Day 1 - Beverly MA - Cape May NJ
Magic Friday
Phil, Di and Annelise
Fri 14 Sep 2018 23:53
An early rise, lines cast-off and we slipped silently out of the marina as the dawn sky broke over the eastern horizon. Avoiding the ubiquitous lobster pot markers to pass inbetween Little Misery and Bakers Islands into a flat calm open sea. No wind, but mainsail set - just in case! Course ordered of 160T as we settled in to the watch system.
Competition entries were noted for the trip (nautical miles logged, time of arrival and unusual sightings). Suddenly sightings of a school of dolphins, two pilot whales (!) all in the first three hours! Followed by a magnificent turtle and sunfish!! Of course a few ships transiting the Boston shipping lane to keep us busy.
As the morning slipped by a gentle easterly breeze established itself, sufficient for the genoa to be set and to throttle back on the engine and eventually shut off . peace at last! Perfect timing for the Cape Cod canal entrance - tide running at 2.5 - 3.0 knots in our favour, we sped through the entrance at 9 knots and out of the western exit into Buzzards Bay at 11 knots over ground! Osprey nets abound. Decision to search for an anchor on the eastern side of the bay took us into Pocasset Harbour - a delightful protected inlet "pond" but no room for anchorage due to the mooring bouys. Just about to leave and a friendly Irish voice from an adjacent yacht offered us an open bouy (he knew the owner who was away) we could tie up . excellent. Later we had a nice chat with him before evening dinner outside as the sun dropped below the horizon to end a full day.
Well, not quite - another Hornblower episode tom round of the evening.!!
Phil. Mark and Tom
