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Wednesday, July 20, 2011; 10:10 pm
On a mooring, Scituate outer harbor
It’s been a relaxing day on the mooring. It was quite
windy to start the morning with Chip Ahoy swinging a lot, beginning from
southeast then south then shifting from the southwest, but the forward
hatch sure kept the air flowing through the cabin and out beneath the
pup tent over the cockpit. Swinging into the wind on a mooring instead
of tied to s slip has its advantages. The temperature reached maybe the low 90s,
but I don’t think quite. I’m
still wrestling with the Wifi signal, very aggravating. The worst part
is, I hate being frustrated like this so stubbornly keep battling against it.
Finally late this afternoon I reached support for 5-Mile-Wifi. After
discussing it with "Anide" (sp?), we decided that – against all odds –
Chip Ahoy was swinging on the mooring in the southerly wind precisely
right for the mast to be intermittently blocking the antenna from the
signal source, Mill Wharf Restaurant. As the boat swung it would pick up
the signal, then the signal would be blocked by the mast and I’d lose
it. Maybe. It made more sense
than anything else, so I lowered the antenna from above the spreaders,
removed it from the mast and remounted it on the stern pulpit. An
improvement, I’m connected – but the shine has been lost from the whole
“5-Mile” promotion. It’s a definite improvement from not having the
system, but when it struggles to pick up a signal a mere 300-400 yards
away it’s far from living up to its hype.
While pretty hot today, it was quite comfortable aboard
thanks to the wind, which was very strong and forecast to become even
stronger tomorrow: At 3:30 pm it
was from the south at 10 mph, gusting to 18. Half an hour later it was
15 mph gusting to 30.
Accuweather forecasts for tomorrow what it calls a “WeatherAlarm™!” for
Scituate and environs: “High wind occurring on Jul 21. Maximum sustained
16 mph (maximum gust 43 mph).”
All sources are still predicting the heat wave to approach or reach 100°
over the next two days, ‘cool down’ into the 90s on Saturday. This is
becoming a most unusual weather system, and the forecasts seem to change
too often for confidence. All I know for sure, at the moment, is that a
rare New England heat wave is moving in from the south and west – little
else seems to fit my experience. No severe weather (but the strong winds
alert) is forecast, but I can’t comprehend how it cools down overnight
Saturday to the low-80s on Sunday without a strong weather episode.
I took the launch in this afternoon, took a shower at the
harbormaster’s office, picked up a sub sandwich at the locals’ favorite,
Maria’s, grabbed another couple bags of ice from the harbormaster on my
way back to the launch and Chip Ahoy.
Back aboard I worked with 5-Mile-Wifi, ate a late lunch,
and relaxed watching the sunset.
Thursday, July 21, 2011; 6:10 am
On a mooring, Scituate outer harbor
URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
349 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011
ANZ231-251-211600-
/O.CON.KBOX.SC.Y.0084.110721T1400Z-110722T0200Z/
CAPE COD BAY-MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND IPSWICH BAY-
349 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 10
PM EDT THIS EVENING... WINDS AND
SEAS...SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 KT. SEAS 2 TO 4
FEET. ANZ250-211930-
COASTAL WATERS EAST OF IPSWICH BAY AND THE STELLWAGEN BANK NATIONAL
MARINE SANCTUARY-
348 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011 SMALL
CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE
TONIGHT TODAY
SW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT...BECOMING S 20 TO 25 KT THIS AFTERNOON. SEAS 3 TO
5 FT. PATCHY FOG THIS MORNING WITH
VSBY 1 NM OR LESS. TONIGHT
SW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT...DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 4
TO 6 FT. AREAS OF FOG. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS.
What wind still. It continues blowing steadily out of the
SW at about 15 mph with persistent gusts of 20-25. Each gust swings the
boats tightly packed in this mooring area so that it's constant
motion, the view out the cabin windows always changing. The small craft
advisory remains in effect until at least tonight as the wind increases
to 20-25. It’s forecast to continue like this through at least tomorrow.
Since I’ve planned to be here until at least then anyway
this is probably going to turn out well – when the temperature reaches
100° this afternoon, tomorrow, and probably Saturday too. That wind
coming through the forward hatch and cabin will be appreciated in that
heat. I’ve learned to not make
plans based on weather forecasts more than a day or two out, so I’ll
wait and see before deciding on a departure date, but it’ll be either
Saturday or Sunday. Saturday’s forecast is for more of the same – but on
Saturday night a cold front is expected to ease in. So far, I’ve neither seen
nor heard anything to indicated thunderstorms accompanying it – which to
me seems unusual. Sunday is predicted to be cooler, low-80s, with a
shift of wind direction.
According to Accuweather and the NWS, on Sunday it’s supposed to be
coming out of the north, shifting NE later in the afternoon. That’s
almost eerily predictable, as that will put me sailing right into it
again, nose on, as usual on my Scituate cruises both ways.
ANZ200-211930-
348 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2011
SYNOPSIS FOR MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS...
AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED SOUTH OF THE WATERS WILL
REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH SAT. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE WATERS
LATE SAT INTO EARLY SUN. WEAK HIGH PRES WILL BRIEFLY BUILD INTO THE
REGION BEFORE MOVING EAST OF THE WATERS ON MON.
That cold front concerns me. With these record-high
temperatures, I can’t imagine there being no thunderstorms when that
cold front arrives, considering a clash of such extremes.
Today’s plan is to relax aboard for a while, then go
ashore and meet my local buddy Norm Paley later for lunch.
– 5:00 pm –
At 12:45, while at the harbormaster’s office, cleaning up
and waiting to meet my old Scituate friends Norm and Joan Paley for
lunch, I noted the chalkboard of current weather and tide conditions
hung on the wall. It listed the temperature at 100°, wind from the south
at 20-25 knots, and seas outside the breakwater running at 3-5 feet.
The Paleys arrived and we walked across the harbor walk
to the Mill Wharf Restaurant, second time I’ve eaten there since
arriving and using its Wifi network so I thought it only fair that I
pick up the tab, not to mention – I’m on vacation! We had a good
lunch and a nice reunion. Back
aboard on the mooring, it’s blowing like crazy. The main sail cover on
the Spice (Boston), about a 40-footer, is blowing off and probably will
if someone doesn’t show up soon to secure it before losing it. The
Island Spirit (Rock Hall, MD), about a 50-footer just motored in; it’s
skipper is wrapping his furled genoa and staysail with line to keep them
from unfurling. There is nobody sailing this afternoon, only a few power
boats moving around. Chip Ahoy’s
pup tent is flapping, snapping and straining as never before – the best
part of my design is using bungie cords, which are holding strong but
yielding enough – at least so far. If I’d used static rope instead the tarp’s
grommets would have torn out by now. They seem to be holding thanks to
the stretch, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed – it’s too late to even
consider trying to take that tarp down.
I lowered the keel (over 7 feet of water beneath at dead
low tide, I’ve observed) and the Idasailor kick-up rudder earlier for a bit
more stability and slower swing. I figured this might also help with
maintaining my Wifi signal, an added benefit.
At least I’m getting a great 100-degree breeze through
the forward hatch wind tunnel though the cabin; it’s relatively
comfortable down here beneath the pup tent for shade. Much more so than
on the dock awaiting the launch’s arrival, or walking across the parking
lot with Norm and Joan. –
7:45 pm – One of the
harbormaster’s boats just passed by, side-towing a sailboat, about 30
feet in length. I wonder if it was the one the launch stopped at first
before dropping me back here after lunch. It was being towed into the
inner harbor, where the crowd of kids and a woman boarded before
I was delivered to Chip Ahoy. Another woman accompanied that crew, but
stayed with the launch when the rest boarded. Asked if he thought it was
a good idea to go out in this wind, he’d replied, “I figure we’ll just
motor out, hoist the head sail, and see what happens.” I thought it was
a dumb idea but kept that to myself. I didn’t catch them passing by on
their way out, didn’t think of it again – until now.
I just got back from another launch roundtrip to land to
use the harbormaster’s bathroom facilities and pick up a bag of ice
cubes. Earlier today I’d grabbed a block of ice; the cubes melt too
quickly in the Igloo cooler. I’ve learned that blocks last much longer,
maybe by 50 percent. There’s today’s record-breaking heat to
consider, but I also think I didn’t have enough in the large cooler. I
added more cans of Coke, Lemonade, and bottles of water (wish I’d
brought along more cans of Nestea’s Ice Tea).
Alice, the young lady who’s one of the EZ Rider launch
drivers, came out to pick me up at about 6:30. She had some difficulty
pulling alongside, had to maneuver that big launch between the tight
moorings and swinging boats while dealing with the wind; took her a few
tries before coming alongside. On the way back, she swung around so I
could take a few shots of Chip Ahoy on its mooring for the website, but
I told her to not distract herself trying. I think I got at least one
I’ll be able to use, gave her my Chip Ahoy ‘business card,’ told her to
check out the website next week for the photo.
She appreciated Chip Ahoy’s new mid-deck cleats she tied
off the launch to when she pulled alongside in this wind to drop me off;
actually she took the cleat for granted. Great! First time they’ve come
truly in handy. I told her I’d just added them – she said it’s what a
launch driver looks for in these conditions. I’d never thought of that –
for me they were simply an attachment point for spring lines at a dock.
I paid up earlier today for two more days, tonight and
tomorrow, here on the mooring. I believe I’ll be handing over another
$35 for Saturday night as well, but want to see what’s happening with
the weather first. Joan Paley
asked over lunch if I still intended to sail across to Provincetown, as
my original plan included before I changed my mind. I told her no, if
that had that still been the plan, it’d have been blown up by this
weather anyway. Sure do wish this wind would stop blowing like this
though. Friday, July 22,
2011; 9:00 am
On a mooring, Scituate outer harbor
I’ve been up since pre-dawn, mostly wrestling with this
Wifi system, getting it working intermittently, catching the weather
forecast before losing it again. I’m on my third cup of coffee and
finally sitting here in the cabin writing.
Not as much wind at the moment as yesterday but still
swinging noticeably and already very hot – though cooler in the cabin
than out in the covered cockpit. The ‘Venturi effect’ perhaps, in this
little wind tunnel. I’ve dropped the cabin curtains on the sunny side,
closed them, a bit claustrophobic with so much out there no longer
visible. ANZ200-221915-
353 AM EDT FRI JUL 22 2011
SYNOPSIS FOR MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS...
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED SOUTH OF THE WATERS WILL REMAIN IN
PLACE THROUGH SAT. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE WATERS LATE SAT
INTO EARLY SUN. WEAK HIGH PRES WILL BRIEFLY BUILD INTO THE REGION BEFORE
MOVING EAST OF THE WATERS ON MON. LOW PRESSURE WILL PASS SOUTH OF THE
WATERS ON TUESDAY. Point
Forecast: Scituate MA
42.18°N 70.73°W
Last Update: 6:13 am EDT Jul 22, 2011
Forecast Valid: 7am EDT Jul 22, 2011-6pm EDT Jul 28, 2011
Hazardous weather condition
Heat Advisory Today: Widespread
haze. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, sunny and hot, with a high near
97. Heat index values as high as 102. West wind around 10 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. West wind
between 6 and 8 mph. Saturday:
Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind between 5 and 8 mph.
Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms after 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. West wind
between 7 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms
before noon, then a slight chance of showers between noon and 2pm.
Partly sunny, with a high near 75. North wind between 11 and 13 mph.
Chance of precipitation is 20%. |
