Chip Ahoy's 2008 Maine Cruise

-- A Week of Departure Delays --
 

Description

My cruise departure was scheduled for this morning, but isn't happening.  The "hazardous weather" alert accompanied by its "severe thunderstorms" warning decided it yesterday -- along with Barbara's pearl of wisdom:  "You know, you don't need to leave tomorrow -- you're not on any hard and fast schedule, you're on vacation."  So it was rescheduled for tomorrow, and now to Wednesday.
Yesterday I bailed a little water that'd collected over two days out of Chip Mate and took the dinghy out to Chip Ahoy on its mooring with a few things that are coming along on the cruise.  I also wanted to do a few things before bringing the boat in to the dock later in the afternoon for final loading, I thought.  I replaced the 20' of 3/8" anchor chain with 6' of 5/16" chain.  On my last Maine cruise I discovered the hard way that the 20 feet of heavier chain was just too much to wrestle with, and utterly overkill.  I'd been meaning to replace it, but only remembered on Saturday.  While aboard I also tightened up the jibsheet's double becket hitch.
I just returned from bailing yesterday's torrential downpour out of Chip Mate (photos on left).  My new bailing scoop is the best I've ever made, cut from a square-sided jug instead of round, giving it a flat scoop.  Ah, the little things that make a sailor happy!
I'm still watching the weather closely.  Tropical Storm Cristobal will pass off the coast tonight and tomorrow creating 7-8 foot swells; 10-15 foot outside 25 miles -- a bit much for a 22 foot boat.  I'm putting off departure again until Wednesday.  The 5-day weather forecast doesn't look all that promising, for whatever extended forecasts are worth, but manageable.  (Mon., Jul. 21, 2008)

My departure is again postponed, until Friday now.  Today's weather forecast calls for a "severe weather threat" over the next 24-36 hours, with tropical downpours, thunderstorms, straight-line damaging winds, and the potential for isolated tornados.  Yesterday I learned that stopping in Newburyport as planned is out:  This week is the town's "Yankee Homecoming" with fireworks over the weekend.  Transient slips and moorings are not available, reserved or occupied already.  Yesterday and last evening I completely revised my cruise navigation plan, bypassing Newburyport for Rye, NH, then on to Kennebunkport, ME, before heading for Saco and picking up my original route, on to Portland then Chebeague Island.  (Wed., Jul. 23, 2008)

What a hellacious week for non-stop nasty weather.  At 6:30 this morning there was a brief break in the thunder and downpours so I jumped on it and quickly headed down to the dock to check on Chip Mate.  (Thurs., Jul. 24, 2008)

As expected, the dinghy needed bailing again from the ongoing deluge, before the next wave of torrential downpours arrives.

This week, this has been the most important piece of boating equipment I own -- the bailing jug.  By coincidence, when I cut out a new one recently all I had on hand was a square-shaped gallon jug that once held windshield washer fluid.  It's shape is far more efficient than the usual round empty jugs (e.g., Clorox jugs) I've used in the past, with its rounded corners.  The shape also makes the scoop sturdier, less flexible.  I just hope I don't wear it out before my departure!

Chip Mate, bailed out and floating high again -- ready to be refilled.

I wonder how much more rain these so far neglected dinghies can hold?

Today's forecast is for very heavy downpours through tonight moving slowly to the coast and out to sea. Wind sheer and damaging winds (30-40 mph) are expected to precede afternoon thunderstorms accompanied by micro-bursts, and isolated tornados are again possible.  One tornado was reported yesterday down on the south coast.  My departure is once again postponed, now until Saturday.  Hopefully I'll be able to bring Chip Ahoy into the dock and load it tomorrow afternoon, when these storms are supposed to have passed.  The rest of Friday and Saturday look good.  Come Sunday, more showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast.

"Good weather for ducks"!  At least some are enjoying themselves.  (Thurs., Jul. 24, 2008)

Today, at last, is the day for departure!  The sun came out this morning and the afternoon's supposed to be great weather, as is tomorrow.  Sunday looks somewhat iffy, with a front coming east bringing likely more showers and thunderstorms through Monday morning -- then a long stretch of great weather.  I'll bring Chip Ahoy into the dock, load up, and head out to Misery Island for the night.  I'll get an early start tomorrow for Rockport.  This morning Chip Mate (left) definitely needed more bailing.  (Friday, Jul. 25, 2008)

It's good that the downpours have ceased.  Some of the more neglected dinghies at the dock can't handle much more rain before sinking.  A couple of the boats out on moorings look in close to the same condition.  Vin, another boater I just met, took me out to Chip Ahoy to check on it.  Everything looked fine on our drive-by.