The kids showered up and browsed through the little gift shops there. It was a late start on Wednesday morning, since the launch didn't get going until 8:00. Deb and I left the kids onboard, and went in to settle up for the mooring and to take showers etc. I dropped into the office and said hello to John Berman, a friend of Umpie's. Free coffee and muffins, then back onboard to continue the adventure. We stopped in to top off the fuel tank - figured it would be cheaper there than on the island - and then it was out the channel past Scraggy Neck and into Buzzard's Bay.
The wind was southwest at about 15 kts, and it was a great sail, tacking across the bay and into Woods Hole. We had all the canvas up, and the boat performed great. The kids were like old salts, , handling the sails during the tacks... and sleeping on deck in between!
The wind was southwest at about 15 kts, and it was a great sail, tacking across the bay and into Woods Hole. We had all the canvas up, and the boat performed great. The kids were like old salts, , handling the sails during the tacks... and sleeping on deck in between!
We had to fight the current at Woods Hole, so we dropped the jib and fired up the engine. It took a few minutes to get through, since we were only making about a knot over the ground, (but six and a half through the water).
There was one little snafu, where I overshot the channel, because the bouy at the intersection (bifurcation, if anyone cares) was laid over because of the current, so it looked all green from our perspective, while in fact it was green and red. No worries though... a quick 180 and back on track.
There was one little snafu, where I overshot the channel, because the bouy at the intersection (bifurcation, if anyone cares) was laid over because of the current, so it looked all green from our perspective, while in fact it was green and red. No worries though... a quick 180 and back on track. From Woods Hole, it was a broad reach towards West Chop, then across the mouth of Vineyard Haven Harbor and into Oak Bluffs. Once inside, we backed into slip#37, right on the boardwalk. The harbormaster greeted us, along with another guy, who helped us tie up. It turns out that he had just bought a Downeast 38, and was very happy to see another one! We had a beer, and talked boats for a while, and the kids walked to the beach for a swim. After a shower, Doug and Trevor took off in the dinghy while Paige and Jacqueline walked around the shops. 
I got a call on the cell phone from the girls... they were "lost" and they were surrounded by mini-houses. They were at the Camp Meeting cottages, about a nine-iron shot from the boat! They managed to find their way back, as did the boys, and it was hot dogs and macaroni salad for dinner.
I got a call on the cell phone from the girls... they were "lost" and they were surrounded by mini-houses. They were at the Camp Meeting cottages, about a nine-iron shot from the boat! They managed to find their way back, as did the boys, and it was hot dogs and macaroni salad for dinner.The girls took off shopping, and the boys hit the arcade for a while, and after getting them settled onboard, it was our turn to get away. Deb and I walked around a bit, and had some calamari and a cocktail at a waterfront restaurant, then hit a boat bar for some Dark'n'Stormys... then back to the boat for some shut-eye.
I was up at 6:00 this morning, and took a walk around Oak Bluffs. The fog is just burning off now (8:30), and we're headed to Edgartown harbor later this morning. We're on a mooring tonight, and will be cooking up a feast, and will then head into town. It's been a great trip so far, and the kids, the boat and the wife are all doing well and enjoying themselves. More later as the adventure continues...
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