August 16th, 2018
Cuttyhunk
From Nantucket we had a lovely sail to Cuttyhunk which is a stunning little Island that reminds us of the Scilly Islands for its charm and lack of cars. The community is small, very welcoming and so it was nice to have the time to soak it up. As you can see we are now heading west having decided to save Maine for next year. The decision was made by circumstance in that we lost two and a half weeks to a Volvo recall and another two weeks to a big job in Europe. This meant that we would have been very rushed and thats not what this trip is about. We will do Maine properly next year and explore our way back to the Annapolis Boat show with time to linger in places we like. It feels like a weight has lifted. Time, its always about time isn't it? If you Google Earth Cuttyhunk we are anchored in the inner pond.
August 16th, 2018
LYNX
This is a replica of one of the US ships that gave the Royal Navy such a spanking. You don't need to sail her to know that she is fast, elegant and will run rings round a cumbersome warship.
August 8th, 2018
Nantucket
Nantucket was fantastic and one of the reasons for this was the people we met in bars from a Parliamentary Clerk through to being taught to play a strange kind of dice by a couple of rough characters with big hearts. We also caught up with a number of friends so it was all very social. On top of that I found some time to tackle the job list which included a rig check......we shall be back next year for sure.
August 8th, 2018
A Fair Wind
Thirty hours at sea saw us anchoring in Martha's Vineyard. We were originally heading for Block Island but such good speed was made that we pushed on. I'm not sure why but Martha's Vineyard just didn't do it for us so the next morning we grabbed a fair wind and had a romping sail to Nantucket. These spontaneous decisions seem to be a bit of theme and they are based on intuition. We just knew that Nantucket was the place to be so why delay.
August 8th, 2018
Ocean
On clearing Delaware River we stopped in Cape May for the night and had a business breakfast which turned into a really nice experience. From there we sailed down to Atlantic city arriving at dusk. We didn't get ashore and left early for Barnaget where we had an early night and readied ourselves for an overnight sail to Block island. The next day we left at dawn and motored out into the Atlantic until the wind filled in from the beam. I just can't tell you how nice it was to be out on an ocean again. Clear water, big lungful's of ocean air and unending space. We needed it and this picture of Tracey captures the mood as we shared the ocean with Dolphin, a huge turtle and proper sea birds soaring across the waves.
August 8th, 2018
Canal
The Chesapeake/Delaware canal proved to be a doddle as we had a three-knot current running. It saves 300NM and is really impressive. This is the rail bridge which drops down if a train comes giving marine traffic priority!!
August 8th, 2018
Thunder Storms
There is nothing like a thunder storm in Chesapeake - this picture was taken at the anchorage in Chesapeake City (see blog after last). They arrive with little warning, the rain is phenomenal and the lightning quite disturbing as it lands all about. Not much fun when you are in a metal boat with a 65ft lightening rod!!
August 8th, 2018
Nantucket
I really didn't expect to be walking on Cornish stone this side of the Atlantic, I fancy I have though. Nantucket is made up of sand but the streets are cobbled with rock bought here as ballast and it's a very familiar looking granite. I'm sure it has come from all over the world but when you think of Cornwall's seafaring heritage and the fishing that we did hereabouts it's an assumption made with some certainty.
The Whaling Museum is a must and on perusing some of the old crew lists there are a number of Cornishmen dotted about. Tough men no doubt for the whaling ships would put to sea and not return for up to seven years as they hunted far and wide. With the men at sea the woman ran the Island and commerce with great success as they opened up global markets.
The whale men made good money but the real profit was at the end of the line where the candle makers cleaned up. One factory, and it's not a big premises, making nine million profit in a year. The whales were hunted all over the world and the candles in turn were exported far and wide.
On a smaller scale, you will see the blog has made a brave jump from Chesapeake City to Nantucket with nothing in-between. I feel it needs an apology for there isn't an excuse except that we have been fully occupied and I just didn't realize how much a of a gap had developed.
I'm actually writing this in Cuttyhunk after a stunning sail to get here. It's a lovely spot which reminds us of the Scillies for its beauty and ability to put one at ease. We have decided to leave the anchor down for a few days to catch up and draw breath.
In that time I shall pop some pictures up to fill in the gaps for its been a good time.
