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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rounding Thatchers Island I shook out the reef in the main sail and headed down the coast of Cape Ann.

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