Here is a very quick post from the first day of our trip south:
Peter B., Don C., and Jay P-A departed Marion at 1006 and arrived at Block Island buoy at 1620, then at a mooring in New Harboar at 1706. 52 nm door-to-door in 7 hours. Nice!
Before we left we spent an hour cleaning cormorant poop off of the boat. The only consolation is knowing that the lovely but poopy birds won't find us there until next May!
We left in NE20-25, flat seas, running wing-on-wing with a single reef until we started turning up after West Island. Marion sailors know the drill. By the time we passed Hen and Chickens, we were broad reaching in the 8s. After a lull of little wind, we shook the reef and the wind came back from the N at 22 gusting up. We hit 11.5 knots SOG off of Newport, seeing 9s and 10s the remaining time to Block. Yee hah. The swell from hurricane Joaquin became noticeable near the Sakonnet and where occasionally huge as we passed Point Judith (my nemesis boating area). So we had a wicked blast surfing on a beam reach to the Block Island buoy, eventually doing a screaming chicken jibe and entering the harbor under main alone.
It's cold and windy, but after the first 53 (of 400) nautical miles behind us, and with the heat on and wine and cheese on the table, we are happy sailors. Tomorrow, if the forecast holds, we head outside of Montauk for an overnight passage directly to Cape May. Cheers.
Whaler is good. Jay if you remember, I believe we just touch 14 kts. leaving Hampton. You may not get that much wind the balance of the trip from what I have seen this evening..
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