We don't like the idea of traveling with a wounded engine, but that's life. Besides, we're a sailboat and sail we must! Despite all forecasts we were treated to 15 to 20 knot winds out of the North Northeast on departure. No complaints about boat speed today. We were downwind to the Channel cut with top speeds of 8.5 knots. We were even doing close 8 knots on a brief stretch headed to windward.
We read several sources before doing anything significant. All of which serve to scare the crap out of Ouida. She takes every morsel as gospel and panics if I offer any bit of blasphemy. The Channel Cut passage was no different. The books say to go with the current and at slack tide because there can be a 6 knot current otherwise. We were at least two or maybe even three house shy of high slack water. The tides are subject to great interpretation here. Despite this and Ouida's initial panic, we went anyways. We had the winds mostly off our back and we were going with the current. We were only lacking high slack water by a couple hours. We made it through fine. It was relatively easy much like crossing the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas. Some of these obstacles may not be mole hills but they are not all Mount Everest either. We also contacted a small power boat on VHF that we watched go through the cut in the WRONG direction. He assured us we wouldn't have any issues. That was one of my arguments to Ouida is that you don't know what vessel these writers are considering when they make their advise. Are they on a monohull instead of a catamaran? Are they even on a sailboat at all. Clearly the Cut wasn't an issue for any normally overpowered power boat. Unfortunately, we were both too preoccupied to provide pictures. I don't know that they would have been all that interesting anyways.
Lest anyone think I'm picking on Ouida, I'm not. She's doing great. Not many women will sail the high seas with you at all not to mention be your Daryl Hannah mermaid. In truth she usually only panics over things that should give us legitimate concern, except for docking. I know this boat is relatively big, but your not going to find an easier boat to dock. Her apprehension surprises me now that we've successfully docked many times.
On the other side of the Cut we put the sails back up with one reef in the mainsail after the wind reengaged us at 20-25 knots. We were ahead of schedule and now on the rhumb line for Gregory Town. Yes, they named the town after me. In spite of this, we headed further downwind to Hatchett Harbor. That put us on a beam reach sailing at 7.7 knots with 4 foot ways crashing against our broadside. In other words, a sailors dream.
We reached the opening to Hatchet Bay at 5 PM. There's a man-made cut into the 40 foot stone hills that the gospel says is 90 feet wide despite it's appearance. This was written by man who's wife has been lying to him about linear dimensions for years, because it was no where's near 90. We're 24 foot wide and our twin could not pass us going in the opposite direction. It's a neat looking entrance that we do have pictures of. It's a nice well protected anchorage that actually has free mooring balls.
I drive when Ouida puts down the anchor and she drives while I pull it up. With mooring balls, she drives both ways. I don't want her to become entangled in the lines when tying up to the mooring ball which is why I do it. She drives just fine for a beginner. Mooring and anchoring are normally a source of hostility for sailing couples, but, they have been surprisingly amicable for Ouida and I with our known penchant for confrontation. I guess the key is to be patient and take our time. I found good internet here and Ouida enjoys cooking on the boat. Life is good. We're headed to Rock Sound Harbor tomorrow.
Hatchet Bay Entrance
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