Log of September 1, 2008

September 1--Lewis Bay to Maine!

The Party consists of Betsy & George for the day sail to Red Brook Harbor.
Sunny, Breezy NW--Cool Canadian high. Loaded perishables, unshackled the mooring pennant & dropped away.

0930 underway with one reef.

1000 At the channel mouth-set course of 240M to pass west of Horseshoe Shoal.

1018 Hodges Rock abeam to Port 245M to Wreck Shoal Buoy 4.5 nm ahead.

1110 Wreck Shoal Bell to Stbd, R10 bears 260M, 2nm then C11 2nm.

1135 Bell 10 to stbd. Changed course for North Channel 290M to GR Can, ~1nm ahead.

1330 West end of North Channel--Headed for Nobska Pt close hauled Stbd--have been down to reefed Main & scrap of jib, but now full jib & somewhat under powered.

2:15 Entering Woods Hole--current running fast.

2:25 In Buzzards Bay!

This is a fairly complete, if sparse, log of a typical run from Lewis Bay through Woods Hole. It starts out with a bit of a harbor hurricane at the mouth of Lewis Bay, then out through the shallow and somewhat rock-strewn waters to the south of Hyannis. As we pass west of Horseshoe Shoal and approach the main shipping channel, the wind changes and the tidal current becomes a major factor. We decided to go north of L'Hommedieu Shoal in this case, but there is really no escape from the current which runs well over two knots for several miles. The difference between a fair or foul current amounts to something like a difference of five knots over the ground--nothing to sneeze at.

Typically, the wind was quite different on the other side of the Elizabeth Islands.

2:30 Motoring in light air from N. Breeze strenghtened, continued to motorsail up the Bay, then N around Basset's I.

5:25 Tied up at Parker's in Red Brook H.

2010 Anchored off Bassett I in 12 ft--still air. At Parker's we met Doc & Betsy left in his truck. We bought 4-5 gal of Diesel & a couple of blocks of ice. Then Doc & BW motored to anchor just at sunset. After a glass of wine & some cheese, we came to the awful realization that there was no oil or butter or Soy sauce on board, dimming the hopes of a chicken stir fry. We made do with oil siphoned off the Balsamic Vinaigrette salad dressing. Also, the water filter is on the fritz. So things are not off to a smooth start from a culinary perspective. Perhaps the food situation will be brighter in the morning. Anchored off Bassett's Isl.

We are becoming regulars in the anchorage off the east side of Bassett's Island. There is a nice lead of water just the right depth--about 10-14 feet with good holding and it is not far from the dock at Parker's for crew changes and such. Very secure and convenient for our needs.