Hanging Out in Nantucket - No Limericks Please!
28 June 2013 | Nantucket, MA
Blowing 25-30 knots; raining buckets
Hello from Nantucket! We're currently hanging on a mooring in Nantucket harbor, listening to the rain pouring down and the wind roaring around us. But thank goodness we're not at sea! This is an unexpected stop on our passage from the Chesapeake to Nova Scotia, but a definitely a welcomed stop considering the conditions. And a loverly spot, it is!!
We are so happy to be back on board for another sailing adventure. Since the previous trip to the Bahamas last winter (2011-2012), our sailing has been sadly limited. Last summer Ladyhawke suffered from another lightening strike while in the marina, damaging the inverter/charger for the electrical system, solenoid for the windlass, and generator (discovered much later), and frying the house batteries. Fortunately we were on board when we discovered the batteries were overheated, bulging and hissing! Very scary! Needless to say, summer sailing was a bust due to all the critical repairs. Then, just when we were ready to enjoy Fall sailing on the Chesapeake, TS Sandy came to call so we, with heavy hearts, hauled the boat and put her to bed for the winter.
The winter brought a 6-month full-time contract job and other periodic contract work for Jeri, with Ingo enjoying retirement and acting as support staff, followed by a much needed vacation in Costa Rica (see photos in photo gallery). We came away with a newfound respect for the country's eco-friendly policies, incredible natural resources and wildlife (howler, spider and white-faced capuchin monkeys, sloths, emerald lizards, birds, caiman, etc.), and friendly people. We even saw a rare, endangered Jibaru stork, one of the 70 remaining in Costa Rica. The trip was a bus tour through Caravan Tours--thoroughly enjoyed by both of us, excellent and knowledgeable tour director, well organized, good value, and great way to maximize our time there. The tour began in San Jose, then took us to the Caribbean side of the country with a stop in Tortuguero in the jungle (only accessible by boat), on to the northern part of the country with a side trip on the Rio Frio to the Nicaraguan boarder, and finally to Guanacaste on the Pacific side. What a contrast from the green, lush jungle on the Caribbean side of the country to the brown, dry Pacific side at the end of the dry season!
Then, at the end of April, we were off to the BVI to help friends bring their Hylas 54 back to the Bay. Awesome 8-day trip with minimal weather issues--just a bit lumpy for a 24 hours with 20 foot waves! But easily handled by Dragonwing and crew.
So here we are, off on another adventure--summer in Nova Scotia, PEI and maybe Newfoundland if we get that far. We'll see what this adventure brings! Keep your fingers crossed for fair winds and following seas.
We definitely had the following seas on trip from the Chesapeake to Nantucket--dead downwind, forcing motor sailing and lots of rockin' and rollin'. Not exactly pleasant for sleeping, but we managed. Actually, that was minor in comparison to the biting flies that stayed with us from the DE Bay all the way to south of Montauk. Ugly and really uncomfortable! Next time, we'll equip the boat with a fly swatter for every crew member!
As we approached the entrance to the C&D canal, we passed a boat that looked familiar. It was Exuberant with Bert and Pru who we had met in the Bahamas last winter and were on their way north, possibly to Maine. How fun chatting with them on VHF.
The high points of the passage were the several visits from dolphins...absolutely enthralling to see pods of at least 50 dolphins dancing, jumping and diving around Ladyhawke. And they came to visit twice as we approached Nantucket, about 100 miles out.
We arrived at the Muskeget Channel between Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket on Thursday morning after a 40 hour passage. Not knowing what to expect for sea conditions, we wanted to arrive during daylight. Catching the flood tide and wind from the south in the same direction, we had a nice push and very little chop. It's a wide-open channel, and even though shallow, the waved didn't build up as we thought they might. The route turned out to be a very easy entrance into Nantucket Sound. Good to remember for the next time!