We all woke around 07:00 hrs and so got up made tea and had breakfast! Brec worked on the engine and topped up with oil. When all was set they dropped the mooring and motored towards the fuel dock. On the inside was a floating pier and we needed to moor up on the floating jetty.
We bears have to acknowledge that Brec trusts our BBF with his boat as he has allowed Alan to bring the boat alongside, motor into a slip etc. Alan told us afterwards that he did wonder if he could get it off this jetty as the wind was pushing the boat on. To make matters worse the twice weekly ferry had docked just behind us. There was now a bit little more than one boat length between us! Anyway we digress.
The humans filled up with water and fuel once they were on the jetty. Alan got rid of the rubbish and went into the islands only grocery store. Most residents he was told go shopping on the mainland via the ferry or with their own boats. Alan and Brec speculated whether the islanders left their main motorcar on the mainland and used a golf cart buggy on the island, as there was many of them but few real cars! Brec when he returned from the shop had discovered that they were giving away squash and avocados. He took two of each.
The ferry had now come in and moored behind us making it more difficult to get out as there was only a boat length in which to back up and turn to get out! This stress alone was enough, but half the island had come to see the ferry arrive, so if Alan messed up he would have many witnesses!
With Brec on the jetty managing the lines Alan slowly backed off the floating jetty until he could almost touch the stern of the ferry when he began to make the turn, letting the wind do most of the work! Then we were off!
We motored slowly out of the harbour while Brec put all the lines and fenders away! Outside the harbour we saw a large German flagged catamaran! Then once clear of all obstacles Brec pulled out the Genoa and we were sailing on a broad reach! The sky was overcast but the wind from the south was warm and we were sailing towards a blue sky.
With Alan on watch Brec was able to potter around the boat doing one job after another!
Once clear of the cloud the wind picked up and we went from a broad reach slowly to being hard on the wind as we got to the mark where we had to turn into Newport. Now we were on a run and just after the next mark gybed towards the harbour entrance!
It was a fine afternoon and there were many fine yachts sailing about! Newport is also where the New York Yacht Club have a fine mansion on a hill overlooking the many moorings! Brec took the helm as he wanted to have a look around these mornings. We looked for the one CCA (Cruising Club of America) that was meant to be somewhere here, but never found it. He now motored us over to the anchorage and then handed Alan the helm to go forward and drop the anchor.
Alan now looked at Brec to see what looked like a bandage on his right eye, but was in fact a repair as they had broken and fallen apart. There is always something to repair on a boat!
Once the anchor had been set the skipper served up an anchor beer with some nibbles and the men sat and relaxed after a great day sailing.
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