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Chip Ford's 1974 Catalina 22
Restoration Project
Sail #3282 l Marblehead, Massachusetts |
The never-ending project to fill my hole in
the ocean while bailing it out
The Rockport extended "Overnighter" 2010
September 24-29, 2010
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Description |
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Sep. 26, 2010 -- Early on Sunday morning I awoke to low
tide -- and a very steep climb up the wharf ladder, fourteen rungs to
the top, the bottom five or six slick with growth and slippery. What an
opportunity to take a few eye-level photos of Chip Ahoy's 5-Mile-Wifi
antenna! The Sandy Bay Yacht
Club alongside provides free Wifi, which I'd connected to last night. It
also has ice available, cubes and blocks. It has a relationship with the
town to provide service to transient boaters. It's so off-season that I
wasn't even charged for the ice I used -- but I insisted on paying the
club steward when I finally came across him. I also filled up a
gallon jug of water for coffee from their kitchen sink, also convenient.
At low tide, the climb up and down the ladder was a
challenge, especially the slippery lower rungs when carrying things up
and down. But it was incredibly sheltered behind that granite block
wharf. |
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It's so sheltered that it has almost its own topography,
environment. After a couple cups of early
morning coffee, I went about setting up Chip Ahoy for the sail home --
stowing things away, setting up the gear I'd need. I retied dock lines
for a smooth departure then climbed the ladder to the wharf -- and
almost lost my hat when my head cleared the top! Wow, was it blowing on
the other side!
I'd watched an old gentleman, I estimated in his
eighties, rowing his dinghy out past me earlier. On the wharf I saw him
coming in smartly aboard his small Friendship sloop, then reach the
front dock and sort of lose it. An awaiting friend tried to help tie him
up, almost got knocked down by the boom and sail, struggle to help drop
the sail, the boat was going over, capsizing. I ran down to lend a hand,
almost caught the boom too. The old dude's boat is appropriately
named "Octa-Puss"!
When we had everything settled down I decided I wasn't
heading out into that blow. The Rosemary and Scot, the harbormasters, arrived and called my
decision wise. I was granted another day at the dock.
What happened to that perfect weather forecast? Oh well,
this is sailing; deal with the hand you're dealt. I was here for another
day so make the best of it. I had Wifi, so I could connect to my
home/office computer with LogMeIn, still get some work done. This wasn't
the end of the world, only a day's setback.
I retied Chip Ahoy, stowed away the cruising gear,
resettled in for another day, ran the 5-Mile-Wifi antenna back up the
mast.
Note the difference between high and low tide on the
ladder in the photo on the right. |
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Sep. 27, 2010 -- This morning was just as bad as yesterday -- worse, with
a constant windblown drizzle with more rain in the forecast. A
small-craft advisory was still posted; NE wind 10-15 knots gusting to
20, seas 3-5 feet. I wished I'd put up the pup-tent over the cockpit --
but I didn't expect to be here this long. I was getting claustrophobic
in the enclosed cabin; everything was damp, it was cold (50s), and I
hadn't planned to need a change of clothes for an "overnighter." The SCA
was extended through at least Tuesday. I was here to stay. I told the
harbormaster, "If this last much longer, I may have to register to vote
here in Rockport." She replied that they weren't about to toss me out
into this; I made arrangements to leave Chip Ahoy at the dock and go
home. Barbara picked me up in the afternoon, drove me home. |
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Sep. 29, 2010 -- This morning I left home at about 8:00 and drove up to
Rockport and my boat, brought along a two-gallon can of gas to replenish
the low gas tanks aboard, another quart of denatured alcohol for the
stove. There is a one-day window where I can get Chip Ahoy home, before
tropical storm/depression Nicole claws her way up the coast and hits us
on Thursday. If I'm going to get my boat home, it's got to be today, or
who knows when. It's going to be nasty tomorrow and extend at least
until next weekend. I left my Blazer on the town
wharf parking lot very close to my boat, paid my bill with the
harbormaster's office (they cut me a good break!), and was on my way
home by 10:30 am. Still a small-craft advisory in effect for the day, I
decided this was my best window of opportunity and took it.
I'd reefed the main sail on Sunday and it still was
reefed. I left it so until I rounded Thatchers Island, and was
glad I did. The wind and seas were pretty rough reaching that turning
point on my route. The wind was coming from the SE, just off Chip Ahoy's
bow, at 10-12 knots with gusts to 20; seas were running 3-4 feet. The
damned lobster pot buoys were like a minefield requiring constant watch
and maneuvering. |
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Rounding Thatchers Island I shook out the reef in the
main sail and headed down the coast of Cape Ann. |
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NEXT | Back
to Page 1 |
Sailing Season 2010 is here, but fading fast! |
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