DAY 22
NEW ENGLAND & THE CANADIAN MARITIMES
Day 22 • An easygoing morning followed by a celebratory lunch out! We wanted to explore a bit more, but high winds were coming, and we didn’t want to be away from the boat. After a walk around the neighborhood and some yummy burgers at a Key West-inspired bar, we headed back just as the wind picked up. We prepped for tonight’s scheduled thunderstorm before settling in for the night.
. . . . .
We were in the process of posting the above travel update when we heard an eerie noise. The incoming thunderstorm had been spinning us in circles, and combined with the changing tide, we were very concerned about wrapping the keel with the anchor rode.
It happened. We were most definitely wrapped, pinned against the current as our anchor line was tensioned to the max and our beam to the current. Even worse, we had reason to believe it might be wrapped around the rudder, and the storm was approaching. We didn’t know what to do. Evan was about to drop the dinghy and attempt to manually maneuver the boat off the line. Noting the waves and current (and the dark of night), Meriah suggested a call to Tow Boat US instead. After unsuccessfully trying to hail them on VHF 16, we finally got through on the phone, and someone would be there in about 45 minutes to assist.
Long story short: luckily the thunderstorm parted around us and the wind died. We were able to turn the wheel enough to free the boat. Our brains may have rested today, but now our bellies ache. We would like to take a break from boat lessons.
Atlantic City, New Jersey
