Concertina on the South Coast of Newfoundland, 9 August 2006


Four weeks along the South Coast of Newfoundland aboard the “Concertina” from mid-July to mid-August 2006.
Wednesday, 9 August 2006	Departure from Little Garia Bay; A fair breeze makes for a short passage.
	The morning of Wednesday, August 9th featured a northerly breeze and clear visibility. So we set off, bound for Cape Breton. The engine was shut down by 1130 as by then we were able to sail at close to 4 knots with the NW breeze. By 1500 we tucked single reefs in both sails and maintained upwards of 7 knots in sizeable quartering seas, which steadily tested the helmsman’s judgment. The occasional breaking sea tested the helmsman's foul weather gear.
	We were accompanied by a large number of dolphins for quite a while, and at some point, the ferry bound for Port aux Basques passed about a half-mile ahead of us, throwing spray to the bridge as it passed through the waves. A triple reef was tucked in the mains’l at the change of the watch at 1800 at which point we were over half way to the Bras d’Or. We carried on through the night at 4 ½ to 5 knots with force 6 winds from the NW and light from a full moon.

Tuesday, 8 August 2006	return to log index	Thursday, 10 August 2006

Four weeks along the South Coast of Newfoundland aboard the “Concertina” from mid-July to mid-August 2006.