Voyage to Block Island, RI

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Hanalei set sail for Block Island on Friday at 0930 hours from Noank, CT. Winds light and variable 5-7 knots NW, seas about 1 foot. Looks like it may be a broad reach all the way to Block. Heading 125 degrees to Latimere's reef light, and then through Wicoppessette Passage to Block Island Sound. Course from the MOA bouy off the end of Fisher's Island is about 125-130 degrees magnetic to the red can at the entrance to the Great Salt Pond on Block Island. Winds so light(and tide agin' us) that struck the Yankee and Stays'l, sheeted the main tight, and started the iron jenny! At least we will have plenty of hot water when we get into Block! Within 1/2 hour, the winds back to the SE and seas become very confused, then IT happens, the Captain all of a sudden comes down with a terrible stomach ache. The head works fine, but the cold sweats the Captain is suffering seems unusual. Maybe a Dramamine? Ist. Mate takes 1/2 a tablet, and Captain downs a WHOLE one! If it was mal-de-mer, the symptoms soon subside. (1st. Mate relates to the Captain later that she had already calculated reciprocal course to return if the Captain didn't show above deck shortly, she's really starting to think about this being at sea thing!) It is a 4 hour motor sail to the mooring at Block, at 2200 RPM she does about 5.4 knots. By the time we make the light at the entrance to the Great Salt Pond, the Captain is almost asleep from the Dramamine. He'll not do that again! Pick up a mooring in front of the Oar(great resturant for a quick breakfeast) and call the Harbour Master on VHF 68. They are there in a flash, $30 per night, Captain's wallet starts to go light, and we're settled. The rules are: No Discharge! Fine up to $2,000! Pump-out boat available morning and late afternoon(free), speed limit everywhere inside the Great Salt Pond is 5MPH, No Wake! Dumpsters available on shore for sailors. Landing fee is 50 cents per person(Captain's wallet goes a little lighter!) Ice and water available at all three Marinas (Payne's, Champlains, and Block Island Boat Bassin) Some groceries available at little store next to the oar(but NO Tonic Water! Captain will have a talk with ships Purser about that!) There are two restricted anchorages available inside the Pond, best to check with the Harbour Master(he will give you a printed copy of the rules!), but a moorage means no worries Mate. At 1800 fix outboard to the new dingy, and motor into the Oar for a light dinner. The fish and chips are great! Ist. Mate has some kind of Chicken salad, seems OK too, but not for Captains. Motor back to Hanalei, set the bunks, have a last glass of wine and call it a night.

Not a puff of wind all night, slept like a bear! Heave out and thrice up at 0700 and 1st. Mate cooks quiche and sausage for breakfeast in the re-built alcohol oven. She says she really likes it (the oven), and the quiche ain't bad either! Captain much prefers a hot cup of coffee first thing, and the stove works well also. Not much wind this morning, forcast says 5-10 on Block Island Sound and maybe 15 knots later in the day. Captain orders a Skylark Saturday, and the crew is content. Haul out the new cockpit cushions, cover them with beach towels, and crew is soon absorbed in a good book while sunning. Captain goes to work on the bow & stern pulpits with 3m boat cleaner/polish. Hey, that stuff works better than any metal polish I've ever used! Captain finally gives up working, and motors the dingy to the East side of the pond to a small beach, walks a board walk to the main highway, crosses over to the ocean side and goes for a nice swim in about 68 degree water with 4 foot breakers. See two BIG striped bass while swimming, thinks about fishing(naw, easier to buy fish & chips at the Oar). Motor back to Hanalei, and the sun is over the yardarm, so it's time for cocktails and snacks before dinner. Rig the charcoal grill on the stern pulpit, and 1st. Mate comes up with two pre-marinated steaks! She's got the stove going again and fries up some Perogies(first time the Captain's had them, not bad.) and boils some green beans to go with the steak. She also comes up with a nice bottle of Merlot and a fruit salad! Captain think's "I've got to keep this crew!!!" Dinner over, and she shows fresh baked brownies! This is starting to get dangerous! Oh, Well, enjoy the evening, watch the sun go down, and turn in to a nice warm bunk.

Awaken about 0800 to the sound of "Andeamo"!. Yes, it's Aldo's Bakery in a small skiff, Captain hails him (he monitors 68 as well) and I tell him that we have placed his name on the internet! Actually, Aldo no longer drives the boat, it's his son Bobby that is in command. He does carry all kinds of bakery stuff, so enjoy. Hanalei slips her mooring about 1000 hours and heads for the open sea. Just past the light at the exit to the Great Salt Pond the winds drop to almost nothing. Ah, well, time to practice navigating by LORAN and see how close we can get the the MOA bouy off of Wicoppessette Passage. Three and 1/2 hours laters, we almost run into the bouy, pass through the passsage and set course about 305 degrees to Noank Shipyard. Tie up at our slip, and the voyage is all but over except for the clean up. When we get home about 2 hours later, of course the wind is blowing about 15-20 knots in a fine fresh tops'l breeze! But, all told, it was a wonderful weekend, it can't get better than a fine vessel like a Cape Dory, an excellent crew and good company.

I think we'll do it all again next weekend, but this time maybe it will be Montauk Point!

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30

[Don Carr]

Hanalei set sail for Block Island on Friday at 0930 hours from Noank, CT. Winds light and variable 5-7 knots NW, seas about 1 foot. Looks like it may be a broad reach all the way to Block. Heading 125 degrees to Latimere's reef light, and then through Wicoppessette Passage to Block Island Sound. Course from the MOA bouy off the end of Fisher's Island is about 125-130 degrees magnetic to the red can at the entrance to the Great Salt Pond on Block Island. Winds so light(and tide agin' us) that struck the Yankee and Stays'l, sheeted the main tight, and started the iron jenny! At least we will have plenty of hot water when we get into Block! Within 1/2 hour, the

winds back to the SE and seas become very confused, then IT happens, the Captain all of a sudden comes down with a terrible stomach ache. The head works fine, but the cold sweats the Captain is suffering seems unusual. Maybe a Dramamine? Ist. Mate takes 1/2 a tablet, and Captain downs a WHOLE one! If it was mal-de-mer, the symptoms soon subside. (1st. Mate relates to the Captain later that she had already calculated reciprocal course to return if the Captain didn't show above deck shortly, she's really starting to think about this being at sea thing!) It is a 4 hour motor sail to the mooring at Block, at 2200 RPM she does about 5.4 knots. By the time we make the light at the entrance to the Great Salt Pond, the Captain is almost asleep from the Dramamine. He'll not do that again! Pick up a mooring in front of the Oar(great resturant for a quick breakfeast) and call the Harbour Master on VHF 68. They are there in a flash, $30 per night, Captain's wallet starts to go light, and we're settled. The rules are: No Discharge! Fine up to $2,000! Pump-out boat available morning and late afternoon(free), speed limit everywhere inside the Great Salt Pond is 5MPH, No Wake! Dumpsters available on shore for sailors. Landing fee is 50 cents per person(Captain's wallet goes a little lighter!) Ice and water available at all three Marinas (Payne's, Champlains, and Block Island Boat Bassin) Some groceries available at little store next to the oar(but NO Tonic Water! Captain will have a talk with ships Purser about that!) There are two restricted anchorages available inside the Pond, best to check with the Harbour Master(he will give you a printed copy of the rules!), but a moorage means no worries Mate. At 1800 fix outboard to the new dingy, and motor into the Oar for a light dinner. The fish and chips are great! Ist. Mate has some kind of Chicken salad, seems OK too, but not for Captains. Motor back to Hanalei, set the bunks, have a last glass of wine and call it a night.

Not a puff of wind all night, slept like a bear! Heave out and thrice up at 0700 and 1st. Mate cooks quiche and sausage for breakfeast in the re-built alcohol oven. She says she really likes it (the oven), and the quiche ain't bad either! Captain much prefers a hot cup of coffee first thing, and the stove works well also. Not much wind this morning, forcast says 5-10 on Block Island Sound and maybe 15 knots later in the day. Captain orders a Skylark Saturday, and the crew is content. Haul out the new cockpit cushions, cover them with beach towels, and crew is soon absorbed in a good book while sunning. Captain goes to work on the bow & stern pulpits with 3m boat cleaner/polish. Hey, that stuff works better than any metal polish I've ever used! Captain finally gives up working, and motors the dingy to the East side of the pond to a small beach, walks a board walk to the main highway, crosses over to the ocean side and goes for a nice swim in about 68 degree water with 4 foot breakers. See two BIG striped bass while swimming, thinks about fishing(naw, easier to buy fish & chips at the Oar). Motor back to Hanalei, and the sun is over the yardarm, so it's time for cocktails and snacks before dinner. Rig the charcoal grill on the stern pulpit, and 1st. Mate comes up with two pre-marinated steaks! She's got the stove going again and fries up some Perogies(first time the Captain's had them, not bad.) and boils some green beans to go with the steak. She also comes up with a nice bottle of Merlot and a fruit salad! Captain think's "I've got to keep this crew!!!" Dinner over, and she shows fresh baked brownies! This is starting to get dangerous! Oh, Well, enjoy the evening, watch the sun go down, and turn in to a nice warm bunk.

Awaken about 0800 to the sound of "Andeamo"!. Yes, it's Aldo's Bakery in a small skiff, Captain hails him (he monitors 68 as well) and I tell him that we have placed his name on the internet! Actually, Aldo no longer drives the boat, it's his son Bobby that is in command. He does carry all kinds of bakery stuff, so enjoy. Hanalei slips her mooring about 1000 hours and heads for the open sea. Just past the light at the exit to the Great Salt Pond the winds drop to almost nothing. Ah, well, time to practice navigating by LORAN and see how close we can get the the MOA bouy off of Wicoppessette Passage. Three and 1/2 hours laters, we almost run into the bouy, pass through the passsage and set course about 305 degrees to Noank Shipyard. Tie up at our slip, and the voyage is all but over except for the clean up. When we get home about 2 hours later, of course the wind is blowing about 15-20 knots in a fine fresh tops'l breeze! But, all told, it was a wonderful weekend, it can't get better than a fine vessel like a Cape Dory, an excellent crew and good company.

I think we'll do it all again next weekend, but this time maybe it will be Montauk Point!

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30

Dave; Sounds like our trip over memorial day. You are correct the moorings are much preferred to trying to get good holding ground elsewhere in the Pond. My son and I sailed into Noank 10PM on Sat. night. Went into Mystic for food on Sunday.

Would you be interested in joing up for a sail to Montauk or Greensport next weekend. I am In Niantic.

Don Carr
s/v Camanae
CD25.



carrd@erols.com

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Don,
Funny you should ask! Carol and I were discussing last night the possibility of making the trip to the old Montauk Yacht Club on Montauk Point just last night. We haven't firm plans yet, but if we do go, we would leave Noank midmorning on Friday. Set course through the Race and then it's almost 180 degrees due South to the pass to Lake Montauk. If you haven't been, it is a generally pleasant sail, and the accomadations at Montauk Yacht Club are excellent. The first time I sailed there, I was to meet a powerboater friend offshore, and he would lead me in. Well, since he hadn't connected his VHF antenna to the back of his VHF, I couldn't contact him. Eventually I called the yacht club, they answered immediately, I told them I didn't know where they were, and they directed me right to them. When we got close, there was a gentleman standing on the end of a dock, he said "Continue down two more piers, and look to starboard, there will be someone waiting for you on the dock" There were three men standing right there, they assisted with tying up the vessel and we were there. The yacht club used to be private, but was bought out a few years ago and is now open to all. There are 3 swimming pools, one inside, jacuzzi, sauna, showers and all. At least two and maybe three resturants. And, get this, if you want to go out to eat at a local resturant, they will drive you to it in a courtesy car and pick you up when dinner is over! Of course, if you are tired? of living aboard, they also have rooms for rent with TV's, showers and all that other stuff we go to sea to avoid.

Hanalei is a CD-30, so it might be difficult to maintain station with her in a tops'l breeze, but if you would like to try an "in company" sail, we would be happy to join you. I haven't been to Montauk for just about a year, everything I have described is what I experienced last year, so no guarantees.

I'll talk to the 1st. Mate(Admiral) this evening and see what the plans are and get back to you here.

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30

[Don Carr]

Don,
Funny you should ask! Carol and I were discussing last night the possibility of making the trip to the old Montauk Yacht Club on Montauk Point just last night. We haven't firm plans yet, but if we do go, we would leave Noank midmorning on Friday. Set course through the Race and then it's almost 180 degrees due South to the pass to Lake Montauk. If you haven't been, it is a generally pleasant sail, and the accomadations at Montauk Yacht Club are excellent. The first time I sailed there, I was to meet a powerboater friend offshore, and he would lead me in. Well, since he hadn't connected his VHF antenna to the back of his VHF, I couldn't contact him. Eventually I called the yacht club, they answered immediately, I told them I didn't know where they were, and they directed me right to them. When we got close, there was a gentleman standing on the end of a dock, he said "Continue down two more piers, and look to starboard, there will be someone waiting for you on the dock" There were three men standing right there, they assisted with tying up the vessel and we were there. The yacht club used to be private, but was bought out a few years ago and is now open to all. There are 3 swimming pools, one inside, jacuzzi, sauna, showers and all. At least two and maybe three resturants. And, get this, if you want to go out to eat at a local resturant, they will drive you to it in a courtesy car and pick you up when dinner is over! Of course, if you are tired? of living aboard, they also have rooms for rent with TV's, showers and all that other stuff we go to sea to avoid.

Hanalei is a CD-30, so it might be difficult to maintain station with her in a tops'l breeze, but if you would like to try an "in company" sail, we would be happy to join you. I haven't been to Montauk for just about a year, everything I have described is what I experienced last year, so no guarantees.

I'll talk to the 1st. Mate(Admiral) this evening and see what the plans are and get back to you here.

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30

Dave;
Sounds like a wonderful place. The admiral on my boat will appreciate the accomodations there. As for me and the 1st mate (son) give us the sun shower. Hopefully the breeze will be up to about 15 knots out of the Southwest we can reach and drive 6-7.2 knots. The race is about 3/4 - 1 hr depending on getting through the bridge. We could rendevous at the race sometime around noon- I assume you have about 2 hours or a bit better sailing time to that point. My VHF is only handheld so don't count on any comm over 2/3 miles. My home phone is 860-521-7878 work 203-486-3768. I have the original main with the C25 and my 130 gen is rainbow colored on the top 1/4(ID purposes).My only issue is with the wind not becoming active until afternoon is there any sailing to be gained by my boat leaving early?

Regards.

Don Carr
s/v Camanae



carrd@erols.com

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Don,
15 knots out of the SW to W would be GREAT! The Race is about 1/2 hr to 45 minutes from Noank, 1200 would be a good rendevous time, but not at the Race. If you get there and the tide is ebb, it will blast you through. If flooding, well, ya go the other way, ie North! So, if this comes together, lets just plan to look for each other in the general vacinity of the race at 1200 hrs. By the way, 15 knots out of SW means "blondes against the red heads" if the tide is Ebb. That is refering to the wind against the tide, you could expect up to a six foot standing sea in those conditions. I will start to hail you on 16 at about 1145, you may be able to hear me, but, I may not be able to hear you because of the handheld. Hanalei is cutter rigged, she will have all her flags flying, so look for a CD-30 like that. As far as time to leave Niantic, depends on the tide! If it's agin' ya, I'd leave early, you would be heading a flood tide all the way to the Race! Hey, another way we could locate each other is with a white flare! Oh, maybe not, I don't think I have one aboard.
Anyhow, it all sounds like a lot of fun, now I have to talk to the Admiral!

Davd Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Don,
Spoke to the Admiral last night, and it turns out this will not be a good weekend for Montauk. Seems she has made plans for us to meet friends both Friday and Saturday night to celebrate various birthday parties! Boy, am I happy about that! Ah, well, guess you have to give in once in a while. Maybe we can get together another weekend? If not for a cruise to Greenport or Montauk, we could meet at sea say off New London, or if you go to Mystic, we could meet you right in Noank. Anyhow, it sounded like a good idea...talk to you soon...

Dave Stump
Hanalei