Stratford 41:11N 73:07W

Millybrown
Mark Hillmann
Thu 23 Oct 2008 21:27
Another vigorous sail down from Guilford, 20 to 30 knots of wind had us sailing at 6 to 7 knots, very different from motoring at 4.  We put up the staysail, making Milly Brown into a cutter, really so the genoa could be rolled away if it blew too hard.  We had the third reef in as well.  Proper sailing, the sort where the skipper stays in the cabin to keep dry.
 
We came into another little river at the town of Stratford.  We just sail in, tie up and ask whether we can stay.  Oh yes, this is the second oldest sailing club in Connecticut and no, they would not charge for mooring.  There is a shower over there if you want one.
 
Julian braved the shower, an outdoor but hot shower.  He reported the chilly wind did not freeze you as soon as the hot shower was switched off, but no one believed him.  After a walk into town for a Mexican meal, we settled down to the nightly bridge session, now with scoring, as we found the pack telling us how. 
 
Can you believe that after cards the night before, the crew enthusiasm was such that with the skipper still in bed (little skipper enthusiasm), they had us out and sailing before dawn? 
 
  Here is sunrise on the way out.  It might have been Calum's vivid description of dawn the previous day or the lure of New York night life.