After over four days of fog in Onset I was starting to get a little itchy to move on. Onset is a great town to stop in with a protected anchorage, marina, shuttle and shore facilities like laundry and groceries. To get to Cape Cod Bay from Onset, I needed to traverse the Cape Cod Canal. Because the current in the canal is so strong, the tides must be timed carefully. I decided to set the alarm for 4am. If the fog was too thick, I'd go back to sleep. If I had at least 1 mile visibility I'd weigh anchor try the canal.
I popped my head out the companionway at 4:15 and was surprised to see the fog had lifted and I could see for miles for the first time in days so I got everything ready and set out for the canal. I caught the last of the fair tide and passed only two ships on my way East. Just after exiting the canal I looked back and could see the fog had rolled in again. I was lucky to get though with excelent visibility but soon found myself in patchy fog out in Cape Cod Bay. Winds were favorable so I was making good time, but a passing squall left me soaking wet. For the first hour we were in and out of fog banks and showers. In the second hour the rain stopped but the fog thickened. I could see other boats on my radar. Some also showed on AIS. Often, they would pass so close I could hear their engines and even voices but I never saw them.
Once North of Salem, the fog lifted for good and the skies turned blue. I had 14 knots on the beam and averaged over 6 knots all the way to Marblehead. It was as nice a sail as I've ever had. Perhaps the fog and showers early on made the rest of the sail seem extra sweet.
Marblehead has over 2000 moorings. I believe it has the largest fleet in the Northeast (at least). I had reserved a mooring and was soon in town enjoying lobster mac and cheese.
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