On the afternoon of labor day 2012, Eric, Louise and I pushed off from the Frank M Weeks Yacht Yard in Patchogue New York. A four hour run down Great South Bay to the inlet at Democrat Point followed. As we ran down the bay under power, we were having continuing problems with the engine overheating. We managed to get through the inlet without running aground, something that is apparently often an issue and we were in the Atlantic ocean. We raised sail in what was, by my standards at least, fairly heavy seas probably 7 or 8 feet. Unfortunately as we attempted to unfurl the jib, the self tailing winch jammed its self. So now we had an overheating engine, it was boiling off its coolant at an alarming rate, and a jammed winch sheet. Un-jamming the winch meant a trip with the other sheet around the outside of the shrouds and around the forstay for me as the boat rocked and rolled and was blown about by the wind. At this point I was seriously starting to get seasick. Finally we got the winch fixed and the sheet back around the shrouds to the port side of the boat. This was my introduction to open ocean sailing.
For the next twenty hours was spent pushing north east about three miles off the coast of long island. I however, did not notice much of this as I spent the majority of my time making trips back and forth between my bunk and the rail to vomit. Finally we arrived in Block Island RI. We spent what was a really a very bleak day walking around the island, very nice place, and Eric and I even walked the 3 miles to a lovely brick lighthouse at the southern end of the island. I was also able to have my first bowl of clam chowder of the trip which stayed down, something I was ecstatic about after not eating for 24 hours.
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| Southeast Light, Block Island RI |
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| Mohegan Bluffs, Block Island RI |
After a night in Block Island we sailed with the wind at our backs, up Buzzards Bay to an anchorage just outside the mouth of the Cape Cod Canal. Was slightly seasick again but certainly there was noted improvement from the earlier passage. Not sure if this was due to calmer and more protected seas or that Ive gotten my sea legs but hopefully it's a combination of the two. A pleasant nights sleep later we were on our way through the Canal and then across Cape Cod Bay to Provincetown. Provincetown is certainly one of the strangest places that I have ever been. All at the same time its incredibly touristy, incredibly artsy and incredibly flamboyant. With exquisite galleries right next door to strange, touristy nick nack shops with names like "Spank the Monkey" or "The Cock and Bull Leather Emporium." We will be here for one more night before heading out tomorrow morning for another 24 hour crossing to Bar Harbor. Hopefully one that is sea sickness free.
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| Sunset, Buzzards Bay MA (sorry Blogger won't let me rotate this and Im too impatient to go back and fix it) |
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| Provincetown Harbor, Provincetown MA |
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