24/06/2015. Cutty Hunk and Menemsha. 41.21.28N 70.46.28W
Alcedo
David Batten
Thu 9 Jul 2015 23:14
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23
June and another early start to catch the favourable tide, so underway by 06.30,
with Toodle-oo just in front and Lily just behind us. This of course meant
the Batten competitive nature coming into play, with all sails up and an
immediate informal race, disregarding the fact that we were the biggest boat and
should jolly well go faster than either of the other two. However, we did
have a cracking sail, reaching at 9 to 10 knots with Anthony on the helm,
gradually loosing sight of Lily and Toodle-oo who were heading for Menemsha,
until gusts of 30 knots made reefing a sensible option. One reef in and
the wind promptly moderated, but we continued with an increasingly rough sea but
slightly faster direction, still 9 to 10 knots and more, with an improving blue
sky. We entered the narrow channel into Cutty Hunk Island harbour and
picked up a mooring buoy in time for tea and an evening walk ashore, taking care
to keep the ticks at bay.   Cutty Hunk Harbour, off season, an empty mooring field in the sunshine
and....
Walking in the fog, consulting the iPhone for possible routes.
  Saw this lovely Cedar Waxwing on the way back from the walk
and.....
...a very cold pair of swallows giving a clear indication of the temperature in
the fog.
24 June and a leisurely 11.30 start for Menemsha, less than 10 nm away on
the north west corner of Martha’s Vineyard, motor sailing with the genoa in
light airs. We had to anchor off the harbour as it is so small, there is
room for only 2 mooring buoys and a few slips and not suitable for Alcedo, but
we had plenty of company with other members of the OCC Rally such as Wishbone,
Lily, Domini and Second Chance.
  The tiny harbour of Menemsha
and..
...its somewhat exciting entrance, narrow and tidal.
  However, the anchorage is very pleasant as shown by Wishbone, although it
did get rough. A view of the
lovely pond inland of Menemsha’s harbour.
The evening’s entertainment was pot luck hors d’oeuvre on the beach, with
bring your own alcohol, followed by supper at the Home Port restaurant, very
popular and very fishy.
  Beach party OCC style, with bring your own starters laid out on a
convenient sand barrier on a very nice beach on a very nice
evening!
It was already starting to get rough in the anchorage when we got back to
the boat in the dinghy, so we are planning to leave the rest of the party
tomorrow and head for a more sheltered anchorage tomorrow.
Alcedo
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