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Hyannis might not be the kind of name that's instantly recognisable, but if you add Cape Cod in Massachusetts, and that its neighbour is Hyannisport, you might just make the connection. Yes, Spirit of Cardiff has arrived in Kennedy Country. Alan, Steve and Clive have been overwhelmed by the wonderful welcome they've received from members of the exclusive Hyannis Yacht Club.
Hyannis Yacht Club seen from Spirit of Cardiff's cabin
The journey up the coast from Baltimore proved to be an interesting one. After a hectic few days in Baltimore, it was good to get back out on the water. Alan and Steve even took time out to do a spot of sunbathing on the aft deck while Clive took the helm of Spirit, driving her through the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, and out onto the Delaware River.
Alan turned out to be the one drawing the lucky straw, getting a good five hours sleep as the boat powered up past Atlantic City. But by the time they were level with Long Island, the weather had turned, and the boat was battering its way through head-on 20mph winds. Result? Steve and Clive turned in, and spent five hours with their eyes closed but not getting any sleep. The passage between Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Island proved particularly painful, as the wind funnelled between the two, causing short, steep and horribly bumpy seas.
The crew have been doing more promotional work whilst in Hyannis, with TV, radio and newspaper interviews, and picking up some interesting little bits of local folklore. Did you know that when there's a full moon on Cape Cod, the moon's reflection across the sea leads you straight to Nantucket? Romantic, or what?
Steve in pensive mood at the Kennedy Memorial
The next phase in Spirit's tour will take them around Cape Cod to Boston, where the boat will be berthed somewhere prominent in the inner harbour. And having moored up with historic ships in both New York and Baltimore, Alan and the crew are keeping their fingers crossed they can get Spirit of Cardiff as close as possible to the USS Constitution, the oldest ship in the United States Navy.
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