Fall
Weekend Cruise to Mystic Seaport, October 2007
 Columbus Day Weekend gave us a real
sleighride. We left
Newport in a
nor'easter that was a steady 25,
gusting
regularly to 30 knots.
While
our original plan
had been to head
east towards the Cape
and Islands, we
made the sensible decision to turn west
instead, and made Mystic Seaport our
destination.
Esmeralde
was spectacular.
The ocean was gray and
threatening. We
were sailing under main and 105% jib,
making 8 to 9
knots, and
periodically
surfing at 10 and even 11 knots.
What
a thrill!
We didn't know our little boat
could go so fast.
Best of all, she
handled it beautifully.
Somewhere off Point Judith we were surprised and elated
to be
visited by a school of porpoises--quite large
ones--that
played with our dinghy and bow wave for twenty minutes.
Our dinghy, a 10-foot Trinka, towed
wonderfully well. We
keep the self-bailer open so any water shipped will
drain. She
got tossed around, but really behaved nicely.
Great tender.
 After
a truly memorable
sail, including a screaming
fast beam reach in flat
water from Watch Hill to
Noank, we motored up the
river and through the rail
and bascule bridges to
secluded, sheltered and
lovely Mystic Seaport.
This is a must-visit for
anyone enjoying fall cruising in the area.
 On
Saturday morning the Seaport ships were dressed
for the Columbus Day Holiday, so Esmeralde did
the same! A little hokey, but fun for the
tourists.
Below, nephew Bret visits us in Mystic with Gammo
and Poppa for some afternoon entertainment and dinner.
We had great fun, and tested the rowing qualities of the
Trinka, which are super. Next time we'll make sure
to bring the rig and sailing gear, which would have been
perfect in the river.
 
 
|
