Photo Credit Jim Fowler, Second Wind sailing south off the Negro Heads in Connecticut

We’ve had a great trip up the coast of New England and finally some good weather and wind that has helped us in our return trip southwest into the prevailing winds.  The currents through the Sound need to be considered in all sail plans, as they often offset the winds that exist.

Have returned to the Brewer and Johnson marina in Branford for a few nights before we head to Shelter Island and then down to NYC and a cruise up the Hudson.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the most important port cities for the young Colonies, Boston is home not only to American history but also the hottest current trends in business, technology and culture.

The crew of Second Wind had a great visit there in July and took time to reconnect with some old friends and to help celebrate the new chapter of life (formerly known as retirement) of the Hansen’s (pictured above) who are now off touring in Europe.  The couple has recently downsized considerably by selling the family home and is learning to living larger with less.  It’s a lesson we all need at some point.

Boston has a great, walkable downtown area, complete with green spaces courtesy of the Big Dig, a vibrant restaurant scene, and a great and growing local brewing tradition, anchored by companies like Harpoon and Sam Adams.  We got a chance to sample local new-comer Trillium beer at its pop-up beer garden on the Greenway.  Area universities help draw major corporations like GE who is relocating corporate staff to a downtown location in order to better tap the local tech talent pool.

Thanks to the great staff of the Boston Waterboat Marina where we based our downtown adventures.  In an era of marina consolidation, thanks to players like Safe Harbor Marinas and Suntex,  it’s rare to find a 150 year-old family-owned company still in business.  They compete with both slips and moorings at a central Boston location right off Long Wharf in the middle of all the action. That unfortunately includes the numerous ferries that transit the port area for almost twenty hours a day,  but if you don’t mind the noise and wave action, it’s a great spot to see and cruise the downtown area.  Waterboat Marina can be reserved through the Docwa app.