First coastal cruise

[JeffM]

A forecast north wind provided an excuse to do something I only dreamed about when I was a teenage Sunfish skipper on upper Narragansett Bay, RI: to sail across the 8 nautical miles of open water between Point Judith and Block Island. A 5-10kt north wind would enable me to make Block Island on one tack, shortening the trip and simplifying navigation. The following days would see the more usual southerly 5-10kt winds, making the return trip just as easy. I and my two younger boys, 9-yr-old Trevor and 6-yr-old Stephen would make a nice size crew for overnighting aboard.

I raced to get the boat provisioned and ready, working into the wee hours on Wednesday (departure day). Then we left at 6:30am for the 2+ hours of trailering to Narragansett to a rare ocean launch ramp I

[Charlie Jones]

Kewl- oh boy Jeff- are you building memories those boys will carry all their lives. Good for you.

[JeffM]

Thanks, Charlie. After an hour in pouring rain and then a storm scare, I was afraid they'd decide they'd had enough of cruising. But they seem to remember mainly the good parts!

[kydocfrog]

Over time, the stormy rainy scary parts will morph into the REALLY HEROIC GREAT parts of the story when they tell it...

DocA

[Kidd]

It's a great adventure to be sure! Those boys will surely tell the story over and over each time with embellishment. In 2025 Huricaine Beryl may be legendary for the tremendous surf it created while they were runnin' afore it on their way back from Ireland!

[Barnacle Jim]

Ahoy Jeff,

Fine looking crew, you have there. I can think of nothing better to do with boys than what you are doing. Memories are made of this, and so are men.