Cuttyhunk, Edgartown, Nantucket, Hadley harbor

I have been a little slow to write the last few days. I have been having too much fun. Actually, I have been having to work from the boat in the mornings before we disembark. Excuses over. Here is a recap.

We motored out of Cuttyhunk up Buzzards Bay and then through Quicks Hole into Vineyard Sound. Once we entered the sound the wind immediately picked up – it was as if Buzzards Bay and the Sound had different climates and they are just separated by a strong of islands. We were able to sail with the current and make good time up and around Martha’s vineyard and enter into Edgertown.  We had hoped to dock but a 100 foot sailboat, Chimera designed by Ted Fontaine, took up all the dock space. But she is such a beauty. We called for a mooring and were told to take the first free blue mooring ball. We called back with the number and nobody came to collect the fee. We called back, no answer. We went on land and called again – no answer. We stayed the night for free. Well not so free. It costs $4 per person for a launch ride to the docks. Since we went in for dinner and to watch the USA – Ghana game as well as the next day for dinner, it cost a total of $32.

 `

Edgertown is a quaint town, but like all that we have visited, they are hurting from the long winter in New England that has caused school closing to be delayed by 2 weeks. Good for us, we can get in anywhere with no booking.

The next morning we left Edgertown with fantastic winds. We started wing on wing heading NNE, then cut east (beam reach) then SE (close hauled) to Nantucket. Of course we were racing all the way. Although there are not many boats out on the waters yet, any that are, are ready to race. The guide book says that it is necessary to book up to 6 months in advance to get a reservation in Nantucket. The marina was almost deserted – again the winter worked in our favor. We have never been to Nantucket before. It was fantastic – at least without tourists. And Yolande found a great Tapas restaurant – Nautilus. Go there, highly recommended.

So today we start back toward home. Disembarking at Nantucket was a challenge with 20kt crosswinds and deckhands that didn’t have a clue what they were doing to help. Two came along, and I had to explain what docklines are. They said they could bring a third dockhand– I declined. But we made it our without harm. I guess the tight space at our home marina helps tune the boat maneuvering skills.

 Any marine maintenance staff available?

 Owned by some fancy restaurant owner - Really thats my helicopter; there wasn't space on Prairie Gold so they let it land there!

 Leaving Nantucket harbor

As we left Nantucket, the winds were a constant 25kts. We were sailing with both sails reefed and having a blast. Of course, before we left the marina we had washed off the windows and deck of salt to give better visibility. Lot of good that did.

For 3 days the currents had been in our favor. Now we were pushing against them for several hours. And they are strong. Suddenly the wind dropped so we motored toward Woods Hole and the infamous “hole”. Now that we were under motor power we dropped a lure off the back. I took a quick nap to be woken by Lande telling me that we had a fish on. A great bluefish that was really tasty after it was bbqed an hour later. Coming through the hole was uneventful. Its narrow, there is a cross current and we were motoring through at 11kts. We decided to get through the hole today, rather than stay vineyard sound side, and motored into Hadley harbor. Its private land and there is a small place to anchor. We sit at anchor (with bloody mosquitos) but it’s a beautiful place.