Slamorama

Due to Henri's plans to blow through the area, we left the Vineyard promptly after Izzie's business trip to shore on a classic summer day -- clear blue skies overhead, sparkling waters and a hot morning when we might otherwise be tempted to start the day with a swim. We decided to skip plans for an overnight at Cuttyhunk and get back to base to prepare for the storm. We zipped down the bay and left the lighthouse marking West Chop to port, and then off to starboard we passed Wood's Hole, then Tarpaulin Cove, then Robinson's Hole and by the time we arrived at Quick's Hole, Bodhi, who was driving, asked, "Is this our exit?" The ride was bouncy. Discovery has a tendency to slam down from any wave without more sensitive handling. We disengaged autopilot and hand steered which became more important as the seas built to 3-foot swells outside of the more exposed waters off Menemsha. The roughest waters were in Rhode Island Sound where the average waves ranged from 3-4 feet with occasional 5-6 footer. Bodhi actively drove up one side of the wave and down the other, effectively hugging the waves which minimized any heavy pounding. We averaged about 15 knots in the sound and then 25 knots in the calm waters of the Sakonnet River. We enjoyed our final lunch on the mooring at Smith Cove and then Dan offered to drive the car back to the marina where Bodhi and I would meet him about an hour later.

When Bodhi and I arrived in Discovery, we were greeted by about 15 boats of all types - trimaran, power boats, cruising and racing sailboats a well as the 12-meter Intrepid - hovering around the marina entrance - waiting to be hauled in preparation for the hurricane. Some had been waiting for four hours and had an additional hour or so before their turn. We made our way back to the slip and began stripping canvas off the boats, stowing gear that had been stowed on deck, securing the sails with extra line, doubling up on dock lines. Then, back to Newport to attend to Bodhi's laser which we turned upside down in the middle of a field with no trees in sight. Sail Newport had been busy as their fleet of J-22s had been hauled and stored in a parking lot. We headed home, exhausted and relieved that the boats were secure and that we had another day to stow things at the house as well.

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It currently (10 a.m. Sunday) looks as though Henri will be passing through our area as a Tropical Storm. We are anticipating some rain and heavy winds which are forecasted to be 55 mph gusting 71 around 5 p.m. this evening...