Summer Cruising July 2016
Monday July 11, 2016 Cuttyhunk
We set off this AM at about 8:00 with perfectly flat seas – such a rare and joyful thing ! We are doing our first extended trip on Moondog, our 25 foot pocket trawler. Prior to this trip we did one overnight on her when when brought her home from Portsmouth NH, and just day outings since then. We decided not to take any ballplayers this summer so that we could have some freedom to things we have not done in awhile. When we got back from the Outer Banks – we had been non stop with a deep clean of the house, garages, and garden shed. I am talking 2 ½ weeks non stop, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM cleaning, clearing, and dump runs. We have spent the last week getting ready for this trip. You would think after all the time we have spent on boats, this would be an easy venture – but not the case. Because this is our first extended trip, we had allot to do to get the boat comfortable, provisioned, and properly equipped for open water cruising. We finally wrapped up at about 7:30 PM last night, and walked down to the boat this AM. Our final destination is Mystic Ct. where we will stay for five nights for a MTOA rendezvous. Tonight we are staying at Cuttyhunk. The last time we were here was in Oct. about 8 years ago when we were brining Sundance back to Fl. It was in Oct., it was cold, we had terrible seas, and at a speedy 5 to 7 knot slugfest, we did not get in till very late afternoon, just as it got dark. Today we left at 8:00 AM and were docked and off for a walk by noon time – there is something to be said about being able to go a bit faster than 7 knots.
It is actually weird here today – the marina is empty, but the mooring field is packed. We walked about three hours around the island, and have ordered lobster rolls for dinner tonight to eat on board. Tomorrow we are overnighting in Point Judith RI, then Wed. we arrive at Mystic. It was an awesome first day out, the sea gods were kind, Crew finally settled down, and docking was a cinch in this little boat. I will say when we were headed out I kept thinking SS Minnow and the theme form Gilligan’s Island was on my mind – but at least now, we can never say that we have not had perfect day on Moondog.
Monday July 11, 2016 Cuttyhunk
We set off this AM at about 8:00 with perfectly flat seas – such a rare and joyful thing ! We are doing our first extended trip on Moondog, our 25 foot pocket trawler. Prior to this trip we did one overnight on her when when brought her home from Portsmouth NH, and just day outings since then. We decided not to take any ballplayers this summer so that we could have some freedom to things we have not done in awhile. When we got back from the Outer Banks – we had been non stop with a deep clean of the house, garages, and garden shed. I am talking 2 ½ weeks non stop, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM cleaning, clearing, and dump runs. We have spent the last week getting ready for this trip. You would think after all the time we have spent on boats, this would be an easy venture – but not the case. Because this is our first extended trip, we had allot to do to get the boat comfortable, provisioned, and properly equipped for open water cruising. We finally wrapped up at about 7:30 PM last night, and walked down to the boat this AM. Our final destination is Mystic Ct. where we will stay for five nights for a MTOA rendezvous. Tonight we are staying at Cuttyhunk. The last time we were here was in Oct. about 8 years ago when we were brining Sundance back to Fl. It was in Oct., it was cold, we had terrible seas, and at a speedy 5 to 7 knot slugfest, we did not get in till very late afternoon, just as it got dark. Today we left at 8:00 AM and were docked and off for a walk by noon time – there is something to be said about being able to go a bit faster than 7 knots.
It is actually weird here today – the marina is empty, but the mooring field is packed. We walked about three hours around the island, and have ordered lobster rolls for dinner tonight to eat on board. Tomorrow we are overnighting in Point Judith RI, then Wed. we arrive at Mystic. It was an awesome first day out, the sea gods were kind, Crew finally settled down, and docking was a cinch in this little boat. I will say when we were headed out I kept thinking SS Minnow and the theme form Gilligan’s Island was on my mind – but at least now, we can never say that we have not had perfect day on Moondog.
Moondog at home port - Allen Harbor
Allen Harbor
Crew ready to set off
Crew telling Jon to hurry up
Captain Jon
Allen Harbor jetty and a couple of the 2,000,000 Canadian geese
Allen Harbor jetty
There were low laying clouds that were actually very wispy and kind of eery
Calm seas and blue skies coming our way
Lots of charter fishing boats out
So happy I turned the table and two uncomfortable benches into one big day bed
Coast of Martha's Vineyard
Crew is comfy
Lots of lighthouses in New England
Trawler heading out
It was so weird seeing cows in the water
Heading in to Cuttyhunk
Safely docked - quite a tide here though
Ready to walk
I still love seeing laundry out on the clothesline
Bet you won't see another flag pole like this
Walking around the island
View from the top of the island
Mooring field
Love that the mail truck had a California license plate on it
Cuttyhunk - no boats in the marina
Good storage solution for the bevies
The one and only "Dogfather"
It's 5:00 !
Cuttyhunk sunset
Getting ready to shove off but the boat was too low from the dock to get Crew off, he had to wait till we arrived in Point Judith
Jon was excited to see the Tabor Boy from his high school
Entering Pt. Judith
Looking forward in Moondog
Moondog galley
Day bed with and without Crew
Moondog back deck
Thurs. July 14 Mystic Seaport
Tues we had an easy trip down to Point Judith. Lew met us later in the day and took as took a great restaurant for dinner. Yesterday we were up early and arrived and were docked here at the Seaport by noon. We spent the afternoon getting the lay of the land, We then walked into town and ate an early dinner at the Ancient Mariner restaurant, followed by ice cream back at the Seaport. We have an awesome slip at the end of the seaport, with clear views of the water, and lots of privacy. Both last night, and again this AM we were able to walk all over the seaport once they shut down, and it was really like being transported back in time to an old seaport village. Today we walked about 3 miles round trip to the grocery in the blazing heat, then joined the rest of the group for happy hour and a potluck dinner.
Tues we had an easy trip down to Point Judith. Lew met us later in the day and took as took a great restaurant for dinner. Yesterday we were up early and arrived and were docked here at the Seaport by noon. We spent the afternoon getting the lay of the land, We then walked into town and ate an early dinner at the Ancient Mariner restaurant, followed by ice cream back at the Seaport. We have an awesome slip at the end of the seaport, with clear views of the water, and lots of privacy. Both last night, and again this AM we were able to walk all over the seaport once they shut down, and it was really like being transported back in time to an old seaport village. Today we walked about 3 miles round trip to the grocery in the blazing heat, then joined the rest of the group for happy hour and a potluck dinner.
Our slip in Pt. Judith - great views
Lew and Crew
Trouble - Lew and Jon
It's tough work shucking beavertails
Lewie and Susie
Heading south
Entering the Mystic River
Heading up the Mystic river, railroad swing bridge ahead
and here comes the train
Arriving, the Mystic Bascule bridge
Always love to see kids out sailing - the Seaport runs a sailing program
Finally docked - fantastic location
Crew's happy
Seaport
Catboat
Walked downtown and got to walk over the bascule bridge
Seaport view from bridge
Found Nemo
Walking around the Seaport around 7:30 PM - it was so surreal - we felt like we actually lived in an old Seaport
Display of figureheads in the museum
The park at about 12:30 PM above, then at about 6:30 AM
Drying cod fish
Wrapping all of the threads to make lines
Blacksmith's shop
The barrel shop
Our MTOA banner
There were a lot of jellyfish in the water
Moonlight through the mast and stays
Sun setting - Mystic Seaport
6:30 AM - walking around the Seaport - no one else around..
Good morning Moondog
Trawlers from MTOA all docked
Anita giving a cooking demo with pressure cooker on the dock
We are given a private yacht sign to put on our boat so that the visitors would not confuse our boat with one of the Seaport boats
Come on - it's walk time !
Back in town - the bascule bridge up
Lunch of champions - Bloody Marys and onion rings
of Mystic Pizza fame
Life is good.....
Setting sun
I don't know if this seagull had an eel or a snake - but it was amazing watching him eat it in one piece
Tues. July 18, 2016 en route Jamestown to Harwich Port
We left Mystic in time to make the 8:40 AM bridge and had a smooth trip down the Mystic river to the outlet. The trip started as advertised, winds around ten knots, 1 to 2 foot seas. As is all too common the case, the day quickly deteriroated and we soon found ourselves in 4 to 5 foot seas, with winds up to 25 knots. Jon ha d a pretty hard day at the helm to keep us steady, but did a great job and we finally pulled into Conanicut Marina on Jamestown around noon time. We were all pretty beat after the trip but found no respite at the marina due to high winds and lots of rocking rolling that continued into the wee hours of this morning. The situation was made worse by both the Conanicut courtesy boat launch, and the Jamestown – Newport ferry that were continuously in and out of the marina throwing up huge wakes. We did get a nice long walk in, and enjoyed our afternoon on Jamestown.
We were up an off this AM at7:00. 5 to 10 knots, 1 to 2 foot seas predicted. We were not happy that once out, we found the seas at 3 to 4 feet, by they were gentle swells and easy to glide on. Once we were in Vineyard Sound, we had a bit of chop, but not too bad. Now we are in a Nantucket sound with wind and current in our favor and should be home by noon.
I had a great idea this AM which is to bring Moondog donw to Florida this fall. We are planning on attending the Crisfield MTOA rendezvous on 9/25, so we could bring the boat there, then just continue on down and hopefully get to do the NJ inland waterway, and the dismal swamp. We then could take Moondog to the Bahamas this spring instead of Sundance. We can take Sundance to St. Augustine for the MTOA rendezvous in Apri lso that she will not feel neglected. After the Bahamas we can have Moondog shipped back up to the Cape for the Summer. It all makes perfect sense to me so stay posted – Moondog may be making tracks south this fall…….
Tues. July 18, 2016 en route Jamestown to Harwich Port
We left Mystic in time to make the 8:40 AM bridge and had a smooth trip down the Mystic river to the outlet. The trip started as advertised, winds around ten knots, 1 to 2 foot seas. As is all too common the case, the day quickly deteriroated and we soon found ourselves in 4 to 5 foot seas, with winds up to 25 knots. Jon ha d a pretty hard day at the helm to keep us steady, but did a great job and we finally pulled into Conanicut Marina on Jamestown around noon time. We were all pretty beat after the trip but found no respite at the marina due to high winds and lots of rocking rolling that continued into the wee hours of this morning. The situation was made worse by both the Conanicut courtesy boat launch, and the Jamestown – Newport ferry that were continuously in and out of the marina throwing up huge wakes. We did get a nice long walk in, and enjoyed our afternoon on Jamestown.
We were up an off this AM at7:00. 5 to 10 knots, 1 to 2 foot seas predicted. We were not happy that once out, we found the seas at 3 to 4 feet, by they were gentle swells and easy to glide on. Once we were in Vineyard Sound, we had a bit of chop, but not too bad. Now we are in a Nantucket sound with wind and current in our favor and should be home by noon.
I had a great idea this AM which is to bring Moondog donw to Florida this fall. We are planning on attending the Crisfield MTOA rendezvous on 9/25, so we could bring the boat there, then just continue on down and hopefully get to do the NJ inland waterway, and the dismal swamp. We then could take Moondog to the Bahamas this spring instead of Sundance. We can take Sundance to St. Augustine for the MTOA rendezvous in Apri lso that she will not feel neglected. After the Bahamas we can have Moondog shipped back up to the Cape for the Summer. It all makes perfect sense to me so stay posted – Moondog may be making tracks south this fall…….
Leaving Mystic
Arriving in Jamestown, RI
We were in the land of big ol' yachts
You can see Moondog docked between the big red sail boat, and the black hulled yacht - we were about a 1/3 their size
Dusk
Jamestown River bridge
Sunrise
and we are off - Cape Cod bound
Lighthouses at Newport
