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Narraganset Bay Cruise

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ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/31/2009 : 11:56:24

Cruising trip 2009: East Greenwich, Dutch Harbor, Atlantic, Newport, East Greenwich

Discretion is the greater part of Valor. Original plan was to take my family of five (My wife Kat, our 13 yr old son Owen, our eight year old son River, and our four year old daughter Brynn) on a cruise for East Greenwich, Dutch Harbor, Block Island, Mystic, Newport and home. Cash shortage and poor whether conspired to cut our seven day trip to a three days, but I’m not complaining.

Leg one: E. Greenwich to Jamestown. We left E. Greenwich under good conditions. Sunny, hazy skies with 10-25 kt. of southerly winds demanded motoring. Lost binoculars to the drink. We put up sails briefly near Wickford, RI but the strong gusts made it difficult to make headway. Pictured here is me motoring with my Wassa Cracker Eating Admiral, Kat, a picture of the Cape Dory Dingy I recently refurbished, the monstrous James Town bridge and Dutch harbor.

. Arrived to port unable to find our club mooring and nearly out of gas. Got a ride into town via good samaritan, purchased gas, and eventually found the our yacht club mooring.

Leg Two/Day Two: Bound in by Fog in Dutch Harbor. Forecast called for Thunderstorms and Fog. Decided to stay put. Mooring was over a quarter mile to closest dingy dock. Facilities were a mile walk into town. Spent the day exploring Fort Getty, the sailing scene of the High-school Nationals, going into town several times, and reassuring the family that all was going to be okay. Lost the stern rail grill to the drink. Tried diving for it in 15+ depths but could not find it.

Thunderstorms and high winds after midnight meant that I had to crawl out under the aft birth queen from behind the ladder several times to check dingy and mooring lines.

Leg Three/Day Three: Out to the Atlantic, into Newport and home. Woke at 7:30 a.m. to a brilliant day. Forecast called for scattered thunderstorms and 10-15 kts. of wind. Replenished water before family awoke. Started the engine to recharge i-phone with my Navionics software also before family awoke. With River’s help unmoored and began to motor out in the bay. Family sleepily emerged in time for eight foot seas+ out in the bay

. The feeling of heavy seas was exhilarating. The Cat 250 shoulders heavy seas with greater distance between waves than she does bay chop. No flying spray and little bucking and crashing. Under full sail I was able to even take eight foot rollers abeam without any trouble. Dingy handled excellently as well. Some waves were as high as six feet up the mast and these I shouldered at 60 deg. to the bow. When we turned into New Port, we were sailing wing to wing, Dingy began to surf past the boat which was also surfing. FYI: When towing a heavy dink like mine make sure to tie off lines on the stbrd stern seat. As we got into the Newport Approach waves settled to four ft.

Mishap: Wind blew Brynn’s favorite comfy life jacket out of her hand. We doused the genny tightened the main and hooked the life jacket after three attempts. As I brought the boat back around to the original heading found that boat hook had gone over board. Could see the yellow handle still bobbing to the stern. Doused genny again, and fired up engine but this time wind had piped up causing engine to cavitate and I was unable to turn up to wind. Rocks approaching! Finally realized I had to ease the boom to come around. By the time we did did we lost boat hook. Thankful it was only a boat hook and not a child.

Had a pleasant and fast downwind sail under Newport bridge.

Wind died and shifted to north at Gould’s Island

. Began to motor.

Misshap #2: River stepped through the open hatch and gashed his ankle on stairway. Claimed he had a broken foot. Continued to soak foot through transom ladder after 40 min. or so hopped up again and ankle seemed as good as new.

When we arrived family couldn’t leave ship fast enough. Launch picked them up while I tidied up and rowed to car.

Over-all we had a good cruise. It was my first time this far up Narraganset bay and also a first for ocean sailing. Things learned: A: the Catalina 250 WK is more capable than I imagined, B: Things can slip out of control very quickly with heavy seas, and or tired crew, C: when sailing with family plan on many things falling overboard, D: my love affair with the ocean has just begun.

If you can't see pics I'll try again. Still haven't figured it out quite yet.

97 Catalina 250 TR/ WK
Hull #301
Attleboro, MA

Edited by - on

ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2009 : 12:11:44

Here's photos with different host

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2009 : 12:12:24

Can't see the photos.

What a great adventure! Glad to hear how the 250 handled the rough conditions. I can see how the binocs and the boat pole got lost but am still wondering about that grill..

We always keep the main hatch closed when sailing. Falling into the cabin from the upper deck is too big a danger.

Here is a solution for climbing out of the aft berth and the stairs:

[url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18115&SearchTerms=admiral's+stair+master"]Admiral's Stair Master[/url]

Edited by - Nautiduck on 07/31/2009 12:20:51

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2009 : 14:51:33

Wow! What an adventure for you and the family!

I'm surprised you would want to sail out of the Narragansett Bay past Seal Rock into the ocean on a day with big waves. You mentioned 8' waves in the mouth of the Bay, I guess, and so the swells and waves in the ocean must have been scary.

Hope you are cautious about popping over to Block Island in your boat. It's a long 12 miles sometimes.

You didn't say anyone got seasick, so you might have some other sailing enthusiasts aboard who like this stuff.

Edited by - on

ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2009 : 06:15:42

I made many attempts to post photos but I guess the forum does not recognize me my Mac mobilme photo hosting sight, or my MSN hotmail photo hosting accounts. I will post a link to my Mobile me gallery and you should see it there. Look at the Narraganset Cruise album. http://gallery.me.com/ruachwrights#gallery

P.S. The stern rail grill was a problem from the start. Got an Outer Banks (or something like that) grill from a going out of business, Boat World sale. The flame would blow out in anything but calm conditions unless I blocked wind with my body. Had it mounted on my port stern rail seat and arrived at the boat during my pre-cruise boat check visit to find that it had been ripped off the mounting plate. Had previously been warned by the launch service that it was only a matter of time before the launch would accidentally snag it. I considered that statement to be a sign of pretty lousy piloting and refused to go through the hassle of taking it off each time I used it. I'm still mad. Looking forward to a better grill next year though.

I took my pliers and straightened out the plate and remounted the grill before our trip but it was a less than perfect fix. When I was going to town to get supplies on our cruise my wife failed to check to see how loose the grill was before she cooked. It fell overboard as she was scrubbing it down.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2009 : 07:20:32

My previous grill (small Force 10) would not stay lit. We replaced it with a Magma Kettle II standard size. Waaaay better. Actually stays lit in a breeze - what a concept.

We love it.

Your photos are great. Nice dink. For what it is worth I would suggest PFDs on everyone in the cockpit. Your boat - your rules.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 08/01/2009 07:26:46

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2009 : 07:39:32

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> family couldn’t leave ship fast enough <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Will you ever be able to get them back on board?

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2009 : 09:01:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ruachwrights
 Here's photos with different host...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I think you're using the URL on your address bar... You need to right-click the actual picture, select Properties, and then copy the URL of the image itself, which gives you these... (and put at least one blank line and/or a caption between them):

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2009 : 10:07:08

One more thought... Your little daredevils should take note of that lost boat-hook as they show how they can walk around on deck with no hands (or PFD

) while under sail (or power). One mis-step, boat wake, or surprise jibe, and things can get way too exciting... The captain is responsible, and at all times in charge.

Your Resident Curmudgeon

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 08/01/2009 10:12:55

ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2009 : 07:00:07

Thanks Randy and Dave. Like the Admirals Stairmaster idea. Thank you Dave for posting some of my photos and the advice on how to post.

I don't use PFD's for the 13+ crowd because the bay water is as warm as most lakes and even the ocean is not bad. Besides we have a family of racers who can swim as fast as the boat in most cases. Might have been wise for everyone to have life jackets on for the time we were in the big seas though.

Family moral should improve in the next weeks. Lately have been singlehanding with the aid of a wooden homade wheel grabber.

Thanks for the feedback

We will all be suiting up in the later season orifice we sail in lattitudes not warmed by the sound.

Edited by - on

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2009 : 12:12:43

great story ..lol

things could only get better next time !!

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3477 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2009 : 05:19:25

Make Lanyards.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2009 : 07:46:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ruachwrights
 ...Besides we have a family of racers who can swim as fast as the boat in most cases...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">The world's fastest free-styler, Frederick Bousquet, hit about 4.6 knots in his world-record 50M dash--way above his theoretical hull speed.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2009 : 08:49:36

As we get ready for our Georgian Bay cruise, we have 2 outstanding projects:

Install a padeye below the companionway to tether the kids to, and eyesplice some 3-strand rope to make the lanyards. Really, it doesn't take much for a fun day to turn into a horror story.

Mine are 12 and 1. I wouldn't want to have to resue them, and I don't know how they would panic when they hit the water. I also don't know how SWMBO would react. I couldn't see your MOB pole on your stern rail, kids are hard to spot in the water, being an even smaller target than an adult. Imagine trying to see a small body bobbing in 8 foot seas. Imagine trying to explain to your wife, family and friends how hard you searched and came up empty. The gear needs to be there, and everyone on board needs to know what it is for and how to use it.

In our case, the baby MUST wear a PFD anytime he comes above, unless someone is holding him. The 12 yr old always wears one under sail/power, and is tethered any time she leaves the cockpit. With the new padeye, the baby will be tethered in the cockpit, using a carabiner for a quick release in case of an emergency exit.

Your rules will be different than ours.

BTW - a homemade MOB pole can be had for $10 & you can find the instructions online.

Edit to add: http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Whitchurch-Stouffville/article/95153

Edited by - Prospector on 08/05/2009 09:46:36

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2009 : 11:20:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">..found that boat hook had gone over board. Could see the yellow handle still bobbing to the stern. Doused genny again, and fired up engine but this time wind had piped up causing engine to cavitate and I was unable to turn up to wind. Rocks approaching! Finally realized I had to ease the boom to come around.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">A 13-year-old with no PFD can become virtually invisible in chop. (Think of a light brown-colored lobster pot marker.) <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">By the time we did did we lost boat hook. Thankful it was only a boat hook and not a child.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Exactly.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 08/05/2009 11:20:38

essen48183
Navigator

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USA
143 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2009 : 08:35:19

Wow, great story and pics!

We lost a PFD overboard on accident the other day, also... had recently been researching the best way to handle a MOB so it was a good opportunity to practice. We had always thought the same as you, hurry ad drop the sails and fire up the motor. But it takes a long time to do that and then you have a prop turning in the water. So we learned how to do it much more quickly and without the motor. Aside from the normal things that you'd do if it were actual MOB like throw an untethered Flotation device and marker and then toss and pay out your lifesling, mark gps, throwrope when you get close, etc., basically you just sheet in main and genny/jib and turn, you lose alot of manuevering speed but it works and you don't want alot of speed anyway.

I called jacket overboard and because we talked about it, my wife had already sheeted in the jib, I sheeted in the main and we turned to windward/port within seconds... we were never more than 40 yards away from the jacket and it took only two passes to get it. The first pass didn't work so we stretched out the second loop to more of an ellipse to hit it dead on and slow. I think it is called a "quick stop" there are quite a few videos on you tube detailing it. Way easier than any figure eights or what not and you end up going slower since the sails are not even close to optimally adjusted. And you're close enough to talk/shout to the MOB the whole time.

here are a few examples I think are worthwhile glancing at and practicing for all of us. And I agree with the tether comment above, but I have kids, too... And they just aren't going to enjoy being tied up in anything but rough conditions. there is a wealth of information out there on this topic... I think the important thing is to think about, talk about, equip yourself for, and practice it before a loved one accidentally ends up in the drink.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88kq6iZMNM4& feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akvdg_OQEhQ& feature=related Three parts to this one.

http://www.videos.sailingcourse.com/quick_stop.htm

http://www.answers.com/topic/quick-stop-method

http://www.callipygia600.com/callnugget/allcruising/boatcards/cob.htm

Edited by - essen48183 on 08/09/2009 08:43:19

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