Monday and Wednesday mornings, decided to push the pace up closer to what I’ll need to hold for the 20-mile race around Cape Ann, MA on July 19. The southwest wind has been blowing nonstop, day and night since TS Arthur passed by, so both mornings required hugging the shore of State Beach by about 20′ to avoid being blown out sideways, quickly. That makes it tough to obtain accurate speed data, but the two outings were nearly identical: 8.0 miles, average speed 6.1 mph, max Monday 7.1, Weds. 6.9, both days 1:19.
State Beach
I know the boat is faster when the wind is down, but this did serve as a reminder of how much more effort it takes to push the 18′ hull over 6 mph vs cruising effortlessly at 5.5mph for hours on end (and therefore why my target paddling speed for the circumnavigation is 5.5) Hoping for a calmer morning soon to do a full-blown 10-mile speed trial to Oak Bluffs and back.
One interesting aspect of a strong southwest wind in the early morning is the large number of cormorants feeding in close to shore, right on the line I’m trying to paddle; I’ll come upon five or six of them, a few of which will dive as I approach, while most take clumsily to wing– and fly 100 or so yards further ahead, putting themselves smack-dab on the course line again… over, and over, and over. While not the brightest birds, they are nevertheless exceptionally effective aquatic hunters, with an expanding population (as I’m always reminded when I pass downwind of their particularly aromatic nesting colony on Sarson’s Island!