They That Go Down To The Sea In Ships
July 6, 2013
This was another bucket list day when we sailed from Provincetown to Gloucester. Almost three decades ago while on a business trip I first saw the famous sculpture. The Andrea Gail sailed from this port into the Perfect Storm and the S/V Satori wound up in Texas. We were making for Marblehead, Ma today on the advice of a friend who grew up in New England but changed our minds and came to this port to close yet another circle. Of this place he said it was to be avoided since it is nothing more than a commercial fishing town. I remembered that from the visit so long ago. That has changed some and now there are a few more recreational boats and fewer sword and lobster boats. It is a favored stopover for boats that will sail around Cape Ann or through the canal bypassing it. We may well sail around just to say we did it. Between here and Maine is a small coastal section of New Hampshire which we can cover in a days sail if we choose. The the prize we have sought for so long: the Maine coast. We are told by more than a few, as good as the Cape Cod area is, Main is the best. The prize is yet to be.
We sailed the almost fifty miles from P-Town to Gloucester across some unbelievably smooth water with favorable winds. We averaged over 6.4 knots. As we got about half way, we spotted our first whale about a quarter mile away. Never saw another on the way, but it was a chance to holler "thar she blows". It was a small one about the length of Why Knot.
We are tired and Bear is already in the rack after posting an early 0430 wake up. Not sure we will get any sleep for a while as tour boats are plying the harbor with loud disco music blasting topside with many "over served" guests aboard. Who the hell let the dogs out!