First Report from Aquila

We left the dock this morning at 6:30, from a very frosty Manchester. Our greatest danger for injury so far has been the icy dock and gangway at the Yacht Club. The trip across Mass Bay into Cape Cod Bay was uneventful with light wind that was directly behind us. Not enough to really move the boat with sails alone, so we did a lot of motoring. Because we used up a decent amount of fuel enroute to the canal, we've just popped into the Harbor of Refuge to top of the diesel tanks before heading offshore. The watches are all set - David, Tom and Mary took the first watch from 6-12 today, then Bill, Rob and Katie, the second.

We will push through the canal shortly, then into Buzzards Bay. By later this evening we will be heading into open waters. We have just been notified of a strong low forming in the North and pushing across the Carolinas before turning East. We will adapt our course and head more directly for Cape May to stay north of this weather, and will the turn more southerly once the Low has passed on Friday.

For me it is nice to be finally underway ... all the safety and provisioning preparation work (which seemed endless) is done and now its just a matter of sailing the boat. It was been great to have extremely helpful friends who have done offshore racing. Those friends helped supply an EPIRB, Storm Sails, Life Raft, Satellite Phone and other equipment that they know is essential for safe offshore passage making. Thank you to everyone who helped out getting us ready.

- david