Jump to content

Isles of Shoals, 7/15/21, with shuttle


Jim Snyder

Recommended Posts

This is first in what Jeff Charrette and I hope will be a series of IOS trips with transport from Jack Farrell of https://www.seacoastmaritimecharters.com/ designed so that there's a full day available to explore the islands. Present for this trip: Jim Snyder, David Mercer, Beth Sangree, Jane Cobb, Dana Sigall, and John Harkey. Predicted conditions were morning fog lifting throughout the morning, very light winds and seas of 2-3'.

We launched from Isles of Shoals Steamship Company at 8 am. The fog was pretty thick with visibility under 1/4 mile but Jack's radar was on and showing vessels in the vicinity.

IMG_2837.thumb.jpg.3c4214ef1e132f8ef3ab012c6f33df95.jpg

IMG_2838.thumb.jpg.07da8ff7222461bf9dc59c93df2fd473.jpg

The trip takes about an hour and the river was really ripping towards low tide at 9:30. We got organized on the float at Star Island and launched directly into Gosport Harbor.

IMG_2839.thumb.jpg.4dc83e9e8f3cc4c7716a0c9fb96be868.jpg

IMG_2840.thumb.jpg.58e3a25c28644487401777a28303debf.jpg

Because visibility was still low, we decided to make a close to shore trip around Star, Cedar, and Smuttynose, thinking the fog would lift soon.

chart.jpg.e4371d5df290c94304623f099e4ca8a0.jpg

IMG_2842.thumb.jpg.2beee05955d5c59be46204e3cef1347e.jpg

Once on the ocean side the rocks were pretty active but noodling was possible here and there. Here's a typical Dave Mercer picture...

IMG_2850.thumb.jpg.87e9931854a1aa093486baeba781e41f.jpg

IMG_2848.thumb.jpg.3a61e810b432125a8f4c6b9051899bb3.jpg

We had an incident to manage off the Star to Cedar causeway. I had tucked in behind a rock, watching smaller waves come in to the opening in front of me. After observing for a bit, I decided to proceed out. I paddled through some smaller waves directly into the break but they kept getting bigger. Just when I thought I was out, a big one loomed. Observers tell me it stood me up vertically, then I was getting surfed backwards fast. I kept hoping to get into a position where a brace might help but it was all too fast. Eventually I capsized and made an attempt to roll up but wasn't locked in well and pretty much just fell out. The rescue was a little tricky but Dave managed it well, with an assist from Beth. Sorry, no pictures. We continued on around and landed for lunch at Haley Cove on Smuttynose.

IMG_2844.thumb.jpg.cdd3e5674fda820e01f5293f6e402315.jpg

We met island volunteer Amy and her daughter and had an enjoyable lunch talking with her about island history.

IMG_2845.thumb.jpg.694925cf385365b151fbbae796adcc39.jpg

After lunch visibility was improving so we crossed over to Appledore to circumnavigate. The contrast between calm places and chaotic ones was striking. It's so much easier to take pictures of calm!

IMG_2853.thumb.jpg.2dadc7d90e4e9df79f20ae023d050a69.jpg

Coming south off Appledore we decided to tag the bell buoy that guards the entrance to Gosport Harbor. The plan was to take a selfie of everyone at the buoy but by the time I got organized the current had taken me off a ways. By this time we were seeing some sun and blue sky.

IMG_2855.thumb.jpg.51931e091431d3208f9f0dd3bfea34e4.jpg

IMG_2856.thumb.jpg.7844ee821c596eaabf5a6b9f87e1692f.jpg

We continued on to visit Lunging and White Islands but no landings.

IMG_2858.thumb.jpg.9e9253c777a9acb72714e6f04e18fe87.jpg

IMG_2860.thumb.jpg.f5ac5b29c5c8fcd63a10703b0eaee2c6.jpg

Arriving back at Gosport, we had some time left so we headed back to Haley Cove for some rolling practice and goofing off. By now it had filled up and turned a beautiful green color in the sun. Pictures just don't do it justice.

IMG_2862.thumb.jpg.b6f7000e8f9c9c5a78ef1ccf230d6e21.jpg

Beth decided to swim the 1/4 mile back to the float.

IMG_2863.thumb.jpg.2b662df4c1aec3cfd1ec3f5206b38c1f.jpg

Please add pictures! Jeff is planning to do this trip on a weekend this summer and I hope to do it again in the fall.

IMG_2864.thumb.jpg.f76483e7f299d8608cb360a39015169a.jpg

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This was a great trip!

One of the key objectives in taking the boat  was to allow time to explore and appreciate the islands.   It was more than met!   The conditions on the outside were engaging.    We paddled/noddled a little more than 9 nm.  A highlight for me was the leisurely lunch on  Smuttynose, within spitting distance of the scene of the Smuttynose murders,   where we were entertained and educated with stories from one of the Islands "stewards" who was staying in "Haley House".  On Amy's coaxing we  visited the graves of Spanish sailors from a shipwreck in 1801 and the Haley family graveyard.

I highly recommend the excursion if "Snyder Tours" offers it again!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 11 months later...
  • 1 month later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...