July 28, 2008 Dutch Harbor, Rhode Island

Yesterday we caught up with our sleep and then the clouds came in with threats of rain and thunderstorms. We watched the boats leave their anchors to head back up the bay before the storm hit. The radio was turned to the weather station and we watched the storm on the Internet. As the wind picked up with gusts to 35 knots, Gordon put on the engine to ease the strain on the anchor but this may have caused the anchor to brake loose, so we hauled up the anchor and quickly set it again just a few hundred feet from our previous set. The storm passed after a few hours so we settled in for the night. The darkening skies prose came to mind after dinner.


See the storm is brewing and the boats are fleeing. The radio indicated that the storm would produce high winds and waves in Block Island Sound and travel up both Buzzards and Narragansett Bay. I caught a picture of a fleet of boats sailing north up the bay and under the Jamestown Bridge.

Darkening Skies

What is that, I see my dear?
As we lay quietly on anchor rode.

The clouds pass quickly, the rain is near.

Make haste and put on the foul weather gear.

The lightening flashes under the darken sky.

The rolling thunder rumbles aloud.

The waves have white caps, as they build and fall.

They swirl and whirl as the tide is high.

Alas, the captain he loudly said.

All hands on deck, in the pouring rain.

The boat is dragging too close to shore

Pull up the anchor, we quickly fled.

Where is that safe anchorage we quickly seek?

Why it is only a few hundred feet!

The anchor is set, a firm aground.

The boat quietly rocking , now safe and sound.