One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

The small craft advisory was over by 2pm, so we set sail today about 1pm.  With Hurricane Irma looming, and the remains of Harvey coming through on Sunday, we thought it prudent sail to either Cuttyhunk Island or Martha's Vineyard and have some fun and wait to see what kind of track it might take before heading further south.  Leaving Westport Harbor the engine seemed sluggish.  Everyone said the current was strong, and we were leaving against an incoming tide, but we were only making 1 knot.  That seemed odd to me having run the boat in the mighty Piscataqua River in NH which has one of the strongest currents in N. America.  Sure enough, under sail halfway across Buzzard's Bay to Cuttyhunk, we needed to avoid a shoal and I decided to use the engine to help us around.  Nothing there.  The engine was running fine, but the prop was providing no propulsion.  Great :/  So, no auxiliary power, not the end of the world for a sailboat -- but they come in pretty handy to get in and out of tight ports.  The wind was out of the northwest at 12 knots.  We decided the safest play was to head downwind back down Buzzard's Bay toward New Bedford, and then call for a towboat to bring us into the harbor (see our tow in pic below).  In sailing, you have to take the crunchy with the smooth as they say.  Got into port, pulled the prop, and the teeth are worn.  Looking for a replacement prop in the morning, stay tuned...