Saturday, July 2nd

One of the most enjoyable aspects of life afloat is entering new harbors and exploring new places or learning what has changed since our previous visit.  The process of discovery brings out the best in all of us.  Whether it involves navigating an unfamiliar body of water or simply finding one's way around a town or island, our functionality peaks when we are getting to know the ropes.  In these circumstances, our antennae are fully extended, taking in and interpreting a variety of sensory inputs.  The process of discovery positions us at the pinnacle of awareness. 

After a few days of discovery, it is particularly satisfying to be back on the water, moving the boat to yet another destination.  Today is one of those days.  Once free of the mayhem of Nantucket on the busiest holiday weekend of the year, we enjoy an excellent day of sailing with 10 knots of wind on our beam as we travel west through Nantucket Sound back to Woods Hole.  The simplicity and silence of today's sail is the perfect antidote to visiting Nantucket on the busiest holiday weekend of the summer.  Even our passage through Woods Hole channel is relatively smooth today, timed precisely at slack tide.

[caption id="attachment_602" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Huge classic sailing yacht in Nantucket harbor"][/caption]

During our sail today, we compare the island destinations of Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard.  Nantucket is smaller and feels more remote.  It has beautiful beaches, beautiful people, more outward expression of wealth, one town, regulated architecture, bigger boats, good bike trails and higher end dining and retail establishments.  As such, it attracts the Polo set.  Seersucker jackets and shorts embroidered with little tiny whales are in vogue. 

On the other hand, Marthas Vineyard has a more relaxed, unpretentious, shorts and T shirt feel.  It has beautiful beaches, excellent bicycle trails and a variety of towns and villages for all budgets and lifestyles.  Not all of the buildings in all of the towns are in perfect condition, except that Edgartown comes closest to the town of Nantucket in terms of the integrity of its architecture and its retail and dining opportunities.  Both islands are worthwhile destinations.  When in the area, visitors should budget sufficient time to appreciate the best of both worlds.

Cutter Loose is currently at anchor in Hadley Harbor, adjacent to Woods Hole.  The setting is peaceful, protected and quiet.  Our plan is to remain here, sitting out a slow moving cold front that will pass through the area on Sunday.