134. ROCKLAND, MAINE TO NEW YORK, June 2017 (NEW YORK: 40:41.10N 74:02.80W)

Our 13^th year aboard RESTLESS of Auckland.

We returned to Restless in Rockland, where she had been shrinkwrapped on the hard at Ocean Pursuits in September, for a very cold winter. The yard removed the shrinkwrap in time for our arrival in mid-May. David and Marianne had come from Scotland to help us. We stayed in an airbnb for a week, in a lovely 1800s Cape Cod home, a much nicer option than a hotel, and we became great friends with our hosts, Ken and John. John took us with him to his art classes, and painted a picture of Roland and David antifouling Restless. He also painted a mermaid onto baby Mia’s new mini lifejacket. Marianne and Consie went to the many Galleries in Rockland, and we all tried out most of the local restaurants just opening for the summer season, with lobsters, chowders, and fish and chips on the menus. We also drove along the coast to Belfast, Camden, Tennants Harbour, Port Clyde, and other picturesque bays. Once again, we had endless trouble getting prepaid phones and simcards.

 Keir also joined us from Scotland for a month, sailing around Maine and south to New York, and then up the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to Niagara and Toronto. It was time for Restless to have an Insurance Survey, so once that had been completed, some canvas work, and a few problems sorted, she went back into the water on 25 May, a freezing cold day in Rockland, wind chill about 6’C.

 We motored across to Fox Thoroughfare, between Northhaven and Vinalhaven, to meet up with friends we met last year, Alison and Mark, and had a few meals together, while we bent our sails back on, and filled our tanks with our friend George’s sweet water. Marianne returned to Scotland. 30.5 We returned to Rockland to collect the remaining engine parts and canvas. We had been worrying about the status of our Cruising Permit, so after consulting with our friend Mike in the Boston Yacht Club, 1.6 we rented a car, and drove 3.5 hours each way to Beverley, getting our official document for another year.

 3.6, at 0600, At last we motored out of Rockland, with David and Keir aboard, past the lighthouse and its causeway, and past Owl’s Head Lighthouse, on our way south, about 8’C, cold and overcast. With a gale forecast, we wanted to get south, and motored 147nmiles, stopping at the ‘claw’ of Cape Cod, in Provincetown, catching a few hours of sleep. We set off at 0600 to catch the tide though the Cape Cod canal, rushing through at over 11.5 knots! At noon we caught a nice fat Bluefish in Buzzards Bay. We motorsailed 85.6nm, and stopped at 1800 in Block Island, in Long Island Sound, to the welcome news that the gale had moved out to sea. We took a rest day, to get some jobs done aboard, as half the crew were feeling flu-y. 6.6 After a very windy night, we set off at 0600 with the tide, and motorsailed 70nm on a cold, wet, windy day, and anchored at Newhaven. 7.6 we set off at 0630, to catch the tide through Long Island Sound, and motorsailed 42.5nm in cold sunshine, to stop at Mamaroneck, where we re-fueled, and found a berth at the Orienta Yacht Club, so we could meet up with our nephew Peter and his wife Ruth and to meet their two young sons, Jack and Ben. We had showers, laundry and meals with them in their new home, and had 2 quiet nights, while we planned our trip through New York and to the entrance of the Hudson river. David returned to Scotland. Consie got a welcome lift to Trader Joe’s for provisions. Ruth, Jack and Ben came aboard for lunch, but Jack was a little disappointed that it was not a Pirate Ship!

 9.6 at 0915 we set off from Mamaroneck to catch the tides through New York harbour. We had a heatwave, 34’C, and an exciting day racing through New York’s Hell’s Gate, watching out for the Chrysler Center, Empire State building and other landmarks and bridges. We had a phone call and a visit from the Coastguard. We passed the Statue of Liberty, and anchored in a shallow quiet bay behind Liberty Island, ready to start our trip up the Hudson River.