Cape Cod Legs

Actually Cape Cod is shaped a bit like a body-builder’s muscled-up arm.  But more on that later…

Block Island - the place to be seen

First stop after launching ourselves out of Greenport’s secure Stirling Harbor, was Block Island, a gateway if you will to the world famous Narragansett Bay.  Yes, that’s Newport, Rhode Island, folks…home to America’s Cup.  And yes, we probably have lost interest since those heady days in 1984 when we actually won it.  You wouldn’t recognise those “yachts” now, they look sculptural and sleek – perfectly at home on the lawn of some museum of contemporary art.  Or in Melbourne, on that nice new freeway to outatown.

Newport is a bit like Pitt Street on a bad day, so we hooked into Block Island – a cosy weekend retreat for Rhode Island locals (remember those Store Beach weekends).  We didn’t stay to explore the Island but did enjoy the evening’s VHF16 comedy with the rest of the anchorage.  Seems a light plane was buzzing boaters and people on the beach.  Reports were filtering into the Coasties of this dangerous behaviour.  Some local hoon was adding his own anonymous (perhaps serious) contribution to the mix of hysterics and hysteria… "load dat gun and shoot deh mother#$%&*$”.  I thought we’d left the red-necks behind in down home Virginnie.

Woods Hole Museum

Next stop was home to marine science geeks, Woods Hole.  The current that runs here has to be seen to be believed; so too are the speedy ferries.  We anchored well out of the action, but given a wind change, we moved deeper into Hadley Harbor and calmer waters.  Wise move.  Our bumpy dinghy ride into Woods Hole was like a jet boat “jumpabout” ride.  Still, we liked Woods Hole and explored its free aquarium, its university-style buildings, laboratories and grounds and met some wonderful folks who were justifiably proud of their museum.  They told us that Hyannis nearby was the first holiday home of the Kennedy clan.  Cape Cod, with surrounding islands, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, had been (and continues to be) destination central for the seriously wealthy.

Whoosh Trolley

We jumped aboard the local whoosh trolley for a quick ride into Falmouth to restock our larder.  GS has seen an antiques market on the way in but decided not to stop.  Of course on the way out, she spied a stall of antique quilts and blocks.  STOP the bus….stop. the ….  too late!!  Oh Nooooooooooo!!   Never mind, a few beers watching the sun go down and listening to a band (free) strum, crooning tunes for university intellectuals…”she ‘ad skin like spinach an’ greens an’ her kiss like ham an’ beans” took her mind off it anyway.

Pie in the Sky (but not our local at Cowan)

From: Greenport, LI  Lat/Long: 40 57N  73 05W  Date/Time: 26/8/10: 0900
To: Woods Hole, MA   Lat/Long: 41 30N  70 42W  Date/Time: 27/8/10: 1350
Time Taken: 81nm (16.5hrs)  Distance (this year): 598nm (117.5hrs)
Distance Total (since 2008): 4238nm  (816.5hrs)   Fastest Speed: 6kts**
Weather: Winds W-NW 5-15kts G 20kts; Seas 2-4ft; clear
(** Sailing – doing 6kts; a good few days sailing; some motoring)