Northeast Harbor to Clark's Cove near New Bedford, Massachusetts

We left Northeast Harbor yesterday (Thursday, Sept. 29) just after 8 a.m. with sunny skies and crisp autumn weather. Once we exited the harbor, we found 1-3 foot seas and 12-18 knot wind from the north. With the peaks of the water sparkling like crystals in the sunshine, we averaged 8 knots of speed as we flew south with the favorable wind. 

Sunset in the Gulf of Maine

Mantra sailing into the sunset

The wind decreased and became light and variable around 2:30 in the afternoon, and we were forced to use the engine until after the glowing orange sunset, when the wind picked up again. We sailed through the night, taking turns on watch and sleeping when we could. Near dawn, the engine was needed again for a couple hours, as we were running down wind, but before 9 a.m. we were able to travel using the wind. We made better time from Northeast Harbor than anticipated, and we hove to and waited for the current to change before entering the Cape Cod Canal from the east. 

We had planned to anchored just after the canal, in Onset Bay, one of our favorite New England anchorages, but we chose to use the good weather to get a bit farther. We are now anchored near New Bedford, Massachusetts, in Clark's Cove. We may sit here for the entire day tomorrow, and maybe longer, because heavy rain is predicted to begin in the morning. The wind will continue to blow from the northeast--light tomorrow, from 6-10 knots with gusts to 22, and then it increases to 20-25 knots on Sunday and Monday, with squalls and gusts to 36. If we can find a brief window to reach Narragansatt Bay tomorrow, we may make a break for it. We are so close to our final destination, Portsmouth, Rhode Island; we can get there under sail or diesel power in about 6 hours. 

A red-breasted nuthatch was hitching a ride with us. Peter was particularly concerned that it didn't have a source of fresh water, but he didn't want to disturb the poor thing as it nestled in among the folds of the staysail on the foredeck. Unfortunately, it did not survive the trip and Peter buried it at sea after we anchored.

For now, we are cocooned down below. Even out of the weather, I wear my fleece beanie and wool socks almost all the time, sometimes even when I'm sleeping. Since the generator is still unreliable, we are using the space heater rarely and the built-in heater not at all. I am so thankful for the invention of the hot water bottle. Pure genius!