Summer I

To NY, LI, Sag, Block, ACK, Martha's, and Chatham

On Friday, July 13 we departed Baltimore to head to northern waters for the rest of the summer. It was an interesting moment. Our partying was over, our ‘official’ homecoming was over. Leaving many friends and family in our wake, we were conflicted in the sense of leaving the comfort zone they and familiar waters create vs. the sense that in many ways, our adventure was officially beginning.

Heading for the C&D canal we anchored in Veazy Cove in the Bohemia River. A postcard sunset inspired us to celebrate this grand beginning. Andrea, with appropriate style and ceremony, cracked a bottle of champagne upon the transom rail and christened our little universe, “Celebrate.” Done in a place we spent an overnight with Andy in 1998, we know he would approve.

Saturday, 7/14 we were off on a slog to Cape May. We shot through the canal with a great following tide, but turned south into Delaware Bay to greet 1-2kts coming in. Delaware Bay is forever my kind of really boring water. Wide, shallow, no place to go but up or down. Finally pulled in to the Cape May Canal in mid-afternoon, tied up, and welcomed Mike and Gloria for drinks. They took us to a neat restaurant and all enjoyed the evening.

Sunday, 7/15 was to be a long day – but by design. We walked for an hour early in the a.m., and around 8 set off through the canal into the Atlantic Ocean. It was a bit sloppy; Andrea’s pulsing electronic wrist bands held off any discomfort, however, and 11 hours later when we dropped the anchor inside Sandy Hook just south of New York, she was an accomplished seafarer.

On Monday we went the short distance to Manhattan and took a very pricey slip at a terrible marina that agreed not to charge for power as they could only deliver 198 volts on their supposed 230 volt service. We were rocked all day and night by wakes of passing tour boats, tugs, water taxis, ferrys, and who knows. Walked the city for a couple hours, then met Douglas and Linda for dinner and much boat talk. The pleasure of their company and hospitality offset all the other challenges. This couple has taken to learning to cruise on a trawler to new levels. She runs the ship and prowls the engine room. He surfs the charts on whatever is the latest technology. They will ever lose and engine or a waypoint!

The next morning, 7/16, we returned to one of the stores from yesterday and got a rug for our salon that would match our new chairs. Then happily left Surfside 3 in late morning to assure a favorable current helping us up the East River. The day was a beauty and we ticked off all the touristy landmarks from the Brooklyn Bridge to the UN to the Empire State to Gracie Mansion, and then to the equally well-known but less accessible Rikers Island and LGA where we were buzzed by jets on final. But the real adventure was our arrival in Northport where Pat Miller had us all set up on her Yacht Club mooring. Shortly we were joined by Pat and lots of boating friends to visit, and to remember our late, great friend Dwight.

Wednesday morning, 7/17, dawned blowing like crazy from the SW. We got things ready for a rock ‘n roll ride out Long Island Sound. We were not disappointed. The Sound kicks up this short chop like the Chesapeake, even though it is much deeper – typically >100’. We tested the boat, the crew, the stabilizers, and Andrea’s magic wristband. Everything but the stabilizers passed with flying colors, but that is another story, and it has a happy ending.

We got to Sag Harbor, planning to meet Dave and Senie – which we did, and had a great tour of their ‘hampton home. We also crossed paths with the Gurus from cruising days of yore – Suzanne and Henry Stout aboard their 66’ Hatteras, Truant. It has been amazing to have connected by total chance with them over the years in such disconnected places as Newport, Marathon, Key West, Annapolis, Nassau, and now here. It won’t be the last time, either. They are great fun.

Thursday we set out for Portsmouth, RI, and made it there – just north of Newport. They were waiting for us at Little Harbor, and we spent the next day planning some warranty work. Portsmouth Marine is the Eastern US distributor for Selene; we are in good hands. We can help them, too, as they have invited us to make Celebrate available for display in annual Newport and Annapolis boat shows. These are big deals, and we will all work together to make the boat ‘showcase!’

By mid-afternoon, Friday, 7/19, we were wrapped up and refueled. We took off and headed out to sea, arriving in Block Island around 1900. Guess who? Right, it was Truant again. We dinked over to join a typical Duxbury YC Summer Cruise party. Great folks and great socializing left us ready for early sack.

We spent the next four days anchored in the Great Salt Pond enjoying, or rather, just beginning to enjoy, all that Block has to offer. Biking, a 7 mile beach, the Oar, stone fences, and oh yes, a few tourist traps. It is called the ‘Bermuda of the North.’ We recommend it highly, and would rather spend twice the time next time.  The most excitement came in the form of a boat having dragged anchor heading in our direction.  A few horn blasts didn’t seem to get anyone’s attention, but just as they were passing safely by, we saw a person “surface” in the cockpit, exclaiming “Holy -----!”  A rousing start to his day.

Wednesday, 7/23 marked the third day in a row with strong (>20-25k) SW winds. But it was time to head for Nantucket, so out we went. Once clear of the northern tip of Block I. we turned east and began to taste 5-7’ seas in two sets – one on the starboard side and one on the quarter. When they merged occasionally it was an 8-10 footer. This only lasted for the 34 miles of open ocean between Block and the Vineyard. The stabilizers worked hard, but we will be happy when they are adjusted for improved performance while we are laying over in Portsmouth in early August.

Andrea tested her adventurous spirit, courage, and electronic pulse anti-motion wristband. All scored a perfect ’10.’ We picked up our mooring in Nantucket by mid-afternoon, and at the end of the day were boarded by Barb and Ken for drinks followed by dinner ashore.

Thursday thru Saturday were full of running, touring, biking, beaching. Thanks to Barb and Ken for their hosting, our first lobsters of the season, and guidance on who, where, what, how on Nantucket, their beautiful summer home. We only scratched the surface.

Sunday 7/27 we slopped the short (29nm) to Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard. We were the beneficiary of a private mooring offered by the owner of Audrey, Selene 5306 (we are 5308) right in front of his and Walter Cronkite’s summer homes. A beautiful harbor. Soon after arrival we hosted BZ, Jared, Charlotte, and Seth. BZ and Andrea earned their coaching credentials together and have become great friends.

Monday thru Thursday Andrea and BZ were hither and yon. ATW even discovered a hair place for her beauty fix. Chuck did a one-day trip to NYC for business, spent another day doing some repair on the website, and got in a 15 mile bike junket (with only one fall). On Thursday, we got a full tour of MV courtesy of BZ who let us off with our bikes in Menemsha so we could pedal the12 miles back to Edgartown. We did a quick turnaround and BZ taxied us back to her home to gorge on an 8 ½ lb. LOBSTER she cooked up. Jared provided a great perspective on expatriate life on MV. He came for a couple months 25 years ago. Time flies, I guess.

Friday, 8/1, it was time to go, even though it was pretty foggy (¼ mi vis) and windy. Off to Chatham, appreciative of the wonder of radar and GPS. It was worth the trip as we moored in Stage Harbor, dinked up the Oyster Pond River, and met up with Nick, Nic, and baby. Also had an opportunity to visit with Janeen, Neal and and others of the Driscoll clan in their wonderful home overlooking Nantucket Sound.  A busy visit, and wonderful dinner.

Saturday, 8/2 was a full fog morning. After a visit from Nick, Nic and Johnny, we did dink in to town and found nothing of critical need, so in the early afternoon after the weather cleared somewhat we set out for somewhere in the direction of Portsmouth, RI where we are scheduled for a week of warranty work. That somewhere wound up being Woods Hole, MA, where we found a mooring in zero visibility fog that had set in during the last hour of our trip. Dinked ashore and celebrated our last night of Summer I chapter with lobster dinner at Andrea’s discovery, Shuckers.

We arrived in Portsmouth, RI, the next afternoon. Washed the boat, and packed up in anticipation of a week on the left coast for Scott's wedding and some wine with Ted (in absentia) and Diane.

We learned something on this leg, and it deals with the bounty of friends and friendship. At every stop, (except Block Is where we knew no one), we had friends who put their time and lives aside to welcome us and share their unique interests, time, hospitality, and friendship. Mike and Gloria, Linda and Douglass, Pat, Dave and Senie, Barb and Ken, BZ and Jared, Nick and Nic . . . .  It was an embarrassment of riches in many ways, and we were humbled by the outpouring of generosity, thoughtfulness, and enthusiasm at each step along the way. Without exception. We hope we will someday be able to reciprocate but wonder if there is any way to match the wonderful experience created by those we visited created for us.

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