Summer 2013 Recap

Before we fast-forward to November 2013 and our second trip south, here is a review of our Summer 2013 season on Pratique. 

Shortly after we returned to RI from the Abacos Pratique's sister ship Hippocampus arrived in Barrington.  Here are the proud parents, Lee and Cheryl, along with Josh Hodgson of Anchor Yachts who is showing them the ropes:

Proud Outbound 46 owner Lee




Cheryl at the Helm

Josh chalks up another Outbound 46 delivery to the Narragansett Bay!

 

In July, we spent a week in-and-around Martha's Vineyard and Woods Hole.  HIghlights were Menemsha Harbor and Edgartown, including a visit with friends Steve and Jessica. 

Pratique shares a mooring in Menemsha Harbor

Menemsha

Making Jerry proud:  Susan '90, Steve '89,  and Jessica '91, with Bennett '88 behind camera.

 

 

Of course, every now and again something comes up that requires some "unscheduled maintenance" and later in the week the bell tolled for Pratique and her rudder.  "No big deal," largely because we found new friends at MacDougalls' Marine in Falmouth.



Up and out



Perfect rudder, and new bottom paint . . .

/

. . . and a new coat of Propshield!



Thanks to Tom and crew for a quick turnaround!   While in Falmouth we ran into our friends Steve and Elena who happened to be on vacation there.  Later in the week we made it to Cuttyhunk and then home.










 The highlight of the summer was our two week trip to Maine.  Cousin Hank again joined up for this one, and the three of us sailed from Warwick straight through the afternoon through the CC Canal and then an overnight across the Gulf of Maine to Boothbay Harbor.  We made a friend in the Gulf that morning and for a while we brought him along for the ride:


Here are some shots of the beautiful Boothbay Harbor area:

That's why we're here!!

 

 

 

 



At the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard




Even the bad food is good!!!



Gotta watch for pots everywhere!

 

Later in the week we sailed over to Monhegan Island, which is a gem:







Rocks don't bother us!
 

Looking down at Pratique and the Harbor

This time of the year the lobster traps are put away, stacked neatly along the sides of the road . . . .


. . . .but the artists are in full swing:

Later that day the three of us decided to set out for a four hour hike on some steep cliff trails along the south half of the island.  Here you can see we found a convenient stone jetty to tie the dinghy up to go tour the island.  Being smart, I put a few extra feet of painter line out to account for the large tidal range:

With the dinghy secured, off we went on the hike:

 

When we returned to the harbor, it turned out I had not left quite enough painter out for the dinghy to stay afloat at low tide:

 

 

High and Dry

 

 

 Just another learning experience!!

 

 

 The second week in Maine was spent with Jason and Rachel.  It was great to have them join us. 

Jason and Rachel resume foredeck duties!

Jimmy and his family also joined us for a day sail:

Final shots of the lighthouse on Wood Island near Biddeford Pool, Maine, and Susan off the coast near Salem MA:


 

 

 

The Voyage Back North

We returned to Treasure Cay on Saturday, April 20.  We cut the connecting flight to Marsh Harbor a bit close, and as a result we made the flight but our bags did not.  So the next day was spent both shopping and running down our bags.  We had to rent a car--some kind of 70's style Buick with about a gazillion miles on it--"cash only and don't worry about drivers licences or insurance".  So, yadda-yadda, bags found, boat provisioned, tanks full, ready to go!

Not so fast, because now came the weather and plane issues for our two arriving crew, Josh and Peter, stuck in Ft. Lauderdale.  Fortunately their 6 hour delay did not turn into a cancellation, and they made it just in time for a delicious take out "everything-on-it" pizza and Bahamian beers. 

So on Tuesday, April 23 we said goodbye to the Bahamas, headed north for Loggerhead Channel and out into the Atlantic for our run north to Norfolk.

Bennett acquaints Peter with the helm while motoring out of Treasure Cay.

Josh at the foredeck--Pratique passes final inspection!

Susan at the helm to start her first bluewater passage!

Our weather forecasts dictated that we either shoot out northeast or northwest, to avoid as best as possible north winds on our nose and a nasty Gulf stream crossing ahead of us.  The other wild card factor was that the Gulf Stream from the Carolinas to just north of Hatteras, which usually provides a boost of 2-3 knots when going north, was all broken up and in several areas would be against us.  So much for the favorable Gulf Stream effect.  I decided the northwest routing would give us more options later on, especially if things got potentially nasty for crossing the stream above Hatteras.

However, except for a few bouncy nights, we had a pretty good run north! 



Heading North!

Shorts and T-Shirts!

 

Peter at the helm

Bennett and First Safety Officer Susan

Landing the Big Mahi!

OK, Well not that big . . . .

This Mahi gets a second chance, getting slid off the swim platform!

Approaching Beaufort NC, passing part of Cape Lookout
 

We decided to run the last 24 hours in the ICW from Beaufort to Norfolk:

On the ICW

Definitely need to stay in the channel!

We made it to Norfolk VA by nightfall, just in time for the next crew to deliver a late nite dinner from Captain Groovy's followed by a good nite's sleep for all 7 of us!  Then the next morning we completed the crew swap:  Susan, Josh and Peter for Hank, Rick, and Chuck.

Hank, Rick, Chuck

 

Pratique in her new slip in Warwick, R.I. 

So ends our first year aboard Pratique.   Now comes figuring out how to spend even more time cruising.  Ideas, anyone???

Bennett and Susan Kashdan