Monthly Archives: August 2011

Day 90 and 1,568 miles into the summer cruise, yet another day of settled weather provides a fitting backdrop for the next leg of our journey.  The anchor is up at 6:30 AM in Oyster Bay on the north shore of … Continue reading →

After six days in Dering Harbor, it feels WONDERFUL to be underway.  And what a day it is!  The sun is shining and there is a light breeze out of the north.  At 6 AM, Cutter Loose eases out of the … Continue reading →

Today is a gorgeous day…clear blue skies, just a hint of a high level cloud or two and abundant sunshine.  There is nothing quite like a hurricane to cleanse the atmosphere of haze and humidity.  It is a good day … Continue reading →

Good news.  We are alive and well.  Cutter Loose is still afloat on her mooring. Irene announced her arrival at 1 AM with wind gusts whistling around the skylight in our room at the Chequit Inn.  Dering Harbor has been without … Continue reading →

With the bulk of the preparation behind us, today we wait for the arrival of Irene.  The sky is overcast, the humidity is near 100% and the water in Dering Harbor is flat…the perverbial calm before the storm.  The diesel generator is … Continue reading →

Today is a crunch day, preparing Cutter Loose for the arrival of Irene.  We work from 8 AM to 8 PM removing and storing headsails, dodger, bimini, dinghy, outboard and lashing  lines on deck.  By the end of the day, … Continue reading →

We are awake at daybreak to the sound of 20 knots of wind whistling through the rigging.  In our state of residual dreaminess, our first thought is that Irene has arrived earlier than expected.  But this is not the case.  … Continue reading →

At 6 AM, Cutter Loose is underway from its mooring at Orient Harbor.  Our destination for today is Port Jefferson, some 50 miles to the southwest of Orient Harbor.  We pass through the tidal rips at Plum Gut to enter Long Island Sound.   … Continue reading →

Irene is very much on our minds today.  The fundamental question for today is whether to stay in Newport or seek protection elsewhere.  Newport Harbor is exposed to the north…not an ideal place to be in a blow.  We decide … Continue reading →

The passage of a cold front early this morning was more of a wind event than a rain event.  Maximum wind speeds in Newport Harbor were in the 20 knot range…significantly less than forecasted.  Winds out of the northwest bring … Continue reading →