Departure Plans

[Roger Long]

October first was my target date and the weather forecast is perfect at this point for the long jump down to Newburyport or Annisquam.

The boat gets hauled briefly tomorrow for zinc replacement and a quick bottom wash. The rudder is on watch for replacement in the next few years so I'll also be checking that. Assuming I don't see any unexpected deterioration, I'll be leaving late Friday and just going about 10 miles down to a nice anchorage for a head start and an easy pre-dawn departure.

The autopilot is working again with two remotes, wireless and cabled backup. The running lights are replaced on operational. Aside from the haul out, I just need to stock food and move clothing back aboard. One other major task is getting software loaded on to the new laptop boat computer that I'll pick up tomorrow.

 

[All U Get]

Hi Roger,
We might cross paths since we're leaving NH the 2nd week of Oct and heading to RI. I'll keep an eye open for Strider.
All U Get

 

[Bill1565]

go you guys!!

 

[PrincessoftheLake]

Fair winds and following seas Roger....

P.S. Save me some french toast.

 

[Roger Long]

Fair winds and following seas Roger....

Looks like I may have to wait a day for those. The weather forecast has now pushed back the passage of the front and the wind veering into the north by a day. I can use the extra time but it's may cost me my crew. We had a perfect plan with the old forecast. Friends would drive out from VT and the boys would head out Friday evening. Sharon and Barbara would meet us in Boston Sunday afternoon and put Barbara on the bus back to Portland. Due to the need for them to be at work Monday morning, I'll probably now be single handing.

The weather forecast

http://www.maineharbors.com/cgi-bin/weather/mhwx.cgi?state=us&forecast=margyx&case=0

has also bumped up the wind velocity from 5 - 10, not particularly good for a long downwind run, to 10 - 20 which would be a sleigh ride. Should be a blast but it would be nice to have a crew for this leg.

 

[Roger Long]

Damn. This weather system has stalled and this weekend's perfect forecast for starting the trip south has turned 180 degrees to bad.

 

[Roger Long]

We should be leaving in about 4 hours (1800). Not the best forecast but, at least it will be blowing in the right direction.

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-2]CAPE ELIZABETH ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT TO 25 NM-
132 PM EDT FRI SEP 30 2011
... SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING ...

REST OF TODAY... S WINDS AROUND 15 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 5 FT.

TONIGHT... S WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 KT...DIMINISHING TO 5 TO 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 2 TO 4 FT. PATCHY FOG. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT WITH VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.

SAT... N WINDS 5 TO 10 KT...BECOMING E 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 3 TO 5 FT. PATCHY FOG IN THE MORNING. SHOWERS LIKELY...MAINLY IN THE AFTERNOON. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.

SAT NIGHT... E WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 KT...BECOMING S 5 TO 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 3 TO 5 FT. SHOWERS LIKELY. PATCHY FOG AFTER MIDNIGHT. VSBY VARIABLE TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER NM... INCREASING TO 1 TO 3 NM AFTER MIDNIGHT.

[/SIZE][/FONT]We will just go around to Richmond Island and anchor for the night and leave at the crack of dawn with 20% knocked off of the distance to Newburyport or Annisquam.
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[All U Get]

Roger if you get rained on too much there is room at the Portsmouth Yacht Club at a mooring. Talk with Ryan on Ch 78 if you need to pull in. We're staying there until the 9th, (running home and back with stuff before heading south). We ought to be back on our boat Sunday morning.
All U Get
PS My wife said its more like 10% since we've done it a few times this summer. I think she's close because we motor sailed to Portsmouth in 6 hours from Richmond Isle.
POTL french toast or ~`French Toast'?