Ross Gilleland

First outing since the storm. The anchor had popped off the roller and caused some gelcoat damage to the bow rubrail. Also, the spinnaker halyard came undone and had to be pullled out of the mast. Bilge was dry, but Battery 1 was down to 10.5 volts. Engine was sluggish to start, but did so on second attempt. Beautiful fall sail, nearly 80⁰. Underway with reefed main and genny. Very consistent SW winds 16-17 knots with gusts to 25 knots. Kept pace with one larger reefed boat, but a 45' single-handed under full sail blew past us. SOG was often 6+ knots. Winds seemed stronger than 17 knots. Chartplotter (running on Battery 1 only) began to flicker on the return home between Long Island and West Gut. I guess I didn't motor enough on the way out to get it fully charged. Shut it down and went old school. lol. Worried somewhat that the engine would not start on the way in. However, SW winds are generally ideal for sailing in through the narrow channel and on/off the mooring, but the winds were brisk today. At least it wasn't low tide, if we had to result to that. But, alas, it fired up rightway set on Battery 2.

Day before the storm. Weather was too nice not to go out for a quick, one-hour out-and-back before prepping for the storm. Great little sail under a reefed main and no genny. Winds 20 knots, gusts peaking in the mid 20s. Wind data looks like we were in the ideal hour. Easy peasy.

Steady east wind peaking at 21 knots, doing 7 knots approaching the turn into Nubbles. Out going tide at West Gut. After the fifth tack making of almost no progress (the fishermen on the pier were probably saying, "that looks like a productive fun sport"), we turned the battery on and were prepared to fired up the iron sail, but the winds veered and gave us the lift we needed to kiss that pier goodbye.

2 POB. Out Hull Gut on a strong outgoing tide. Approached the Gut on a port tack very close hauled with a heading towards Peddocks dock, so as to be able to clear the lee shore, Hull Point. Winds blocked, as anticipated, by Peddocks, but flew out the Gut at 6.5 knots. Tacked and proceeded counter clockwise around Peddocks anticipating the slow set towards Peddocks. All clear and rounded through West Gut now bucking the outgoing tide at 1.5 knot SOG headway. Wing-on-Wing up to Hingham Shipyard channel, sailing in. Winds were ideal for an under-sail mooring, but not at near low tide, as we have very little water on the east side of our ball. Consistent NW winds 10-15kts.

3 POB. Light winds from NW, but hit the sweet spot for the day. Clockwise around Peddocks, wing-on-wing coming back through Hull Gut in an out-going tide: 1 knot headway! Wing-on-wing back through the Hingham Shipyard channel with an incoming and an outgoing ferry and one large stink pot who threw a massive wake; just because he could.

Main only. Popped the engine on to get around Rainsford, then a nice 18-24 knot sail back to Hingham.

4 POB: Ross, Lynn, Lauren, and Pietro. Wing on Wing through the channel on return. Excellent BouleNegronis back on the mooring.