, knock on wood!
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