A Lot of Wind

By the end of this leg, we have logged 2,989 nm or 3,436 sm since first slipping the lines last June. Though the shortest leg thus far, these last couple of hundred miles have been a big surprise and a great unplanned adventure.

Arrived Labor Day in Portsmouth to prep the boat for the Newport Show.  Chuck flew to Baltimore for a couple days of business.

By Tuesday, 9/9, all was set and off we went for the exciting 4 mile run from Portsmouth, RI to Newport to stage into the show. Docking was more exciting because of the 20kt crosswind helping us (not) back into a space. Not a slip, mind you, a space where we had to sort of intentionally crash raft to the next adjacent boat. All worked well and even the many fenders didn't have to do much work. Special thanks to John Dennison of Ted Hood's Portsmouth Marine who was realtime coach for the captain from his observation station on the bow.

The show was a lot of fun. It was a real ego trip, too, as we had many, many compliments on Celebrate, and many positive comparisons to other boats. What was so impressive was the genuine good nature and good spirits of all the visitors. We made many contacts we will surely meet again in our travels. One couple wound up being shipmates for a couple of days (see below). Andrea and I were on board a lot of the time to help with traffic, but had lots of time to wander Newport and relax.

We also enjoyed post-show socializing with all those working the show, including Ted andSusan Hood, our "host", John Clayman, our 'manager of loose ends', John Dennison, and the crew from Portsmouth Marine and Rex Marine, its Florida partner.

With Hurricane Isabel cranking up and taking an unknown bead on the US, we picked a lot of brains. Continuing back toward the Chesapeake as planned was out of the question. Hunkering down in RI area was undesirable because everyone and their brother would be ganging up in all the hurricane holes. A wise man told us, "Go to Maine."

What the heck, only two days and we liked it there before. And, as a bonus, we had met Peter and Karen from Falmouth, just north of Portland. They had visited Celebrate several times, with a keen interest in exchanging their Krogen 53 Express for a Selene. Our suggestion that they might want to hop aboard and cruise with us to Maine was met with their quick trip to Walmarts for some necessities and the disposal of their car with friends who would drive it back. Welcome aboard.

On Monday, 9/15, we left at 1130 and set Provincetown as our destination. The fog cleared shortly after we got into Rhode Island Sound, and by the time we hit Buzzards Bay it was delightful. Said "Hi" to the Pride of Baltimore, heading the other way. After a very slow, against the current run through the Cape Cod Canal, we crossed in the dark to P-town. Karen's eagle eyes had us right on every buoy. We dropped the anchor in the protection of the Cape Cod hook around 2100, and had a delicious salmon dinner, and told many stories - some of which were remembered the next day.

We departed Ptown at 0645 Tuesday and set a straight course to Portland where we arrived 11 hours later. Autopilot tracking perfectly the whole way. Peter had us set up for space at DeMillos in downtown Portland; it became our base for four days as we awaited the dissipation of the hurricane. We got some showers on Friday night but have no room to complain given the widespread havoc it brought to so many in the mid-Atlantic.

Portland is delightful. A real renaissance with shops, wateringholes, and culture aplenty. Plus a convenient YMCA where we worked out. Peter and Karen invited us to their home for dinner after a cocktail cruise on their Krogen around Casco Bay. Portland Light, according to the local braggers, is the most photographed lighthouse in America. (Tell that to those passing Thomas Point south of Annapolis!) A great evening. Peter had a hand in stimulating the Maine economy by dragging Chuck to Saco Tackle Co. to get, a couple of fishing rods and reels, plus the associated paraphernalia to catch anything from a bluefish to a finback whale. The gaff is probably not big enough for the latter. Peter also steered us to the commercial fuel dock where we loaded up on 570 gallons of diesel at - believe it or not - $.88/gal. Not much more than half the going rate elsewhere all summer.

All in all, this redirection of our plans was a treat. New friends, new places that we explored, and new adventures. All unplanned, and we hope indicative of the delightful surprises that lie ahead.

The next 'leg', Fall I, will see us returning from Portland to the Chesapeake with an interim stop to visit Roger at his new job at the Hotchkiss School, a 2-day stop in Annapolis, and eventually finding us in attendance at Dad's annual family golfing get-together in Williamsburg, aka the Sandbagger's Special. Then back north to Annapolis to prepare for that show. Stay tuned.

Home    Ship's Log    The Boat    About Us    Favorites    Photos   Feedback