Our friend and investment manager, Steve Cucchiaro, who is a world-class sailor, invited us to accompany him taking his boat, the Windward Spirit, from Marblehead to Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard via the Cape Cod Canal. This was an opportunity we could not pass up, so we changed some plans, snagged a vacation day from Kathy's work, arranged cat sitting (thanks Debi!), and packed our kit bags. We met Steve in Marblehead, picked up some provisions and headed out into the gray day.
Despite the ugly weather on Friday, we had a good time motoring and sailing down to the Cape Cod Canal, arriving just at sunset. Fortunately we saw a red sky at night -- sailor's delight! We motored through the canal, hitting Buzzard's Bay in the dark. Steve had been told of some moorings and there was just enough light that we were able to locate them and secure the boat for the night. We retired immediately after a late dinner aboard and slept through the rainy night.
We awoke Saturday morning to clear blue skies and set off for the Vineyard. Sadly, there was still no wind so we motored down to Woods Hole and through the passage there, which has truly impressive currents. On Vineyard Sound there was a little breeze so we sailed for a few miles until it died again. On reaching Edgartown harbor the breeze freshened again, so we unfurled the jib again and sailed to the harbor in proper fashion.
Steve's wife Anne picked us up at the harbor docks and we went out to dinner at Chesca's Restaurant. The food was fabulous, but beware, the place is extremely loud.
Sunday morning after a lovely breakfast we headed off to the beach to watch the surf for an hour or so before Steve took us back to Vineyard Haven to catch the ferry back to America and the bus to Boston.
We had a fabulous time! It's even nicer to "sail to somewhere" than to "go for a sail".
On Monday Ben rode over to Marblehead to pick up the car.