Discretion is the better part of valor

Discretion is the better part of valor

Wednesday 26^th Aug 2020

 

We awoke this morning to clear skies and stiff winds out of the north-west. The forecast included a “small craft advisory” and predicted winds of 15-20 knots gusting to 25 knots. We were well protected in the “Hell’s Half Acre” anchorage but we could see a lot of whitecaps in the open water. Our plan had been to head out this morning across Jericho Bay to Swan’s Island, which is less than 10 miles, and then in the days following, continue up to Somes Sound on Mount Dessert Island.  But then we remembered our trip across Jericho Bay in 2012 when we inadvertently snagged a lobster pot float between the hull and propeller and ended up stern anchored to the pot with all our sails up, pointing downwind in bumpy seas. We eventually managed to get the sails down and by diving under the boat (in a wetsuit). I was able to cut the line, free the boat and subsequently spit out the float by putting the engine in reverse. A harrowing experience!

Over breakfast we contemplated our options: continue as planned, stay where we were or move a couple of miles north to an anchorage on Deer island that had good protection and dock-access to shore. We would expect an “off-the-wind” sail under these conditions to be really comfortable in Cotinga, however, we were far less certain that we would be able to see the lobster pots and avoid them effectively. We may simply be cowardly, but we like to think we are learning from experience, and as we are in no rush we decided not to go east today, but motor up into Webb cove to the north. It turned out to be pretty windy once we left the protection of the islands, but it only took us half an hour and we were safely anchored in our new spot. It took us another four hours before conditions settled enough that we felt happy to jump in the dinghy and head to shore. Once there, we had a nice walk around an abandoned granite quarry (Settlement Quarry) overlooking the ocean.

 

The northerly winds make it feel like autumn. The air is cool and the visibility is astonishing. It’s hard to imagine that three weeks ago we were desperate to jump in the water just to cool off!

 

Mike

44 10.049 N, 68 38.325 W

Looking down on Webb Cove, Deer Island, from the Settlement Granite quarry. You can just make out Cotinga anchored in the top left of the photo

We came across this fibre-glass boat mold covered in graffiti inside a large abandoned shed down near the water's edge below the quarry