Cheers Block Island

Since the weather models changed so much during the week, our departure came upon us quickly.

We left Friday and motored past Newport with the end of the tide.  Nicely done.

Half way out, we decided to pull out the main to find it bunched up.  In and out we pulled the lines, banjo'd them, and finally looking at Dave's face (I the novice sailor) knew THIS WAS NOT GOOD.  And then he mouthed to me as such (to keep the kids from freaking out).

Then he informed me he needed to go up the mast!  It has been a long road for me to gain his confidence and knowledge of getting him up and down the mast.  And boy am I happy he let me practice this spring.    Here we are between Newport and Block Island hoisting Dave up the mast! 

Thank goodness it was not very windy.  But a small rain squall did halt our efforts.  So up and down twice....and Happy to say we were able to furl it back in.  

The episode sure took a few confidence points away with the whole 'in mast furler'.  Fingers crossed all will run smooth in the years to come, we just may be a bit more astute watching it furl in each time.

We motored the rest of the way and the universe heard my request.....

"There will be an orange mooring ball available to us"!

Not just one, but we had our pick.  So we decided on a pretty safe one next to Madame Geneva.  Of which they had 3 kids aboard!  What luck, even if only for a few days before they headed to Maine on their summer long journey.  Fair Winds new friends, we will catch your blog www.fringesquirrel.com

It was nice to get here early and get settled.  And even better coming back to this familiar place.  A place 19 years ago during the same Block Island race week Dave asked me to join him while he sailed with the Conway crew of High Noon.  

It may have just sealed the deal for us that week, for a year later we honeymooned here during the same Race week.

Although we have been back to BI many times in between....it was Chris snd Erica Conway who were a vital component in our doing this adventure!

I guess we owe a tribute to this quaint little Island.

Cheers Block Island!