Tuesday, November 12, 2013

We actually got out of Newport today at 0730. In 1/2 hour the boat was transformed from a liveboard vessel with kids to a boat heading out for some ocean sailing. IT'S SNOWING. Winds are NW 20-30 knots. We are taking 2 hour watches because the cold is so brutal. We caught the tide and scooted nicely past Block Island and rounded Montauk Point, Long Island by 1100. We sailed the length of Long Island in the lee, about 4-5 miles off, to keep out of big swells. At night we saw a large vessel that appeared to be sailing away from us. However, its lights didn't conform to any American rules and it was actually coming at us. We had to alter course radically with this Russian(?) fishing trawler running its nets. Yikes.

By midnight it began to clear and was well below freezing and blowing over 30 knots. The cabin was also freezing because the boiler that makes heat had its vent under water while we were sailing on that tack. I would not have survived without my hot water bottle. We zoomed along on the tiny staysail alone and hit 8 knots very often. We made really good time. BRRRR!!!!!!