Newport to Hadley Harbor

Hi everyone,

Yesterday we moved on from Newport to Hadley Harbor near Woods Hole, MA.  Winds were supposed to be 10kt from thte SW but were light.  We only managed 90 minutes sailing in three separate periods during the 35nm passage.  Frustrating.  It was foggy until the last two hours with visibility varying from a 2nm down to 200m.

A little sun

Here are the usual plots...

Track

Arrival (via Quissett Harbour)

Graphs

We decided to take a look at Quissett Harbor, from where we would be able to walk to Woods Hole.  We didn't like what we saw with the bay full of moorings.  We changed destination to Hadley Harbor.  Soooo much nicer.  A separate area for anchoring and all-round protection.

Passing Woods Hole

View South into Woods Hole Passage

Passing the channel markers into Hadley Harbour

Outer Hadley Harbor

Approaching Inner Hadley Harbor

Anchored

Hadley Harbor Sunset

Before sunset a US 50+ foot yacht came in and anchored close W of us.  He didn't seem to put out much chain.  Overnight the winds were calm.  In the morning he'd dragged right past us to our E.  He apologised after realising his mistake.  Tonight it's predicted to blow 15G30 so we're glad he moved on.

Inner Hadley Harbor is lovely.  Lots of bird life.  Big trees down to the waterline.  A few big buildings, mostly amongst the trees.  All-round protection.  Top Spot.

Trust all's well where you are!

Newport

Hi everyone,

We stayed in Newport, RI for three nights, giving us two full days to explore.  Newport is an iconic sailing town with its lengthy America's Cup history, its impressive buildings and the huge variety of yachts based here.

On day 1 we dinghied ashore to the dinghy dock next to the Ida Lewis Yacht Club.  We walked into town to do our laundry and shopping.  Then we walked around town to get a feel for the place.  We had lunch ashore with the Swiss crew of OCC sv Voyager - good times!

Ashore with Swiss OCC sv Voyager crew

Even the laundromats are sailing mad

Walking into town we passed a number of mansions set in large grounds.  Impressive.

Wandering around town we discovered many older houses are in the traditional Dutch Barn style.  But they ain't barns!  Very pretty buildings.  Others, particularly churches and schools, are of stone construction.

Along the waterfront we found an array of docks and jetties with many small ferry and tour boats going to and fro.  Many of the tour boats are schooners or race boats.  Nearby there are many bars and restaurants.

We're being followed by this Viking replica!

One of many restaurant/inns

Fun sculptures

On moorings or anchored were many lovely boats...

Zen Again!

Schooners

Sloops

All beautiful boats are blue!

Well, maybe not - modern racers here too!

On day 2 we dinghied ashore to the free Newport Town Dinghy Dock which is very central.  We spent the morning in the Sailing Museum.  It's small but has great interactive and static exhibits.

Lift that skirt!

Cut-away J-24

Legends of Sailing, including John Bertrand and Lin Pardey

Love that 1983 design

Sadly the America's Cup Inn is a hotel not a bar.  Pretty building.  We had lunch at the Brick Alley.  Excellent food and great beer.

America's Cup Inn

Brick Alley Pub

We had a great time in Newport.  But we must keep movin' on!

Trust all's well where you are.

Block Island to Newport

Hi everyone,

Yesterday afternoon we sailed from Block Island to Newport.  The 25nm passage was half motoring and half sailing.  Sailing into Newport was pretty cool.  Quite a few boats out on the harbour, including a couple of very pretty schooners.

OCC sv Henry in the early morning Newport fog

Yesterday morning the thunderstorms looked impressive on the windy.com Weather Radar web page.  Happily we didn't cop a bad one but did get heavy rain for a while and wind gusts up to 30 knots.

Weather Radar showing thunderstorms

Rain at anchor in the Great Salt Pond

Sky clearing

By early afternoon the weather was clearing so we decided to push on to Newport.  Initially winds were light and the sea sloppy.  But the wind filled in and the slop decayed to allow a nice beam-broad reach.

Here are the usual plots...

Track

Arrival

Graphs

Approaching Newport

Fort Adams

We anchored off the Ida Lewis Yacht Club alongside another OCC sv Henry with OCC sv Onset also in the anchorage.  That made five OCC yachts including our new friends on sv Voyager, who we met at Block Island, and us.

Newport sunset

OCC sv Voyager with Zen Again in the background

We're looking forward to spending a few days exploring Newport.  The weather outlook is uncertain with the models not agreeing.  No worries - there's plenty to see here!

Trust all's well where you are.

Essex to Block Island

Hi everyone,

Yesterday we sailed from Essex to the Great Salt Pond in Block Island.  It was a 36nm passage initially in 1/4nm visibility fog which burned off to leave a sunny sky.  Winds varied from nil to 20 knots.  The sail in to Block Island was a speedy beam reach.  A great fun passage.

Through the Old Lyme Bascule Bridge in the fog

Here are the usual plots...

Track

Arrival Track

Graphs

It was a pleasant motor down the river from Essex.  At the Old Lyme Bridge we waited for two trains to pass before the very friendly bridge operator let us through.  The fog was fairly thick for most of the morning and the wind was light.  We sailed until boat speed fell to 1.5 knots then motored.

Around midday the fog burned off and the wind gradually built.  We had timed our run to pass through The Race (between Little Gull and Fishers Islands) with the ebb.  We were getting over 2 knots of tidal assistance there, and the assistance continued all the way to Block Island although much reduced.

We were called by a US Coastguard cutter who asked us to manoeuvre to pass well clear of him.  Perhaps he was wary of 'foreigners'.  Or perhaps he was a watch officer in training.  We obliged of course, not being keen on upsetting the USCG!

Passing Fishers Island

Sailing

Great Salt Pond Channel

Block Island Sunset

Today we went ashore to look around the island.  It's a popular destination in the summer.  Memorial Day this coming weekend marks the start of summer.  Many restaurants and bars are preparing to open for the summer but were sadly closed today.  The Oar looks like a great spot.  Instead we ended up in the Poor Person's Pub!

We walked from the public dinghy dock below The Oar into Shoreham, the main town on the island.  The ferry from the mainland docks at a separate port there. 

The Oar with public dinghy dock in foreground

Scenic Lakes

Waterfront Hotel in Shoreham

Beach

Inbound Ferry

Warm Sun, Cool Breeze => Rugged Up!

Pretty Buildings

Lunch Spot

Tomorrow we plan to sail for Newport RI.  An iconic place for any Australian sailor!

Trust all's well where you are.