Sept 3 — Day 56 — Onset to Falmouth — 32 NM

 Today’s challenge was to get the timing right for passage through Woods Hole at or near slack water, which was forecast for 1:45 (or was it 1:53) PM. But by getting there a bit, 15 minutes,  earlier, we got a small boost in the Hole, let’s say a knot, without losing control in water rushing past at 4 or 5 knots. We left at 10 with 3.5 hours to go the 14 nautical miles to the Hole. At first I thought we had not given ourselves enough time. We were making only 1.5 knots in Hog inland channel! And the wind, at 15 knots, and tide were foul. But once we got to the side of  the Chanel we sped up.I made frequent adjustments to the Yanmar’s rpms as current slowed us or let us speed up.    

We passed Cleveland Ledge Light, looking like a rocket ship, one mile west of us. Also passing it at that time was the 197 foot long , “C Star” plowing the waves at 15 knots, using some of its 40,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Destination, per AIS: Nantucket. but her draft was too much for the Hole so she was headed to round Cuttyhunk!

The Hole was easy and three miles later we were in Falmouth. Last time we were here we stayed for a few days, rented bikes and rode the length of the bike trail to Woods Hole to the west and on old railroad bed up the Bay side of the Cape. We dined, took in a movie, etc. this time, a holiday weekend we got the last available berth, against a wall, on the eastern (wrong) side of the inlet. It is right by the beach but we did not do that either. Last time our late lamented kitty, Witty, went AWOL. This time we cleaned our boat inside and out, and had a delicious steak aboard. On arrival we learned that we needed to use the fender board to protect the boat. Yes, that’s what that big long 2 x 12 on the port side was for. It was last used in Nova Scotia in 2017. The fenders touch the boat and the board touch to piling, protecting the boat from the piling. Though it was rather calm in here.

We are on the inside seawall in front of the  Tides Hotel, very expensive due to location by the beach.

Ferries to and From Vinyard Haven passing while crossing Vineyard Sound.

Everyone in this very long skinny Harbor, packed with boats on slips on both sides, passed us when coming and going, very polite about not making wakes.