Evening Light, with Capt. & Crew (Joe Montana – 1st Mate, Bill Euker – Seaman) departed Shennecossett YC, Pine Isl. Bay, Groton, CT approx. 1900, 9 Aug. 07, proceeding directly to MoB Drills. All passed and I was reasonably assured the Crew would get me back on board if I did go over. (At the end of the cruise they seemed to waver a little on this
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We sailing / motor sailing east thru Fishers Isl., Block Isl., Rhode Isl. Sounds and Buzzards Bay, arriving at Point Independence YC, Onset, MA approx. 1400 on the 10th of Aug. The winds were out of the ENE such that we could not pinch enough to make the Buzzards Bay entrance without a south tack
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We topped off fuel (only 4 gal.) and headed thru the Cape Cod Canal under the RR Bridge (135 ft) with 1st Mate Joe at the helm. It seemed rough at the east end with the tidal flow (east-ish) opposite the wind (northeast-ish.) Joe really enjoyed this part of the transit – waking me to tell me as much
We then set a course for the ‘Mystery Cove’ (the Crew has been sworn to secrecy) in the general area of the Monday Float-in / Raft-up. This leg had winds from the NNW requiring
E.L. to motor sailed most of the way. (Joe saw a large pod of Harbor (?) porpoise while on watch. I missed this, but he has pictures.) We arriving approx. 1800 Sat. 12 Aug. a little tied, but none the worse from 47 hour run.
During Saturday eve and Sunday we noticed a serpentine head appear at different areas around ‘Mystery Cove. Sunday eve we discussed the possible explanations, concluding we needed more hard evidence. In the interim it will be dubbed the ‘Mystery Loch Monster’. Except for the Monster, we spent Sunday relaxing with occasionally gunk holing with the dink.
We ‘stick-ed’ the fuel tank, finding approx. 1 inch of fuel at the bottom end of the dipstick. This lead to a very leisurely sail (all sail - no engine) Monday for 3 hours at 0.6 to 3.0 knots, including sailing up to a Fisherman’s Co-op fuel dock in Pleasant Cove ($2.54 per gal. AND they carry ‘Cetane Boost.’) Bob Gray was a very pleasant and accommodating dock hand, and not in any rush.
Monday thru Thursday we all participated in the Fleet Sails, pot lucks, cocktails, etc., etc in the pleasant coves, bays and harbors on Cathy’s itinerary - Maple Juice Cove / St George River (Mon., Poorhouse Cove / Johns River (Tues.), Pleasant Cove / Damariscotta River (Wed.), Boothbay Harbor (Thru.) and Robinhood / Riggs Cove / Sheepscot River (Fri.) It was a GREAT time
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- Thanks Cathy. On Tuesday Carl and Marci hosted their BBQ/pot luck w/ hotdogs, hamburgers, steamed clams and . . . .‘LOBSTAH’. Another great time
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Thanks Carl & Marcia.
On the way to Carl’s cottage we had an interesting experience. We were southbound out in lower St George River / St George Bay when we ghosted under Genny (~2 Kts) close to a Lobster Boat (20-25 yds.) Because Mr. Lobster Boat missed a pick-up and thought we were to close, he verbalized a few words that I could not quite hear (but assumed were vulgar) AND had the deck hand hurl a bait fish onto
E.L.’s side deck. It was really quite a good throw as the boats were about 40 yds apart by then. I wanted to keep it for dinner but the crew nixed that idea
Anyone know of any written or unwritten custom, rule or etiquette concerning standing off a Lobster Boat darting thither and fro? And, can we eat the bait fish?
As mentioned briefly in other posts Brian Carroll in
Solmar (CD36) has done an exceptionally fine service. Thursday (16th) morning around the south end of the Damariscotta River fellow CD’ers, Cliff & Uli Guthrie on
Windhover with their children Tom & Emelia on board, experienced an exhaust elbow failure while motoring. The wind was so light they could not effectively buck to tide. Being further along on the days sail,
Solmar with Crew Dave Bradbury & Robert Bondi along with
Evening Light , turned around, backtracking, to lend assistance.
With 1st Mate Joe at the helm (and wanting to not damage any of the boats) I tried to cross to
Windhover with my DC Repair Bag, but with an 8 foot distance between boats and 4 knots speed, I just could not make the leap
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We eventually got Joe to go slower and closer and I hopped from toe rail / shroud to toe rail / shroud. Cliff & I looked over the problem, a broken exhaust elbow pipe. After we attempting a temporary repair on the open area the pipe gave way completely, confirming it could not be fixed with materials on hand. Joe M. brought
E.L. alongside
Windhover again, all available hands held the shrouds and lifelines while Bill E. leaned over, and hoisted Emelia (with books) on board
E.L.
Brian rigged a bridle and tow line, passing them to Cliff who tied it off on
Windhover.
Solmar started the first tow from the Damariscotta River to Booth Bay Harbor with Cliff & Uli’s son Tom at the helm of Windhover. Then again on Friday morning (due to additional concerns),
Solmar towed them from Booth Bay Harbor to Robinhood MC.
Emelia is an exceptionally well mannered child. When Cliff & I discussed bringing her onto
E.L. for the tow her only question to her Dad was “How many books do I bring.” On board she settled in on the bridge deck and started reading. After a few questions from us as to food and / or drink, she finally agree to drink a Coke and after a while agree to a chocolate pudding
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When we made preps to deploy the Genny she announce that she would go below, now reading on the Stbd settee, and only coming back to the bridge deck after my crew told we were reverting back to engine only operation. Once everyone was in Boothbay Harbor, Emelia was shuttled over to
Windhover.
Brian gets a ‘BZ’, ‘Bravo Zulu.’ (Naval terminology ‘Well Done’ for performance / services at sea.) Thanks Brian
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Thanks also to Tom & Lynnette Kyasky (CD31,
KYKY) for standing by in case additional assistance was required
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And Cliff never stopped smiling!
On Friday (17 Aug.), at Brian’s, or Axel’s, suggestion,
Evening Light sailed to the old and famous Seguin Island Lighthouse – a beautiful island with a gorgeous view. That said, we had to drag the 1st Mate back to the boat yelling & clawing and generally preferring to stay on the island. It took considerable effort by Seaman Bill and me, but we finally got him in the dink (even made him row out) and on the boat! There are several free public moorings in the north cove, but you have to dink ashore. Caretakers will give you a guided tour of the Lighthouse, discussing its history, but overnight visits are not allowed. I would recommend scheduling a full day on the island as there are several hiking paths to explore and enjoy different views.
We arrived at Robinhood Friday approx. 1800, fueled, watered, tied up to the fuel dock, borrowed a car and beat feet to the Robinhood Meeting House for the Grand Finale dinner - good meal, steep price. Everyone mingled, gammed and I did my best to recruit a new Fleet and Fleet Captain - we’ll see
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(BTW: That is the second restaurant that could not produce a ‘Dark & Stormie’
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What’s up with that – did they not know we were coming?? The Tug Boat Inn in Booth Bay was the other.)
As an “At-a-boy to Robinhood MC”; Upon arriving, I asked the Dock Attendant to cancel our mooring reservation as we planned to get underway after the dinner. They did this, and after topping off the fuel tank (6.5 gal.) and water, let me tie up to the fuel dock for three hours and loaned me a car to get to the Robinhood Meeting House. Nice people
PS:
1. Assembling this article took a combined effort – thanks to all who assisted.
2. I write from a technical background, while my wife, RA, writes like most people like to read a story – you do not want to hear our discussions
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