put the boat almost beam to the wind and waves, drifting northward at about a knot and a half.

But those last few miles were hard earned in Cape Cod Bay, I didn't like giving any of it up. I was ready to get powering into the canal when I saw their cutter approach.

They said they would even do the check in the canal as I was underway after I told them I sort of had a schedule. That option didn't sound wise to me.

It was dicey for them to come from windward, their bow quartering to my beam. Then they lept off one at a time, and the cutter moved safely away. After, they repeated this, it was dicier then as I was back out in the heavy chop having drifted a mile or two, and began punching my way back.