P-Town was a raging success! We anchored for the first three days right outside the city breakwater. On the second night, though, we got our little butts spanked by an early winter screamer that clocked around from the south to the northeast with winds ranging from 25 to 35 knots and breaking waves in the 5 to 8 foot range! Neither one of us slept very well that night as the boat got pounded from all points of the compass (that’s saying a lot ‘cuz Dena can usually sleep through pretty much anything) but our ground tackle held like it always has, perfectly! Our anchorage was about 2/3 of a mile from the city dinghy-dock. The row was exhausting going in but we quickly discovered that it was almost impossible rowing back out! The first morning after the big storm I (James) rowed into town. It was long but doable with the wind in our favor. After a full day of running up and down the P-Town drag (about 50 times), out to a grocery store, a liquor store, and the local coffee shop for our sustenance and addictions, we were well on our way to being kaput. Then, at about 5pm, I (Dena) made my doomed attempt at rowing back out to the boat. I pulled strongly while between the dock and the breakwater. Then we cleared the protection of that giant pile of rocks. The wind pushed us backward and the blades of the oars were like wings. I twisted my wrist with each stroke so that the edge of the blade presented itself to the wind’s force, and that helped…a little. On the other hand, waves were breaking over Tinker’s bow and washing over my shoulders. And it was damn cold, even with all the effort. James[…]
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