The picture is of sunset in Nantucket (not Narraganset Bay)
September 12, 2006
We wanted to get an early start as we have a long day ahead, but as we headed out, we saw two others ahead of us. We never seem to get going as quickly as I think we can. And the weather was as predicted, or perhaps a bit lighter. So as the day wore on we gradually took out the reefs, and opened up the jib, until by the time we reached Newport, we had all sail flying. By luck, we timed our arrival in Narraganset Bay to coincide with the Newport Boat Show, one of the East Coast's biggest. And the boatyard where we kept our boat (John Williams) gave us tickets, so it should be fun! But today we motored past Newport and headed up the bay to the East Greenwich Yacht Club where we had reserved a mooring.

Sept 13, 2006
This morning Jeannie headed off to Ottawa for a meeting, and plans to be back late tomorrow night. This is my chance to get some of my jobs done. So I started by changing the oil in both the generator and the engine. The generator change was a bit ahead of schedule, but the engine change was overdue by a bit. Both completed with hardly any oil spilled! The other two tasks I wanted do get done were the installation of a Single Sideband Radio (SSB) and some new navigation instruments. Both projects seemed to take every tool I have on board, plus a couple of new ones. So the first project was get the bike ashore and find a hardware store. So by the time I'm ready to start, it is past noon! By 8 pm, I had the boat looking like it had been thoroughly looted, and even had a few parts installed. But the SSB installation is a major undertaking.

September 14, 2006
Up at six am, I was back at my projects. By two pm, I was nearing completion when I ran out of copper foil, necessary for creating an effective RF ground. The local West Marine store had none, but was able to locate some that they could have for me tomorrow, so project stalled. But the nav instrument project was still waiting, so I got it started, and was stalled on it when I couldn't find one tool necessary. By about this time, Jeannie called to say her return flights were cancelled, so she would be spending another night in Ottawa. This gave me the evening to restore some order to the boat, and await my new parts.

September 15, 2006
Jeanie made it back just before noon today. It has been raining all morning, so we decided to rent a car, and drive to Newport to go to the boat show. A quick check at the West Marine store, and my parts were in, so all is now ready for me to complete the SSB installation.
So we set off for Newport in the rain, and arrived after a short (30 minute) drive. But arriving in Newport in Boat Show time presents its parking challenges. First we followed the signs for boat show parking, but they petered out after taking us on a trip round the town. So after driving aimlessly for a while, we found a parking spot and headed for the show (but lunch first). We soon found our friends from the Boatyard, Jock and James, and had a short chat. The rain continued to fall, but we pushed on, going aboard such boats as an Oyster 56, a Tartan 4100, a Caliber 40, a Valiant 40 and a Saber 36. We were impressed by the Caliber, and disappointed in the detail finish of the Tartan. After all was said and done, we left pleased with the boat we have. Then we checked out the various dealers in tents. I had a good chance to talk to Westerbeke (our motor manufacturer, Givens, our life raft manufacturer (a very interesting crew, Statler & Waldorf???) Mastervolt (our generator) and a few others. We managed to help out the Newport economy with some purchases, but escaped without too much damage.
Back in East Greenwich, we found a grocery store for yet another provisioning. All that's left is to find a propane refill location for tomorrow, and return the car.

September 16, 2006
When we went ashore today, we got directions to a propane refill site, so quickly finished that project. We have two tanks, and have a combined capacity that will last us about 30 days. So we are set for about a month. Then we pulled up for a holding tank pumpout, fill the water tanks, and take on 25 gallons of fuel. So we were away from East Greenwich by about 10:30 am. In calm air, we motored down Narraganset Bay, uncertain about our destination for the night. We decided to stop in the town of Wickford and go ashore for a quick tour, as it was close, and we wouldn't be going much further today anyway (we had gone about 12 miles). So we picked up a town mooring, and took the dinghy ashore. We found a very pretty village with a nice walking tour, an excellent deli and a great wine shop! A very worthwhile stop. Then we dropped the mooring and headed for Dutch Harbor, a few miles away, at the mouth of Narraganset Bay. This would give us an excellent starting point for tomorrow as we head west towards Long Island Sound.
We motored into the crowded bay and found a nice gap in the moorings to drop our anchor for a peaceful night, but not before I managed to drop a part to our outboard engine lock overboard, rendering it useless.

September 17, 2006
Today we had a nice early start, hoping to take advantage of the forecast north winds to give us a nice sailing angle to Fisher Island Sound. It started well, but by the time we cleared Point Judith, it had petered out, leaving us motoring in company with others heading west out of Newport. But by noon, a nice (unforecast) southerly had spring up, giving us a beautiful sail past Watch Hill (Rhode Island), and into Fischer Island Sound. We planned to spend the night in West Bay (which is located on the north side of the island) and were able to sail right into it in the dying breeze. We tried to contact both the yacht club and the local marina for a mooring, but got no response on the VHF, so picked up a vacant mooring and decided to wait and see. After a short while, the yacht club launch came out and told us to get off the mooring in no uncertain terms. Welcome to New York!!! So we just dropped the mooring and moved over and anchored with a few other cruising boats.

September 18, 2006
Today dawned in heavy fog. So we turned on the radar, set our course and headed out to the Pine Orchard Country Club in Branford. My cousin Anne (Stewart) Millar and her husband Dave live in Branford and are members of the club. So they had arranged a berth for us. IN the fog the winds were light, so we motor-sailed. By mid-morning the fog cleared, but still no wind, so we motored down Long Island Sound in a hot windless day. Just as we arrived (seven hours later) a nice breeze came up, but it was time to head in, so we furled the sails and motored into the beautiful facilities of their club. We went up to their home to start a laundry load, have a drink and headed out for a nice dinner of Mexican food (begun with Dave's excellent Margaritas!!... Thanks, Dave). It was great to see Dave and Anne, and we had a great, but short visit. Back at the boat it was luxurious to be in a marina, plugged in to electricity and water, the first time in two years. In fresh laundry, we relaxed and prepared for tomorrow.