The Gulf Stream is always a hurdle, but
this time we crossed easily, powering into a light north wind.
We spotted something large floating off to windward, and changed course to investigate. It turned out to be a very dead, very smelly humpback whale about 35 feet long.
Rich said to watch out that we didn't snag our fishing line on him as we circled, as this was definitely not dinner material. We were pulling away when something struck the lure and took off dragging the line off the reel like crazy. I tried to slow it down, but a tremendous yank broke the 80 pound test line, and then we saw the fin of a large shark break the water behind. I guess he thought our lure was the appetizer before his main course of dead whale. We were happy to give him the lure and broken off line without argument.
It's great to be able to stay in touch with friends and family with our onboard email.
When Herb predicted 35 knots on the nose for the following day, we ducked into Martha's Vineyard to wait it out. This required quite a sleighride in the channel between the Vineyard and Nantucket. Current running out and wind coming in at 30 knots made for some excitement, and hand steering was the only way to cope with the heavy chop.
Once we go under the lee of the Vineyard, Alice balanced beautifully with just the reefed yankee.
Luke entertained us with a pipe concert as we waited out the adverse winds.
At last, approaching the Maine coast at sunrise, we celebrated a fine passage completed without any serious problems, and in record time.
Can you tell we aren't in the tropics anymore?
On to Cruising Maine
Back to Previous Adventures
Or get all the Facts about Alice
We even have Design Drawings of Alice
Meet her Captain, Chris Knight