The wind set our direction

As we departed from Oyster Bay we saw several boats with long scoops working the bottom of the bay floor. Apparently they were either clamming,or taking oysters. We headed out into the Sound with the intention of heading to Greenport at the eastern end of Long Island. Then the wind started coming up. Unfortunately it was from the east and head on. We sailed close hauled on a south easter tack towards Port Jefferson, then as we were running out of sea tacked towards connecticut. We didn't have many options of ports to stay in and eventually decided on Branford Harbor at the local
Brewer Marina.

Lunch consisted of Cornish Hen and salad, today is likely to be bbq Bluefish. There was a lot of fishing action. However we lost a lot of tackle. In fact two of our rods cant be used because most of the line was snapped. We are in need of a tackle shop and hope to find one at Block Island. Bob landed a large bluefish yesterday. It was quite a fighter. We have now mastered the catch and release mechanism.

Sailing school continued with several practices of man overboard drills and recovery. To practice we have a flotation device that we have fondly named bob - because when we throw it in the water it bobs around. So yesterday I was throwing Bob in the water and asking Bob to recovery it with a boat hook. Later after we docked Bob went to the pool. I wondered whether I should take the boat hook along,...

Yesterdays weather forecast was very accurate. A low pressure system was expected to push through overnight with the chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am. They came at 2am. It was nice to be down beneath, warm and dry, and safely in port compared to the last storm that we encountered while we were at sea.

The low pressure system has passed and now winds are predicted to come from NW, W and SW over the next few days. Since we are heading eastward this will give us ample opportunity for sailing on ideal tacks, and even the chance of getting the spinnaker out. Today conditions seem ideal for a sail to Block Island. We intend to leave at 8am. This will allow us to get out of the shallow, narrow channel on a rising tide, and for the current to be in our favor after about 11am.