Well, we (Nigel and I) made it to Boston. Nigel offered to come along for the Halifax to Boston trip to add to his many ocean sailing experience.
He was a great asset on board and approaches passages in very much the same manner I do. Certainly enjoyed our many conversations and travel time onboard.
Left Halifax in the early dark hours of October 02 to head west. We had a plan to bail near Lunenburg if the conditions were too rough. We could have continued onwards but would have been roughed up had we continued. Weather called for slightly better wind and wave conditions the next day so entered Lahave habour area (just west of Lunenburg) for the rest of the day and restful night. Left Lahave at first light and headed to Shelburne NS located at the west end of the province. We chose that spot because it is our last fuel stop as well as well protected anchorage before carrying on. Also has a cell tower nearby for good cell data connection for our weather and route planning app's. Left Shelburne Nova Scotia on Wednesday Oct04 at 10:10 in the morning after a late arrival the night before. We waited to top up fuel in the morning at the local Yacht Club.
Weather forecast for the trip was for winds off the stern for 3 days with winds 15-20 knots. Tolerable and would take 3 days per my Predict Wind departure planning app. We got instead 25-30 knots of wind all the way, still off the stern actually, so the trip took 2 days instead of 3. Sounds like we were flying when we were bouncing along at a very good clip. Sea swells were 1.5 meters and waves were at 1.5 meters as well. Every once in a while we would get them on top of each other for a 3 meter mountain of water, and we think water is flat. Bounced and bumped along the entire way. We did end up going south of a point just past halfway that was identified as having unexploded explosives at the bottom of the sea at a depth of just over 200 feet. Figured best not to go right over the top of that position.
I am actually amazed at the amount of unexploded torpedoes, depth charges, munitions, and ordinance that appear on the charts along Nova Scota and New England state coastline. Was dodging them that had me select a southern route across the Gulf of Maine. What I did not see in the pre-planning was the area in the picture with red circles is that each red circle represents an area that has an abundance of swells. They must converge there in the Gulf of Maine from the sea state in the Bay of Fundy and Atlantic. It is very bouncy in that area. Would suggest other boaters making the NS to Boston jump to stay well north of the Ordinance Dump marked in Blue and make for Gloucester or Rockport first.
Boston approach is full of fish markers and obstructions from the swell area to near the airport. We did not hit any but it kept us on edge through the night and morning arrival. We got to Boston approach at first light and made it to the marina
6 hours later. Boston has a long approach and many fishing markers in the channel we traveled often only 25 feet away, was dodging them as well.
Made the Marina dock just after noon on October 06. Komeekha handled the trip extremely well with no issues. Made excellent speed with a heavily reefed head sail the entire way. Gives me even more confidence about Komeekha's sturdiness and stability to survive even worse conditions, which we hope not to experience just the same.
Anyways, cleared customs by
5pm after chatting by phone with US Customs Border Protection. The CBP Roam app made the whole process of submitting our arrival plan so much easier. Submit the arrival plan in the CBP Roam app before departing Shelburne Nova Scotia gave us the opportunity to add a request for a cruising permit. This cruising permit avoids the requirement to report into CBP each boat movement from one region to the next while in US waters. Will make life a lot easier and less stressful going forward.
Went for supper as soon as we got customs clearance. Walked to the restaurant, Reel House, which I had found online months ago and ate the best Pepper Swordfish with cucumber tomatoes and halapino salad.
Landfall felt good after that.
Cheers
