We employed upwind coastal cruising tactics (reef, motor, sneak, wait) from Jewel Island to Isles of Shoals, the beautiful little archipelago 5 miles off New Hampshire. We'd provisioned at Portland and waited 2 days at Biddeford Pool, where we took full advantage of generous hospitality offered by their classy, quaint, and cruiser friendly yacht club. The wind on the 14th was contrary but predicted to veer to our advantage. We took the window and spent the morning close hauled in the Lee of the shore. Thunderheads were forming inland, yet they were headed north and we were leaving them to starboard. We left Shoals to port and pressed on for Rockport with clear skies ahead and Chloe comfortably snoozing.

A tricky thing about squalls is that they come from impossible directions. 40 minutes south of Shoals the system we had cleverly skirted reminded us who was boss. In a matter of minutes the wind swung from bow to stern and a cold dark cloud bore down from behind. The wind rose from 15 to 20 to 30 to 35 knots and Thistle surged forward. Harnesses on! Auto pilot off. Haul in that jib! Do we need a preventer? Life rapidly became exciting. Wow, 9+ knots, I didn't know she went that fast!