Cuttyhunk, Massachusettes
Our new friends Karen and Steve Ryan
Thank you for the great time!
Cuttyhunk began as such a wonderful oasis...kids swimming in the channel scooping fish up with hand nets, dinghy's and doggies all over the white sand, warm sun and light breezes. The evening brought a gorgeous red full moon rising, fireworks from a nearby home and quiet seas...
We went to bed thinking of the great "lay-over day" we would have at the beach....and then it began! Wow! Winds 25-30Kts with gusts to 35! At 1:30-2 a.m. Steve popped out of bed to lash things down above decks. We had anchored within a section they called "the pond" and had been holding very well. This would be our first major test of the anchor! Fortunately, we were in mud and the pond is surrounded by grassy, sandy edges vs. rocky shoals. Around 2:30 trouble began. A few of the 35+ boats anchored outside the mooring field started dragging anchor which began the 6 hour fiasco of bumper boats Cuttyhunk style. Husbands screaming at wives, wives screaming at husbands, other peoples husbands screaming at other peoples wives. You get the picture! We had to haul anchor 4 times in the 6 hour mess to avoid being struck by other boats. One of the unfortunate hauls was to get ourselves off our anchoring neighbors, the Ryan's! Our anchor had dragged after holding so well...we had just retired to the cabin after being up all night monitoring the madness when "thwack!" our hulls hit mid-ships! So much for thinking we were holding well and that the winds would, "for sure die down by 6 in the morning!" Karen and Steve Ryan had a good sense of humor with it all and their 8 year old son Teddy was ready to take care of the situation as soon as his feet hit the cockpit! Our Steve flew into action at the helm while I struggled to pry my eyes open while fending ourselves off the beautiful Bristol! Our children, unlike Teddy, practically slept through the whole thing! Maddie didn't budge and Emma after seeing with her own eyes that we were still floating, decided it was much to much commotion going on so early in the morning and quickly turned herself over and started snoring again! Winds kept up until 4 pm the next day but at a much more manageable level. We were sorry for bumping into the Ryans but so much enjoyed their company. Emma and Madeline are looking forward to playing with Teddy again. We hope to see them again in their hometown of Fairhaven on our return voyage!
Teddy with the girls hanging around
Teddy, Madeline and Emma at "Movie Night" on the boat
And away we go! Kirsten learning to use the new motor, "I miss the oars!"
Maddie & Steve on cockpit duty making sure the anchor holds
Steve contemplating the next move....
Good beach day...
Boat sandwiches! Boats everywhere!
Entering the Harbor
September 5-7, 2009
Cuttyhunk, Elizabeth Islands
Massachusettes
