Cruise to Penfield light house

Beautiful day so we took Constance out on a little cruise. Penfield reef light house is just about 1 hour away reaching towards Bridgeport and just the right distance for a leisurely afternoon sail. The wind was puffy from the north with some gusts heeling us all the way over, so we decided to shorten sail before something breaks.
The reef that extends from the Connecticut shore to the light house is one of the most dangerous places in the Long Island sound. Many boats have run aground here. There is a wicked current pulling over the reef when the tide runs and if your engine fails and the wind dies and you don't have the anchor ready you are on the rocks in no time. Also the light house seems to stand in the middle of the water and there is no evidence of shoaling around. Being one of the last mason brick lighthouses built, it does have the appearance of a private house on an island if you don't know the area. So I bet some people went in between the light house and the shore wondering what that funny little house would be. Also the light house is supposedly HAUNTED. One of the keepers died while trying to make it to the mainland during a storm and is said to be roaming inside the house at night. The thing does look a bit creepy, doesn't it?

Reaching to Penfield

The Lighthouse

..and reaching back to Cedar Point

some more work

on the boat: Varnishing toerails, replacing the zincs, putting on registration stickers and decals, changing headsail to the big #1 so we have a slight chance on Wed nights. This is how Constance looks inside:

Looking forward through the main cabin

The galley and companionway

We also have a new slip! This one is a little bit more difficult to get out of since it requires backing out into a turn where the old one had plenty of space towards the back. The Tartan 34C is a beautiful boat but unfortunately a demon when it comes to reverse driving. With the long overhangs any side wind will push her away from whatever you're intending to do. Also, since the engine is at an angle towards the midship line the boat initially wants to go to starboard in reverse and then pulls to port when the prop walk effect sets in.  So any undocking requires careful planning and nerves of steel. I guess I still have to learn something here..

Our new slip