Jeff Morris wrote:


Wednesday - Again we got a late start because we had to wait for slack in Wood's Hole at
10AM. This is an impressively strong current - up to 6 knots or more. To make matters
worse, when headed out to Vineyard Sound, you have to turn right while the worst of the
current goes straight; once a week a boat hesitates for a moment and ends up on the rocks.
And while there is one main path from Buzzard's Bay to Vineyard Sound, there are several
alternate channels, going to Hadley's or into the town of Wood's Hole. And of course
there are numerous ferries and other commercial traffic. And sometimes fog. But this
time we were going through at slack, and using an alternate channel to get up current in
Vineyard Sound. To my surprise, the ferry from New Bedford had the same idea, so a toot
was exchanged as he passed me on my starboard.

If memory serves, this is called "Broadway" , and the route most powered
boats and ferries from New Bedford will take.
Have made the passage many times in sail and power and always found it
interesting, whether bucking the tide or with it (Have had some long
conversations with buoy #3 (?) the one on the corner).

otn

We powered the rest of the way to Vineyard Haven (about 4 miles). Of course, the
assistant harbor master told us there were no more moorings inside the breakwater, so we
waited until we heard the boss on the radio and tried again. In ten minutes we were
secured about 100 yards from the town dock and the inside beach.

The next 8 nights - just a regular family vacation with lots of swimming off the boat, or
into the beach. Bus rides around the island; the Agricultural Fair; the Flying Horses
Carousel (its the oldest *continuously operated* carousel in the country); avoiding
getting
a Black Dog t-shirt (OK, Amelia got one, but it was half price); and a lot of just
vacating. I did make one interesting find at the used book store in Oak Bluff: a 1942
edition of "The Boatman's Handbook" - sort of an early Chapman's. It had the complete
text of the 1897 "Pilot Rules" which state that steam driven vessels (not sail) must slow
or stop
when hearing fog signals forward of the beam. So Neal was right, just 100 years too late.
[I put this in to see if Neal was still reading.]

The weather was perfect - hot & humid, but not quite heat wave and almost no rain.
Hatches stayed open, the nights were cool, and we could swim every day. The boat held up
well - the only maintenance issues were a head that kept clogging until I replaced the
flapper valve, fortunately an easy job on a Lavac; a loose alternator belt; and a broken
wire.

We were concerned about the cats and the dog confined on such a small space, since they
haven't quite got along, but it wasn't too bad. The cats found they could hold the high
ground:
http://www.sv-loki.com/Img_1450a.jpg
And Molly gained a new respect for claws. We were hoping Molly would start swimming more,
but she seemed to prefer riding on the float. She did get very upset if anyone went
swimming without her being able to watch from the float!
http://www.sv-loki.com/Img_1427a.jpg
http://www.sv-loki.com/Img_1431a.jpg

Thursday, a week later - The tides and weather have lined up to make this the day to
split. At noon we head out, crossing Vineyard Sound just before slack (the current can
get up to 3.5 knots), and entering Woods Hole at Max Ebb. It's always a rush - we were
doing 11 knots on the GPS. The moorings were full at Hadley's, so we anchored in the
outer
harbor - is it axiomatic that when you anchor in a wide open area with plenty of space,
someone will always anchor 50 feet away?

Friday - A strong south wind is predicted, but its flat calm when we leave at 7AM. Up
Buzzard's Bay and into the Cape Cod Canal, at Max Flood, so we again are doing 11 knots on
the GPS! Into Cape Cod Bay by 10AM and still no wind, and a contrary current. Finally,
at Noon the wind filled in with a rush and quickly built to 20-25, with gusts to 30. This
was a very broad reach, not optimum for boat speed, but we held about 8.5 to 9.5 knots
through the water all afternoon. I expected a bit more, so I'm curious as to how fouled
the bottom is now, or are we dragging some gear? Even with the current against us most of
the way, we came into Boston Harbor about 3PM and were on our dock a little after 4 -
Day's work: about 72 miles in 9 hours.

All in all, one of the more satisfying trips in the last two years.

--
-jeff www.sv-loki.com
"The sea was angry that day, my friend. Like an old man trying to send back soup at the
deli."