41 46N 70 30W
Osprey
John Bowering
Sat 3 Nov 2007 12:56
The initial part of the trip from Portland to Cape Cod was good with a
following wind at 10 to 15 knots and we used the engine to ensure that we
would get down to the canal at a reasonable speed. The latter part of the
trip became increasingly rough as it became apparent that hurricane Noel
was accelerating up the coast toward us. We decided to find shelter at the
north end of the canal rather than taking on the extra thirty miles to
Martha?s Vinyard and Osprey made it with only a small margin to spare. We
arrived in Sandwich with 30 knot winds and a substantial and rising
following sea. Sandwich is just inside the north entrance to the canal and
with a following sea and tide we surfed the last mile into the canal at 11
knots. Berthing in the north wind was tricky and took as three tries
before we were finally and safely tied up alongside the coastguard station
at 0200 on Saturday morning. Sandwich is classed as a storm refuge port on
the chart and looks as though it will prove fine for the 60 to 70 knot
winds forecast for later today. We will wait out the passage of hurricane
Noel and then head out into the Atlantic as soon as Bob Cook our wonderful
weather man gives us the OK and we will also top out our fuel again so we
have zero ullage in both tanks for the passage.