Day 285, Year 7: Back Home in Eel Pond
Date: Sunday, August 19, 2012
Weather: Cloudy with Sunshine Peaking Through, Fluky Winds
Location: Eel Pond, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

What fun we had this morning watching, and then joining, the parade of boats
going out of the Nantucket Harbor and into the Nantucket Sound for the last
race of Nantucket Race Week 2012. We picked up the two anchors we had down
and moved closer to the action. Once we were in a position to see all the
action up close, we put down an anchor so we could relax and watch the show.
And it was a grand show. Many powerboats, large and small, had gathered at
the entrance of the channel to watch the show as well. So it was a crowded
harbor which added to the festive mood. First, the Rainbow Fleet paraded
by. These are tiny little boats with colorful sails. Then the two tall
ships, the Pride of Baltimore II and Lynx, had their exchange of cannon
fire, and then led the parade of antique boats headed out to race. When
most of the boats were in the channel, we pulled up anchor and joined them.
We didn’t stay to watch the start of the race, as we decided we had seen
enough and should head home. The wind forecast was not great and the winds
did end up to be fluky. We had good wind to start, then no wind, then good
wind, and then very little wind. Sails went up, came down, went up again,
and came down again. So our trip home was a mix of sailing and motoring.
It was a cloudy day, but the sun kept trying to shine through the clouds, so
at least it wasn’t dreary. We entered Eel Pond at the 5 pm bridge opening,
had Happy Hour on Windbird, and then Alan and Helaine treated us to dinner
at the Captain Kidd. Thank you, thank you. After dinner we walked around
town and then spent a quiet evening on Windbird. We’ve had a wonderful few
days with Alan and Helaine and hope they will return more often to sail with
us. It was great fun.

120819 Day 285 Cape Cod, USA–Nantucket Race Week Festivities