I awoke this morning, and it was still raining. The breeze has died some but it was still fresh. I began the day knocking out a small project that I have been meaning to do for awhile now. I needed to install a 12v extension circuit for use with the 12v HP air pump. The Dixie needs to be re-inflated with some frequency and this extension circuit will make the job easier to do with one person. I had the necessary parts and I installed the circuit in a temporary fashion. I will install it in a more permanent fashion later now that I know it all works. I was now able to bring the HP air pump aboard the dinghy as she is tied aft and re-inflate all the air bladders. Once this was done, it was time to go ashore.

I needed to go ashore to shower, to obtain provisions using the rental car, to return the rental car, and to make arrangements with the marina for dockage so that I could take on water and make final preparations. I elected to row ashore, rather than to install the 15hp motor for only one day. It was about ¾ mile to the marina and it doesn’t take long because the Dixie rows pretty well for an inflatable boat. It was still raining of course, but that didn’t stop me from showering, buying groceries, and rowing them back out to the Song to put them away.

After all was stowed away, I called the marina to see if I could bring the Song in for water and one nights dockage. They didn’t have any dock space available because everyone was taking shelter during the crappy weather, but they thought that they might have some later. What did this mean for the good Captain? 1.5 miles of additional rowing, that’s what. So I rowed ashore to take the rental car back to Enterprise and have them drive me back to the marina, where I rowed back out to the Song to prepare her for docking.

When you’re single-handing, you have to have your act together before docking in order to increase the chances that all goes well. I elected to use a nifty little trick that was told to me by a Single-handing South African Charter Captain that I met in Padanaram, MA. It involves lashing a boat hook off the bow rail in order to extend a bow line to a waiting dock hand. Since there is no crew to stand on the bow and toss the line, the extended boat hook holds the line way out so that the dock hand can grab it and control the bow into the slip. If it collides with anything, there is no damage as the hook is made of light aluminum and will simply bend or break off. The trick worked like a charm and soon the Song was made fast in the slip. Now I could get to work making all final preparations for getting underway.

I took on 175gal of water, hosed off floor mats, hosed out the cockpit, dried & stowed canvas covers, prepared rigging, cleaned the sole, and generally secured the interior of the boat. After all was laid along, I walked into town to grab a bite to eat. If you like an interesting and exciting menu, and a cook that can pull it off, then I highly recommend Miranda’s Café. During dinner, I called some friends back in NC and was able to secure some crew for my longer legs. My current plan is to proceed to NYC and meet my crew there. They will help me sail from NYC back home. After dinner, I returned to the Song and listened to audio books until I nodded off the sleep. I planned to wake at 0430 to get an early start on the leg to Portland.

Cap’n Monty
s/v Song Of The South
Berthed in Rockland, ME