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Cruising Log: 7/1/04 - 7/6/04
(Page 4)
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7/6/04
I was ready to go early in the morning, but as soon as I looked out the
port I could see there would be no need: the fog was still
thick. Still, I figured it would clear sooner than later.
The forecast for the day was pretty good, and I was pleased at the
prospect of a nice trip home. I fiddled on the boat, read, and
listened to the weather.
 By 1000, though, I was getting a little
antsy. The fog was hanging tough, even though the sky was
brightening and the forecast insisted it would clear. Finally, I
could sense a wind change, and soon the clouds and fog were blowing out
to sea, beginning a clearing process that took longer than I had
anticipated.
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 This
unusual boat passed through the harbor shortly before I departed. |
At 1110, the weather was bright and sunny, and it looked like the fog
was all gone. I raised the main (no wind at all) and motored out
into the channel, where I encountered the remains of yesterday's
seas--large swells, though not dangerous. Almost immediately,
though, I noticed that the western bank of the river, a couple miles
out, was disappearing into--yes, fog. Sigh. Since it was so
sunny and pleasant overhead, I continued out the river, figuring that
I'd deal with the fog once I got there and make a final determination.
Entering the fog bank, I found it wasn't
too bad--the sun was still bright overhead, with clear skies. ("Too
bad you weren't going that way", I remember an old Mainer
quipping once, long ago, when my father, making conversation, had
mentioned his amazement at this very sort of circumstance: thick
fog all around, but crystal clear overhead.) I pressed onwards,
since I was able to see 100 yards or so, and I had my radar and GPS
plotter to help.
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 Fortunately, the fog only lasted a few
miles, and soon the visibility improved. However, the clouds this
day were very odd: low cloud banks that hid the landmasses while still
allowing good visibility on the water, and lots of funky effects caused
by the clouds. Past Cape Small in bright sunlight, I noticed a
Southern Cross 31 (which had also spent the night at Five Islands but
had left a little before me) with its masthead lost in a thin layer of
clouds. Weird! |
My trip home was uneventful, if boring and surprisingly tiring. I
motored the whole way, as there was no wind the entire day. I made
one pit stop about 2/3 the way home, after I couldn't wait any
longer. I arrived back at my mooring at 1630, and packed up the
boat and left shortly thereafter.
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