Day 19 - Cape May NJ - Beverly MA
Magic Friday
Phil, Di and Annelise
Mon 18 Jun 2018 17:03
Dawn rise for a sail back across the Bay westward and northward towards Salem! Leaving a small cruise ship and the ferries already docked at the town marina.
Cape Cod Bay is a great sandy arm extending 25 miles northward and 31 miles from the mainland. In contrast to the resort atmosphere on the south side of the Cape (Buzzards Bay, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard), the ambience inside the curve of the cape is more relaxed, even the strong south-westerly winds which create heavy seas on Buzzards Bay become "pleasant" offshore breezes on Cape Cod Bay. We started with a "pleasant" 20+kn south westerly, a few tacks to clear the tip of the Cape and we were on course at 7knots - too fast for a mid-to-high tide arrival at Fred Dion's boat yard (where we had arranged to drop off the Genoa for repairs at a North Sails sail-loft). As predicted the wind dropped a few knots as the day progressed and the 50nm soon fell away.
Four fine historic harbors of Massachusetts - Marblehead, Salem, Beverly and Manchester line Salem Sound, a 4 mile break in the shoreline just 12 miles northeast of Boston harbour. All four began as commercial fishing villages, they have since evolved into popular recreational destinations.. and history enactments of witch trials!
The challenge was to negotiate the entrance to Salem Sound amongst the numerous rocky outcrops and islands - Bakers, Mystery and Satan Rock to name but a few. Plus a need to avoid the hundreds of lobster pots - a "pot-watch" ahead was a must to avoid catching a line on the prop shaft (not a good time to have the diesel cut-out)! Houses of all sizes appeared cut into the rocky shoreline as we made the Sound and passageway to Dion's boat yard. Squeezing on the end of the jetty (only 20ft of Magic Friday dockside) we offloaded the Genoa to very helpful boatyard and North Sails hands. Compliments on the condition of the Genoa (except for the rip), a small panel to be replaced and it would be as good as new! Ready to be picked up or delivered to our marina in a week.
Back out through the hundreds of moored boats of Salem and round into Beverly..tied up at Beverly Port Marina - first port in over two weeks! A full briefing of local restaurants, theatres, trains to catch to Salem and Boston . plenty to do! As evening approached - heavy rain and lightening threatened on the horizon!
Journey's end for now..
Phil and Di
