After a good couple of days in Shelter Island where the Ocean Cruising Club rally kicked off from ye olde Shelter Island Yacht Club, we are back to the Crack of Dawn routine as we headed out for Mystic River at 05:00 on Monday.

Shelter Island was a great base. Fully enclosed bay and as the name implies we had a comfortable mooring for two nights and a launch service into the dock.

We were near enough to New York for Jim and Lucie to find us for the start of their two weeks of holidays/purgatory.

The OCC Southern New England cruise will take us from the east end of Long Island to Marthas Vineyard (no sign of either Martha or a vineyard) then across to the Elizabeth Islands then Newport and Bristol for 4th July celebrations.

13 boats gathered in Shelter Island and Julian starred at the opening buffet playing piano accompanying Jim and Bentley on banjo and guitar.

On sight of the scallops wrapped in bacon I parked myself within arms reach and stuffed myself.

From Shelter we moved east to visit Mystic Seaport. It seems odd to be going east and I'm still getting my head around weather patterns coming from the west, not to mention tides.

We left early to catch the 2-3 knot tide and entered the Mystic River just after 08:00. We had one of these perfect early mornings quietly motoring up the flat calm meandering river past more expensive houses and marinas. The Seaport was interesting and a reprise if a visit many years ago with the kids. Expensive though.

Next stop Menemsha on the Vineyard. We anchored off in 20k winds which brought rain then thick fog. Spooky.

Next day the Rally crews met for drinks and nibbles on the beach so all very sociable.

Massive lightning storm overnight with forked lightning, cloud to cloud and down to sea level. Phones microwave in token gesture.

We are mow in Oak Bluffs. AKA Amity, where the hordes came iff the ferry in the early scenes from Jaws. Its a lovely we town, touristy on the front but retaining its New England charm.

Edgartown later today to batten down the hatches for forecast 25-30 knots and rain fir next 48 jours. However, forecasts seem more fictional than Jaws.