Friday 23rd June.

Another day of light winds – even lighter in fact.  However a Small Craft Advisory was forecast for later in the day so we set off at 7:30am, and motored to Westerly, RI where we picked up our very own mooring at Frank Halls Boatyard– 41 20.21N 071 50.18W. 

After a frustrating few days of foul weather, Quinita is home at last, safe and sound. 

Ships Log: 6336.5, Todays Log: 25.6, Seasons Total: 274.5

Thursday 22nd June.

A very different day.  The forecast called for light winds and that’s what we got.  They were headwinds again, but only 5-8 knots which would have meant a VMG (Velocity Made Good) of perhaps 2 knots.  So we motored to Pt. Judith where we docked on a slip, 41 23.21N 071 30.96W. 

We docked at 1:30pm, cleaned the boat up, went for a walk and found Cap’n Jack’s Bar where we decided to support the local economy. 

Ships Log: 6310.9, Todays Log: 26.8, Seasons Total: 248.9

Wednesday 21st June.

Yesterday’s forecast for today indicated that we’d have lighter winds and the first day without a Small Craft Advisory for several days, so we were looking forward to moving today.  However the morning’s forecast included another Small Craft Advisory.  We decided to set off anyway to Padanaram since it was only 18 nm away, and we could easily return to Onset if we didn’t like what we found. 

As it happened we had a very pleasant beat to Padanaram and decided to continue on to Westport on the same basis.  By the time we had left Buzzards Bay however, the winds were up to 20+ knots with 5 foot seas and, of course, we were beating into it.  Despite a couple of waves of solid water over the windshield, Quinita was sailing at 6 & 7 knots to windward with full genoa and a single reef in the main.  She (and we) took a pounding however in the big waves.  Marc also took a pounding of the mal-de-mer variety.  His anti sea-sickness patch had fallen off in the night and he spent most of the trip lying down in the saloon. 

We entered Westport river and picked up a mooring at 5pm, 41 30.87N 071 04.51W pleased to have made some good distance after several days in Onset. 

Some stats:  The log was fouled with weed for the first ¾ hour after which it cleared itself, so despite having logged 51.8nm, we probable sailed 54nm.  We were beating for 9 hours, so our average speed through the water was close to 6 knots.  However, the direct route (had we not had to tack), was about 30nm, so our VMG (Velocity Made Good), was 3.3 knots.  Such are the vagaries of sailing!

Ships Log: 6284.1, Todays Log: 51.8, Seasons Total: 222.1

Sunday – Tuesday 18th – 20th June.

We stayed on the PIYC mooring while the winds blew up to 30 knots in Buzzards Bay with seas up to 5 feet and the old adage came to mind several times -  Better to be in harbour wishing you were at sea than at sea wishing you were in harbour. 

Although frustrating being stuck here after our good initial progress, the folk at PIYC are very friendly, the Yacht Club is nice, with good showers, and we’ve become acquainted with Marc Anthony’s Pizza Parlour. 

Saturday 17th June.

Winds were light and behind us again.  We tried motor sailing but the winds were too light.  The current through the Cape Cod Canal was predicted to set west at 4:37pm, so we planned to arrive at the entrance at 3:30pm, thinking that there wouldn’t be  much foul tide left at that time.  There was – we had 1 knot against us until 4:30, just as predicted, then we raced through the canal at 6.5knots. 

We picked up a mooring courtesy of the Point Independence Yacht Club in Onset, 41 44.36N 070 39.01W. 

Friday 16th June.

Yesterday’s strong winds were still blowing and forecast to blow all day, so having been beaten up enough yesterday, we stayed put for the day. 

Thursday 15th June.

Another early start – we set off at 5:30 motoring in light winds heading for Scituate.  The winds stayed light until we were just past Boston, when they came in from the SE.  We hoisted sails and had a glorious sail at 7+ knots towards our destination.  At this rate we would arrive at 2pm, way ahead of schedule.  It wasn’t to last however, the winds backed and headed us and increased to something pretty high (still no wind instruments).  We reefed and motor-tacked into huge seas, finally entering Scituate, 42 11.99N 070 43.40W at 3:45pm.  Not a pleasant finish to the day, but we had at least had another day of good progress. 

Ships Log: 6191.3, Todays Log: 57.2, Seasons Total: 129.3

Wednesday 14th June.

The forecast was for NW winds, which is unusual, and also perfect for the trip south.  We dropped the mooring at 5am and headed out.  We had very light NW winds, but not enough to sail so we motored, anticipating a nice sail.  13 hours later we arrived at the Isles of Shoals, 42 58.72N 070 36.72W.  The winds had stayed light all day but at least they were behind us, and we had made a great start on the trip. 

Ships Log: 6134.1, Todays Log: 72.1, Seasons Total: 72.1

Monday, Tuesday 12th, 13thJune.

Ron had recruited Marc, (in Jay, VT) to help sail to Westerly, RI.  On Monday Ron took a rental car to Jay and had dinner with Marc and Dee.  Tuesday, Ron and Marc returned to the boat, did some grocery shopping on the way and provisioned the boat for several days sailing.  After returning the rental car, we were ready for the trip. 

Sunday 11th June.

Ron spent some more time on the windex connections (unsuccessfully) and Mary headed back to CT.  After deciding that the windex wasn’t going to work, Teresa and Ron took Quinita for her first sail of the season.  Short but very sweet with one reef in the main. 

Teresa drove our car back to CT in the afternoon. 

Saturday 10th June.

Teresa hauled Ron up the mast to install the windex, and flag halyards.  Unfortunately, the wind instruments were not working, so Ron then spend some time cleaning the connections at the mast base to no avail.  In the afternoon, we drove to Southport for the DEYC launching party.  The party’s usually fun with good nibbles, beer and wine and this event was no exception. 

Friday 9th June.

Ron moved the boat to a DEYC mooring, 43 50.96N 069 37.65W, and stocked the boat for dinner for 3.  Teresa and Mary arrived in Boothbay about 7:30pm and they were treated to a delicious meal of grilled salmon, catatoes (potatoes and carrots mashed together), and mange tout (pea pods), followed by blueberry pie and whipped cream.  (Ain’t they lucky?) 

Thursday 8th June.

We’re planning on a different type of cruising season this year.  We have a seasonal mooring at Westerly, RI and will be staying in Manchester, CT and day/weekend sailing from Westerly.  Ron spent a couple of days getting Quinita ready for launch last week, and we launched today.  The launch went well and Ron spent the night on a Hodgdon mooring, 43 49.98N 69 40.75W.