Adieu Port Jefferson, Hello Manhasset

Last night we explored Port Jeff, had dinner, located a grocery store
and most importantly had absolutely delicious ice-creams!!! No offense
intended - but we really weren't impressed with the place ... maybe we
had been spoiled by the beauty and "laid-backness" of Shelter Island ...
but we all agreed we had made the right choice to stay in Shelter for
our free day. Anyway it's Adieu Port Jefferson - we probably won't be
back!

Early in the morning a "Morris from Dublin" visited the marina to see
Dinah! Only Bob was up and about at the time - but apparently Morris
became hooked on watching "The Irish Boat" during the OSTAR race, and
saw on Barry's blog yesterday that we were coming into Port Jefferson,
so he came down to take a photograph!!! Quite amazing!

Before leaving harbour we slapped on the sunscreen (factor 85 all over
today... hoping not to make that mistake again on this trip!) and headed
out into a nice 8-9 knots of breeze on the beam. The wind rose steadily
through the day ending up with a 32knot squall just *after* we got into
the marina in Manhasset! Excellent timing on our behalf!!!

We're now in a marina in this lovely harbour - sensibly tied up with our
bow into the wind. Unfortunately our electricity power socket on the
boat is at the stern ... the supply on the shore is forward of the bow
... and our cable is TOO SHORT!!! So near and yet so far ... we're going
to have to make do with battery power only this evening... ah well.

Quite amazingly, the water temperatures today reached 27 degrees...
that's an average swimming pool at home!

As we approached Manhasset we finally were able to see the NY skyline on
the horizon... our first major landmark is now in sight! Tomorrow
morning we'll be up early (6am ... grumble & groan ... other than Bob
none of us are "morning people" so that's going to be painful for Bob
with 3 grumpy crewmates to deal with!) to make the tide through "Hell
Gate" and down the East River. Should be in Liberty Landing (NJ)
mid-afternoon.

We hear that some of the OSTAR skippers who are already crossing the
Atlantic on their homeward journeys are seeing some difficult conditions
... fingers crossed that we'll have an easier time!

Goodnight from Manhasset... thanks for all the emails and jokes today!