Javelin 2015

Javelin 2019 June Cruise June 24 - June 28

Javelin 5/2016 By Rebecca Jonas

Just for fun, Steve Blecher's 53' J-160, Javelin kicks off the 2019 cruising season with a quick 5 day circuit of well established haunts. The Crew:
Steve (Dartmouth '64) boat Javelin, home port Westbrook, CT
Rick Van Mell (Dartmouth '63), boat Vanishing Animal, home port San Francisco Bay
Jess Gregory, boat Sea Hawk, home port Keyport, NJ
Michael Luskin (Harvard '73) boat Turtleheart, home port Mamaroneck, NY

For this short but fun cruise we're outbound from Westbrook, CT to East Harbor at Fishers Island. Then a long jump to Cuttyhunk for a lobster shack dinner, and maybe Jay & Hasty will meet us there. A short 26 mile run gets us to Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard for a visit with the Jeffrey Blecher's and Steve's friends Steve & Pam Besse. Heading back west for 50 miles gets us to Newport and New York Yacht Club's Thursday night all-you-can-eat seafood buffet. Finally it's 58 miles back home to Westbrook on Friday.

That was The Plan, and Shopping List, but you'll just have to read on to see what happened when the wind hit The Plan!

Pictures by Michael Luskin and Rick Van Mell, and are grouped between days.

The table below summarizes daily runs and the date is a link to that day's log. Elapsed time is generally time under way and has sometimes been adjusted for lunch stops. Cells with a darker background color represent changes from the original Plan. Engine hours may seem long, but we often have to run the engine to cool the refrigeration system or charge batteries for an hour or more at a time.

Sunday, June 23rd

Steve was just 5 minutes away in traffic as Rick arrived at the Jet Blue departure level curb at JFK after a routine flight from San Francisco. By 1530 they were inching their way north to Steve's house in Scarsdale. Steve was concerned with rain forecast for Tuesday and if we should consider an alternative to Cuttyhunk.

Once at Scarsdale the first order of business was to consolidate the shopping list between what Steve had already bought, what was available in Amy's kitchen, and what still needed to be bought. it didn't take long and soon Rick & Steve made a funny picture walking the aisles of Acme Market with a 4-page shopping list, calling out things to get. But this was a short trip and it all fit nicely in one cart and three big canvas bags.

Dinner with Amy at the Scarsdale diner, Jess Gregory's arrival at Steve's house, and early to bed finished off the day. Go To Log Summary

Monday, June 24th

At 0530 Steve woke Rick & Jess, and after a quick coffee and oatmeal breakfast, the "truck" was loaded and we three departed Scarsdale at 0627. Arriving at Westbrook at 0813, we saw the black mast of Javelin moving down the fairway to the fuel dock and Steve remarked that he had instructed the yard to move the boat by 0830 to avoid getting stuck in the slip by a low tide. Two cart-loads was all it took to get food and duffels down to the fuel dock just as the yard crew finished tying off Javelin's dock lines.

After handing everything aboard and down below we started on Steve's 21 item checklist. Filling the fuel and water tanks, and pumping out the holding tanks were top priority. 8.7 gallons of diesel in the port fuel tank, and 15 in the starboard tank brought the total to about 90 gallons, theoretically enough for about 45 hours under power. Rick got ice and stowed the food with only the ice and frozen corn in the freezer, all the fresh veg, lunch meats, OJ & milk, and condiments in the refrigeration section, and stocked the drink cooler with water and soft drinks. As soon as the fuel had been topped off, the engine was started to begin cooling down the freezer, fridge, and drink locker.

Under a clear blue sky, with about 8 knots of southwest wind, we departed the fuel dock and started the cruise at 0921. The good news was that the wind slowly increased into the 2 knot range. the bad news was that it was almost dead astern and thus not much good for getting east quickly. Still thinking about rain on Tuesday and the original plan for a 50 mile run from East Harbor behind Fisher's Island to Cuttyhunk, we decided to continue east to Dutch Island Harbor on the West Passage entrance to Narragansett Bay. As the crow flies, Dutch Island Harbor is just two and a half miles west of Newport across Conanicut Island.

Deli sandwich lunch was eaten as we pass our original destination of East Harbor, and we cleared Watch Hill at 1251. Our timing was fortuitous as the ebb tide that had helped us cruise at 9 knots going east leaving Long Island Sound turned to a flood just as we passed Watch Hill into Block Island Sound. The weak starting flood only cost us a few tenths of a knot for the 15 miles to Pt. Judith and Rhode Island Sound.

By now the wind had built to 16 knots and our change of course north into West Passage enticed us to kill the engine and set sail at 1516 for a glorious run to Dutch Island Harbor. Michael got the "tiller tweaker" award for the day when he drove Javelin to 9 knots. We bore off up just north of Dutch Island to furl the jib, then rounded head to wind and dropped the main at 1639. Hailing Dutch Island Harbor on channel 69, we were settled on mooring B-10 at 1700. This was a new overnight spot for Javelin, a relatively rare occurrence after Steve's 50 years of cruising.

We put on the sail cover, then noted the day's engine hours and track length in the log. Jess's, or more correctly Laurie's, lasagana with a big salad and french bread washed down with red wine made for a delightful dinner. Rick discovered that in addition to his problem with his laptop's upload to the internet program, the driver for his extended wifi antenna was missing and he had neglected to pack the card reader to transfer pictures from the camera to the computer. Posting those pictures may have to wait until after the cruise! But Michael's shots help tell the tale for now. To ward off any overnight rain, the ports were secured as we turned in for the night. Rick was the last into a bunk at 2130.

Cabin is clear ...	Bread pantry ...	fridge ...	freezer ...	lasagana defrosting ...
nav station.	Rick's bunk.	Departing Westbrook	Michael's turn ...	Steve's relaxed
Jess too.	Smooth sea ...	moving well	Jess at helm	Noank, CT mouth of Mystic R.
North Dumpling	Latimer Reef	Napatree buoy ...	#6	Watch Hill
Michaels shoots ...	Watch Hill ...	light.	Big fish	Steve checks route ...
while Jess is ...	on watch ...	Rick watching ...	Watching for ...	Pt. Judith ...
close aboard.	Time to ...	Set the main ...	good start ...	jib too.
West Passage	Whale Rock	Beavertail Light	West Passage Br.	Dutch Island light
Dutch I Hbr	Old Dutch I ruins	Harbor ...	is comfortable ...	D.I. Harbor Newport Bridge
nice evening.

Go To Log Summary

Tuesday, June 25th

The problem with going to bed at 9:30 PM is that everyone was up shortly after 0600. Oatmeal with fruit, OJ and coffee got us started. Cell phone browsers showed the band of rain stretching north and south over New York City and slowly heading east. Part of the thinking was that we might watch the start of the New York Yacht Club's trans atlantic race off Castle Light about 1000. It would be fun to watch them head on out, but that would mean the rain might arrive by then, or catch us mid-trip heading on to Cuttyhunk.

As we discussed our options, Michael browsed the NYYC Club Book signal section and amused the crew with the following code flag signals: CQ: Captains and guests are invited aboard this yacht at __; DH: Power yachts will tow sailing yachts after finish: FA:Alcohol is needed; FI: order one taxicab for me; FJ order two taxicabs for me; and GT: Wish you a pleasant voyage. But the rain was moving slowly and if we departed directly for Cuttyhunk we might get there before it got to us. We were under way at 0811. Optimistic Steve directed the sail cover to be removed and the halyard bent on the main, hoping to get in some sailing rather than powering. But sailing would be slower and we'd more likely get wet. So as we approached Beavertail light at the south end of Conanicut, the halyard came off and the sail cover back on as we powered east past Brenton Reef, heading for the entrance to Buzzards Bay and Cuttyhunk harbor.

At 0940 we passed Sakonnet River's "SR", two thirds of the way to Cuttyhunk and the radar showed the rain still about 40 miles west of us. It was now a race. Our challenge was that the November 2018 NOAA chart update for Cuttyhunk showed a low water depth of only 5 feet in parts of the entrance channel to the inner harbor. Javelin needs 7 feet. High tide of 3 feet would be fine, but high tide today isn't until 1600. With our arrival looking to be a little before noon, the thought was to pick up a mooring in the deeper outer harbor, have lunch, wait for the rain to blow through, and head on in to the dock around 1400.

With Michael on boat hook, Jess with line in hand, and Rick relaying info between the bow and Steve at the helm, we approached the mooring buoy close to the deep water channel. Steve laid Javelin's bow right alongside the welded loop standing almost four feet above the water. Michael hooked it with the boot hook, Jess passed the line through the eye and quickly belayed it on the cleat while Steve backed Javelin away from the buoy. At 1135 we were snug in Cuttyhunk's outer harbor - and dry too. Just 40 minutes later the rain began. It was way too early to test the channel that NOOA had reported as having only "5 feet" of water.

Time for lunch. 3-Bean soup with Polish Kilbasa and Oyster Crackers, preceded by the normal condiment bowl of carrots, olives, pickles and radishes, was just the right note as the rain pattered down on the cabin top. Then time to read, work on the log and relax. Waves of rain, light and heavy, swept over the boat. At 1500, one hour before hight tide and at least 2 feet of water above datum, we cast off the mooring in the outer harbor and motored into the channel. With Steve, Jess and Michael in wet gear on deck and Rick recording depths below every 30 seconds, we charted our way in. We weren't worried about going in, but wanted to know where it might be difficult to get out at a lower tide tomorrow. The channel in proved to be no problem with depths of 15 to 13 feet. It was only as we covered the last 50 yards, right off the end of the docks that we recorded depths of 11.6 down to 10.2 feet. That would be a problem for Javelin's 7' draft with 3 feet less water at low tide.

By 1511 we were safely at the end of the dock with very light rain, a short walk to lobsters for dinner. Unfortunately it took a little longer to get the power cord firmly connected and Jess and Steve's wet gear were definitely wet when all was connected and reading correctly. After several tries, Rick was able to connect to their local WiFi and with a big sigh of relief, the log and all the pictures were safely uploaded to the web.

It was now approaching 1700 and Jess asked, and Michael and Steve agreed, is it cocktail hour? Rick was still trimming up the log and begged for 1715. As 1800 approached, Rick had the salad made and the corn ready to heat on the stove. the table was set and the white wine chilled in the freezer. Steve and Michael headed the few steps up the dock to get our lobster ordered for 1800. As an aside, previously at the wonderful spot there were long lines of people waiting for lobster, and all the slips and moorings were full. Today the slips and moorings were mostly empty and we appeared to be the only lobster customers. As Steve and Michael returned in triumph with four 1 and a quarter pound lobsters, Rick had the corn hot and the salad dressed. With candles on the table and wine in the glass, we enjoyed a true Javelin-style lobster dinner. By crew request, it was a Javelin Shortcake for dessert. Crumbled Oreos with blueberries and whipped cream.

Then Michael, our photographic producer/editor of exceptional pictures (and worthy of an Oscar nominee for cinematography) ran the crew through another of his guess this Picture quizes. Rick and Steve struggled mightily and nailed a bunch, but wily Michael stumped them many times. So here is Michael's "Where in Maine is Javelin 2019." Click on the pic to the right to open a new browser window and try your luck at the quiz. (Be patient, it's a large file.)

As we cleaned up at 2000 hours (8 PM) chef Rick negotiated with the crew that if they wanted a good breakfast, there would be not running of water or flushing of heads until 0700. "WHAT", said Steve and Michael in unison. But Rick was firm. We will wait until tomorrow to see what happens. At least Jess, Michael and Rick are still awake at 2158. Steve read his bedtime stories and sacked half an hour ago.

Morning light ...	Into the gloom	Buzzards Bay south waypoint	approaching ...	Cuttyhunk.
Fishing boat exits ...	the channel.	Our temporary ...	mooring.	Moving inside ...
fenders out ...	wet going ...	approaching dock ...	almost there ...	safe alongside ...
obey the rules ...	that's what we want ...	going to get ...	lobsters!	Jess lights ...
the candle.	Plates are ready ...	to add ...	lobsters.	Oreos start dessert ...
add bluberries ...	plus whipped cream ...	finishing touch ...	ready to serve.	Doing dishes ...
bedtime stories.

Go To Log Summary

Wednesday, June 26th

At least they were quiet, but fully dressed and waiting when Rick got up at 0655. No need to rush this morning because we had to wait for a rising tide and a little extra water to get over the shallow - 7 foot - spot just off the next dock between us and the channel out.

Steve already had the Hamilton Beach twin breakfast sandwich maker in the galley and the table stocked with silverware. In honor of this gift from Hank Jonas, this breakfast is called a "McHank." English muffin, ham, egg and cheese, cooked for four minutes, makes for a hearty breakfast.

All hands turned to for general cleaning after breakfast. Rick worked on the log and Michael hiked ashore to explore and returned with the pictures below. It wasn't quite like waiting for Gadot, but ever so slowly the tide came in. At our dock we had 12.1 feet at 1030, but we had 14 when we arrived yesterday. It's almost time to go.

With a little crew coordination, we shoved the stern clear of the dock and Steve neatly applied a shot of reverse and Javelin backed cleanly away from the dock. Turning in a tight circle, we kept an eye glued on the depth sounder which stayed over 12 feet as we cleared the dock where we had recorded the shallowest water on the way in.

14 minutes later we edged between the exposed sandbanks and crept past the channel entrance at 1059 into deeper water. As we increased speed we charted our course out to the east for the Woods Hole passage into Vineyard Sound and our Edgartown destination on Martha's Vineyard. A quick sandwich for lunch as we passed through Woods Hole and then we set sail for a glorious ride out to buoy R2 and the run south into Edgartown Harbor which we cleared at 1432.

Edgartown Harbor was buzzing with tourist boats and the local ferry across to Chappaquidick Island which forms the eat side of the harbor. After being assigned to mooring "Miss Asia" we discovered that there already was a boat on it, and were then directed farther down the harbor to town mooring #45 which we finally picked up at 1455.

Showered and changed into shore clothes, we hailed the Old Port launch and headed for shore at 1600. We first went to Jeff and Jen Blecher's house, a short walk from the launch dock at the Edgartown Yacht Club. Though Jeff was away on business, Jen was home with daughter Aven and babysitter Page and Aven entertained us for about 45 minutes with exuberant six-year-old antics. Then Jen drove us all to Steve & Pam Besse's "Boathouse."

Steve Besse's Great-great-great relatives founded Vose and Sons Pianos in 1851 and the Besse Richer & Co. clothing line in 1877. Even then city dwellers would "summer" on Martha's Vineyard to escape the summer heat in New York. The families bought several hundred acres of land among Edgartown, Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs. The War Department, which controlled Edgartown harbor, gave Vose permission to build a "boathouse" on the shore of the harbor, but the restrictions were that it could not be slept in or commercialized. Though the large family mansion at the top of the bluff burned to the ground, the boathouse, and the accompanying bowling alley survive to this day.

We met Steve Besse in the grassy parking area at the top of the bluff and as a team carried down all the making for nibbles and cocktails. Fully shaded with a exquisite view of Edgartown harbor, the upper balcony was a perfect place to set up a food table and a beverage table and we spent an wonderful two hours sharing sea stories and learning the history of the buildings. As we packed up to leave, we got a tour of the bowling alley where Michael threw a 2-pin spare. The small entrance room was posted with a commemoration of the Edgartown Bank's 1905 - 2005 centennial, replete with the Vose family at the helm.

All seven of us, Steve and Pam Besse, the four Javelin crew, and Jen Blecher adjourned to the Edgartown Yacht Club for another endles round of Dartmouth (Steve Besse'71), island and sea stories. It was a wonderful evening as we only parted ways at 2130 for fear of missing the last launch back out to Javelin.

Rick serves up ...	a McHank ...	breakfast sandwich.	Clean up time.	Cuttyhunk tour ...
The dock ...	Gift store ...	funky marker	Town Hall	Library
School	Sign's old too!	Harbor overlook	Entrance channel	Westend pond
World connection	Lures and ...	lobster.	back at the dock.	Javelin ...
looks good ...	Dock is clear ...	this is what ...	we ordered.	Departing Cuttyhunk
Steve is wary ...	shallow going ...	Steve passes ...	more rules ...	Enough water?
pretty narrow ...	success in sight ...	Made it!	Looking for wind	Approaching Woods Hole
Docks	Ferry terminal	Nobska Light	Cruiser	Clearing Woods Hole
Inbound ferry	West Chop light	Great sailing ...	going fast.	East ChopLight
Finished sailing ...	halyard secure.	Cape Poge light	The subline ...	just fun.
Edgartown Harbor	Edgartown Harbor Light	Tourist catboat.	Town dock	Edgartown Yacht Club
Javelin at Edgartown	Besse's boathouse! evening cocktails	long walk ...	let's get started ...	cheese and nuts ...
beverage table ...	Edgartown harbor ...	Chappaquidick I. ...	Javelin back center.	Herashoff 12's ...
picture perfect.	Pam & Steve	The cat again.	Inside boathouse ...	a family history ...
Time to go ...	long walk up ...	great view ...	Thanks Steve & Pam.	Family bowling lanes ...
lots to explore ...	Vose piano	Vose Piano factory	Edgartown Bank history	Great old building ...
with bowling lanes.

Go To Log Summary

Thursday, June 27th

Even though optimum current suggested an 0800 departure, Captain Blech was bustling in the cabin at 0603, with the crew close behind. Fruit and cereal consumed, we cast off for Newport at 0712.

Yesterday's beautiful sailing day gave way to fog and no wind. Radar on, we followed the old course back towards Woods Hole. It was time for the Javelin radar routine. Steve at the helm, Michael on lookout, Jess reading the cockpit radar repeater and Rick below at the nav station referencing both the main radar and the chartplotter. If returns on the radar matched buoys or land on the chart, all was well. If there was a radar return that didn't have a match on the chart, that was to be avoided. Outbound buoys R6, R4 and R2 were good practice. Ditto for Squash Blossom buoys, one of which we couldn't see, and the other just a ghost at less than 1/8 of a mile. But at West Chop the big blip coming the other way did indeed turn out to be a ferry from Woods Hole, but it turned south toward Vineyard Haven. Farther down Vineyard Sound a pair of blips proved to be a power boat and a catamaran which we passed between.

We cleared the Elizabeth Islands at Cuttyhunk and swung onto the 17 mile leg across the bottom of Buzzards Bay to Brenton Reef and the entrance to Narragansett Bay and Newport. Visibility was still limited and our course aimed us at the Buzzards Bay Tower sitting 3.8 miles off the end of land in 65' of water. Normally our routes are carefully set and checked not to have anything directly on our course line. But as Steve noted, this was an old original route and the old Tower, farther north and safely clear of the route, had been replaced by the current tower and we now dodged it as we went by. It also gave us the opportunity to set off its fog signal by keying up VHF channel 83 quickly 5 times. Good navigation practice for the day. As if to give us a good grade, the fog cleared and the sun shown.

We arrived in Newport at 1315 in sunshine but with patchy fog over the hills. We headed straight for the New York Yacht Club dock to pump out the holding tanks, get our mooring assignment for the night, and then went back out for a sail. A light southerly of 7 -8 knots made for a nice sail as we gybed downwind north under the Newport bridge up Narragansett Bay. Circling Gould Island, we rounded up and beat back to Newport harbor by 1607.

We were cleaned up and ashore by 1730 just in time to meet Brian Klinger who had driven from Rye, NH to have dinner with us. Allen and Corey Silken gave a great presentation on the history of Herreshoff's S Class boats. First built in 1919, the class grew in many ports along the east coast and many are still sailing today.

NYYC's Thursday seafood buffet filled us all before we made our way back to Javelin and tucked ourselves in.

Thursday breakfast.	Departing Edgartown ...	stowed below ...	neat and clean ...	nav and log.
No wind.	West Chop light ...	and red #2.	Michael's handiwork	Ferry in fog ...
Lots of ...	fishing ...	big and small ...	serious stuff.	Buzzards Bay tower ...
up close.	Castle Hill light ...	castle # 1 ...	castle # 2 ...	castle # 3.
Newport bridge.	Tourist boat	Newport Hbr light	New York YC Harbour Court	Pumping holding tank.
Afternoon sail ...	Michael's happy ...	going fast.	NYYC for dinner ...	Steve, Jess Brian & Rick

Go To Log Summary

Friday, June 28th

Horse heading for barn. Oatmeal and fruit breakfast was finished and cleaned up by the time we cast off the mooring at 0716. We dropped Brian on the dock for his drive back home and headed to sea. It was a clear but windless morning and Javelin obediently followed the autopilot's route out past Castle Hill, down to Pt. Judith then West to Watch Hill which we cleared at 1046. Here the current turned against us and our speed dropped from over 8 knots to 6.7.

It was lunch time as we passed North Dumpling island at the transition from Fishers Island Sound into Long Island Sound just before noon. Last meal clean-up gave Steve turkey, Jess ham, and Michael and Rick roastbeef sandwiches. All were made in the standard Javelin prooduction fashion as Rick noted each person's preference for 1)meat, 2) bread, 3) spread, and 4)condiments.

Arriving Westbrook at 1445, we filled both fuel tanks and pumped the holding tanks, then waited half an hour for more tide to come in before heading for Javelin's slip. With everything cleaned up we drove off at 1630, another great Javelin cruise safely in the memory bank.

Geese check out ...	Harbour Court and ...	Brian.	Morning beauty	Intrepid
Oliver Hazard Perry	Rose I. Light	Jess checks out ...	Watch Hill resort ...	and light.
Napatree Point ...	current's running.	Latimer Reef	East Harbor	North Dumpling
Fast & slow ...	slower.	New London light ...	New London.	Old Saybrook
Bartlett Reef.

Go To Log Summary

Clear Sailing.

Rick Van Mell vanmells@ix.netcom.com

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