Shelter in Robinhood Cove

Shelter in Robinhood Cove   …    Saturday 8th September 2012

We left Christmas cove about 8.30am as planned. Within a few minutes it was obvious that we weren't in for a pleasant trip. Disorganized lines of waves rolled in from the south bolstered by a strong wind dead on the nose.  It is truly awesome how the sea can pick up and push around a boat as big as ours. We passed the lighthouse off Ocean Point and some time later the Cuckolds lighthouse. We had to make a decision - should we press on for another 10 miles pounding into the seas to round Cape Small and the sanctuary of protected coves in Casco Bay or take the easy option and cut out up the Sheepscot river and head into Robinhood Cove. Two thoughts went through my head - firstly, if we don't go now it will be several days before we can make this passage because conditions are only going to get worse, and secondly, are we just being wimps - what should we be able to cope with?  But in truth we weren't enjoying the experience and so we opted to duck out early. Robinhood Cove is beautiful and well protected - it's where our friend Marty keeps his Cape Dory  "Sea Arrow". We pulled in and secured what we hope is a good anchor. I say this because it's been howling all afternoon with no sign of the anchor dragging, but it' supposed to get even stronger tonight with possible T-storms. I don't know whether we should have gone on this morning - it's  a bit like backing off a climbing route, sometimes it's the right thing to do, other times it may not have been necessary, but either way it seldom feels good. The effects of Hurricane / Tropical Storm Leslie have been causing big swells which in conjunction with the more local fronts moving through have created what seem to us to be fairly nasty conditions. There has been a small craft advisory in place for the past several days, but I'm not sure that at 26000 pounds you would call Cotinga a small craft. The swells are forecast to continue through the middle of next week - but the winds are due to move to the north / north west. This is certainly a more favorable direction for us to head back towards Rhode Island, but my question is whether the opposing swells and wind will help calm the seas or simply make them steeper as in wind over tide situations? Maybe we'll find out!

Passing to the north of the light on Fisherman's Island - opposite Ocean Point - sheltered from the ocean swells