BOSTON HARBOR TO NEW LONDON, CT

September 6, 2011

We departed East Boston Shipyard and Boston Boatworks Marina  at 1000 hrs this morning after taking on 35 gal diesel and pumping out the sewage holding tank.  The marina was quite rolly during the day due to traffic and wind on the river.  At night it calmed down quite a bit.

The Wx forecast was for NE'ly wind 15-20 kts with 5-7' seas.  Hurricane "Katia" was still South of Bermuda but delivering swells to the New England coast.  It was time to make for Cape Cod Canal and then onto New London, CT: distance 136 nm.  We chose New London because we have family and friends in the CT area and there is a ery well protected marina there.

Also, we took on our first guest aboard for the trip to New London.  Once outside of Boston Harbor our course was SW'ly.  There was a 6' SE'ly swell running plus the seas generated by the NE'ly wind.  Our guest got seasick and suffered all the way to the Cape Cod Canal.  I decided to pull into the marina at Sandwich which is on the Eastern end of the CCC.  It was a good decision because we were exhausted and beaten up by the rough seas and rain.   The Sandwich Marina is very well protected and quiet.  We enjoyed a good nights sleep.

September 7, 2011

Looking over the Wx forecasts this morning, it became obvious that Hurricane Katia was going to affect the Mass, Rhode Is and CT shores.  The Wx report gave seas on Buzzards Bay at 2-4' and then 5-7' in Rhode Is and Block Is Sounds.  The following day they would increase to 7-9' then 7-10' and 12- 14' out of the SE.  It was time to go and make good time into Long Is which better protected against a S''ly swell.  The wind was fresh out of the NE at 15-25 kts.  I double reefed the mainsail and shortened the jib.  Our guest took Dramamine which worked miracles.  Once we cleared Buzzards Bay, we started to make the best sail we have ever had under heavy Wx canvas.  Our average speed was 7.6 to 8.2 kts: it was exhilarating with very little heel.  We made excellent time but had to hold up for "The Race" at the entrance to Long Island.  On the Eastern End of Long Is, there is a narrowing of the two headlands to the North and South.  Flooding and Ebbing of Long Is. take place through an area called "The Race" and the currents exceed 4 kts.  It can be a dangerous place to navigate if there is wind against current as this kicks up  nasty violent swirling waters and eddies at "The Race".  In our case, we had a 7 ft SE'ly swell feeding into Long Is.  The Race runs NW to SE so we had to wait for a flood tide to coincide with the SE'ly swells.  I killed about 2 hours waiting for our moment.  We had been getting tropical moisture all day long with torrential downpours.  Everything we had was soaked through but the sailing was fantastic.

At 0220 on September 7th the tide changed to a flood at "The Race" and we ploughed through at 6.8 kts without problems.  New London is just to the North and West of Race Rock.  It was still raining with heavy downpours so I decided to wait until daylight to navigate the New London Ship Channel.  Daylight is the best aid to navigation!

We started into the New London Ship Channel at 0630 hrs.  Our destination was Crockers Boatyard and Marina at Shaws Cove.  I chose this Marina because of the great protection it offers against storms and hurricanes.  I was about one mile away from the marina when the worst torrential downpour and wind started.  It was so heavy that there was no visibility and the rain with the wind hitting us in the eyes, made it necessary to wear eyeglass protection even though it made it worse.  Didn't really matter, there was nothing to see anyway.

The only thing I could do under these circumstances was to choose one of the navigation buoys and hold position by stemming the current.  I did this for two hours until there was a break in the rain and then made a run for the marina.  There is a railroad swing bridge that has to open before you can enter the marina.  I called and they opened immediately.  Since the marina is really well protected, the wind diminished once inside and we had no problem docking.  Now the incredible end of this is that 2 hrs later there was sun and blue skies.  In the words of Mark Twain, "If you don't like the New England weather, wait a minute"

We'll be here until Sunday morning.  Then we sail to Cape May at the mouth of the Delaware River.  We'll navigate up the river to the the C & D Canal and then on through to the Chesapeake Bay and Annapolis.  I plan to haul the boat out in Annapolis and install Solar Panels and a Wind generator.  This will free us up from having to use expensive marinas for electricity.  Additionally, I'll take care of all the other minor  problems that need fixing.