TripSailor.com® Sailing Blogs

Portsmouth was fogged in this morning. We had planned on sailing out around 9:00 but one of the CANE group left early and gave a report of about 50 foot visability. We all agreed to sit tight and wait it out. Around 11:20, there was enough of a break, that we made a run for it. Near the Isle of Shoals it had burned off. We arrived at the Annisquam River near high tide, which was a good thing as another member that had left two days ago bottomed out twice during his passage (He has a 5’6" draft and we are 5’4"  We were the two biggest boats on the cruise.)

 In the Annisquam River the first bridge is fixed with a 65’ clearance (we are 56’ high), no problem. The second bridge is a railroad draw bridge and was going down for a commuter train as we approached. We all held position for about ten minutes and then it opened. This is not easy due to the strong current and wind. The last bridge is at Blyman Canal and is another draw bridge for automobiles with about an 18 foot width. The current really flows through this area.

We are at 369 total nautical miles for this trip to date.