It is Friday morning and the day starts of with drizzle and gray skies indicating a possibility of rough seas and some weather on the other side of this vast bay. Just yesterday the locals told us that they did not have rain the entire season of summer yet. Tough luck for us for here it was!
The day of Contessa’s first reckoning with roughness of the cold north Atlantic, not even yet the Atlantic but the incredibly large Gulf of St. Laurence has arrived.
It is an early day for as on so many previous occasions we have to catch the tide in our attempt to make a 160 nm run N NE towards the Madeline Islands. Joe heard from some local captains that those islands entail some incredible beauty and also that they catch yellowtail tuna there. Well, that being said, it is a must to go, sea and experience.
It is so far one of the longest runs of the day and I pleaded to change the course and seek something less exposed and more safe for such a rough day.
Once we left the shelter of land and really got more into the open waters the wind picked up and the roller-coaster began. The wind was now gusting up to 30 KN and the waves were reaching comfortably 8-10 feet. Definitely not a scenario I would recommend to anyone in particular a land lover like me.
Our Contessa was tossed left and right and went up and down with the motion of this turbulent ocean squeaking and pleading for mercy from her master. Like a nut shell she seemed popping up and down fighting to stay on course by the skin of her bow. ” I am not an ocean freighter! I don’t deserve this beating!” she pleaded and pleaded till her master decided it is time to turn around and change course towards Prince Edward Island as originally planned.
It took a while to steady the boat and find respite from turbulent seas as we reached the protection of the red rich beaches of this incredible island PEI.
The ride along the shore was long and turned as the island was formed putting us back into the direction of the wind which simply would not let go till we almost reached the protection of the bay leading us to Summerside, our shelter for the night.
Here we were greeted by a young woman tending to the docks and making sure that we made it in safely and tide up at the dock indicated for us.
As in previous ports we met some old friends Julie and Curtis from Basking Ridge, NJ which is always a pleasure to do.
The long and tiring day made us open to a slight change in plans and the possibility of renting a car and exploring this green island that way. What a relief and different pace of a days development this was. Thank God we made it here safely and soundly and may such a day never be repeated any more!