Why we have been quiet or "After the Big Wind" - Claire

On our way from Martha's Vineyard to Newport, RI on Mon June 3, the wind piped up to more than the forecasts we heard. The wave were bigger too,  6-7 feet, steep and breaking. The biggest we have ever been in! As the waves built with the winds, we could make less and less headway. We started out with just the mizzen, jib and staysail. We needed to head up wind to get to Newport, and we didn't want to lose time and headway by tacking too often, so we motorsailed.

By keeping the motor on, we brought the apparent wind forward, allowing us to sail closer to the wind and go faster with the extra power. We reduced sail by furling in the jib first, then furled the staysail, leaving just the mizzen to steady us, since the wind on those blade sails was probably  slowing us more than helping as the wind built up.

I made a short video of when it first started getting rough, but when the wave started breaking over our cockpit (the enclosure we had keep us dry), I put the phones and salt sensitive items below.

Early on, Dave's first good decision was to cut through north through Quicks Hole between Nashawena and Pasque Islands.

This gave us a stronger current going with us and some protection from the full building waves from the ocean for a little longer.

As you saw from Vessel Finder, which shows the last 24 hrs normally, we had just crossed the RI/MA border and decided to head back or else risk arriving at Newport after dark in these huge waves.

We headed back to the nearest shelter from the WSW winds, which was Cuttyhunk Island.

Cuttyhunk on leflt. Quick's Hole on right

We didn't motor into the pond to not risk getting stuck in there with our 6.3 - 6.5 draft. It was tricky steering downwind and into the narrow opening with rocks and crabpots on either side. We anchored between a rock and a big metal buoy. The holding was great, but we kept the anchor alarm on. We pitched all night long with the occasional side roll.

To avoid high winds again in the afternoon of Tuesday, we got up with the sun and got to Newport before 11 am with no problem.

At Cuttyhunk there was lots to clean up. Books took a tumble.

Had to pump out water that into the anchor locker. We now made a way to make sure the doors do not swing open. We plugged an hole between the anchor locker and the V-berth that let water from the locker. Had to wipe down the cushions and all the bags in the V-berth that had salt water on it.

After a rough day