First Day:  Jamestown RI to Oyster Bay NY

The day started in Jamestown.  Loading the boat with our neighbor Chuck Vieira.  We must have added 300 pounds to HT with food and clothes.  After all, 7 months is a long time.  How many shoes do you need?

We left at 12:15.  Had a great sail down the coast to Pt. Judith.     Sailing down to Fishers Island where we would take advantage of the current from the race.   When it got dark, the wind became light.   We went to turn on the engine  and …. no engine.   There we were, no engine, in the dark, our first trip down south.  In light wind.  The only thing keeping us from drifting was the 2 knot current from the race.   We took apart the helm station to see if there was a loose switch. Everything was OK.   We then thought maybe the battery is dead.  We started the generator to charge the battery, used our weego to start the battery and no luck.  Then Gary switched the battery selector to engine switch and used the weego again.   Boom – the engine started.   PHEW.   We motored for a while, sailed for a while, motor sailed again.   

This was our first overnight together.  We did a 4 hour watch during the day, and then a 3 hour watch at night.  Gary had 6-9, 12-3, 6-Oyster Bay.  Lesley had 9-12, 3-6.  Haven’t seen 3:00 Am in awhile.   We arrived in Oyster Bay NY at 8:00 AM.  Overlooking Billy Joel’s house.