Posts

Wind

 9/10- Cradle Cove, Isleboro ME   We took off early this morning to catch a little of the tide as we ran across the bay in fine form. It was a nice close reach all the way into Searsport harbor where we tacked. We then headed down the long narrow part of West Penobscot bay. The wind, by the forecasts that I saw was supposed to turn west at this point. Instead the wind continued its SW run ever increasing as the day went on. We slowly started reducing sail in order to keep the boat on her feet. The wind was undecided in what it wanted to do. One minute it was a nice mellow breeze and the next it came roaring down out of the mountains to try to topple our boat. We ever so patiently worked our way down the west coast of Isleboro close hauled until we got to Warren Island where the wind and waves and ferries all combined to make the entrance one to not forget.      We anchored just off the mooring field for Dark Harbor boat yard. The wind would just not let up as it...
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Away we go

 9/9- Tom Codd Cove, Holbrook Bird Sactuary, Brookfield ME   We were debating what to do next. There is a storm coming tonight that has big winds with it. So the debate was if we hung around Rockland we would be there until Friday or we could head off and deal with the storm somewhere else. As we only have two weeks left until we get hauled out we opted to head north and hopefully the storm will play itself out before it gets to us. We decided on Holbrook because the wind would be SE all day making it a nice broad reach and that we would be able to tie to a mooring in a very protected cove.      The wind was really light when we left. We were moving but it took us almost an hour to leave the harbor.  The wind finally filled in and we did have a nice if somewhat cold reach all the way to Cape Rosier. The wind went wandering at this point and Mr Perkins brought us the rest of the way.      The winds are supposed to gradually pick up through the...
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Dang it

 9/7- Rockland ME   We got the stay sail furler working again and the wind had calmed down some. We waited a while this morning before heading out from Tenant’s Harbor. It was nice sailing in 15 knots of wind so we decided rather than beat our way up the  Muscle Ridge we would go around by Two Bush. We lolligagged along and as the wind petered out we ran out the yankee. We weren’t really getting anywhere as the tide kept pushing us out in the ocean. We tried tacking but that didn’t get us much further. We looked up and saw another rain storm headed our way and didn’t think much about it.     Big mistake as it was quite the squall when it hit. The ocean frothed right up and the boat was once more put on her beam ends. As we were coming up to shore we were in need of a tack but that would have been impossible with the Yankee flying. I finally managed to get the line on a winch and dragged most of it in. Of course this is right when the dinghy decides to becom...
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Oh boy

 9/5- Long Cove, Tenants Harbor ME    Well today started easy enough as we had a nice downwind run with just our Yankee out. I knew from the wind direction and the forecast that once we turned the corner of Hupper Island things would get hard. It was blowing 15-20 and this is a narrow area with an ess like twist to it. We rolled up the Yankee and ran out the stay sail. I wasn’t sure if I could drive the boat with this sail alone but in this area I wanted a sail I could tack easily. Well none of this worked very well. The wind was hard right on the nose and there were several boats transiting the area at the same time so we called for Mr Perkins to help us out.     Once we got to Marshall Point the stay sail became a bit of liability as it kept blowing us off course. I finally said screw it and decided to roll it up. That’s when trouble began. There was a wrap in the furling line inside the drum and I couldn’t pull any of the sail in. I went up to try and un...
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Maple

 9/4- Maple Juice Cove, Cushing ME    It was like we say this morning, you could roll a ball across the harbor. Yes it was that calm. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that the ocean could be that still. So we waited and waited until finally the fog lifted. I knew it was time when one of the tour boats went out with a load of passengers. You could see now but there still wasn’t any wind and the ocean seemed to have remembered that it moves. There were big 4 foot rollers coming in and no wind so we motored.     As we passed Pemiquid Point and entered Muscungus Bay the wind picked up slightly but not enough to scale the rollers that were bearing down on us. Once we got to Harbor Island the waves flattened out and we ran up the sails. We cruised along at 3 knots jibing our way up the St George River where we turned into Maple Juice Cove and dropped the anchor.     After a quick passing shower the sun came back out to highlight the spectacular array...
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Boothbay

 9/2- Tugboat Inn Marina, Boothbay ME   It was a glorious day today. We left early as I was in my anxious to get going mode. We motored around the corner and put up the sails. We crept along at 1.5-2 knots while the wind filled in. By the time we reached Round Pond the wind was 10 knots out of the east!! We cruised down the channel and once we cleared Louds Island the wind picked up a bit in the 11 to 12 knot range. We merrily bounced our way down the Pemiquid peninsula finally crossing the bar. The seas now were quite lumpy as the wind was decidedly against the rising tide. We jibed once at the entrance to Boothbay had sailed on down the harbor.     We met up with a couple of friends who were visiting the area and had a nice meal out. All the weather forecasts are pretty convinced it is going to rain tomorrow so I think we will go with that. I am not so sure that it will be that big an event but we will still button up the boat tonight. Stay dry friends!
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Hog

 9/1- Hog Island, Audubon Society Camp, Bremen ME   Well I did it again and got itchy to get going. It turned out for the best today though. We headed out thinking we would motor through some of the narrow passages between this maze of islands and then we would sail once we got to Muscungus Bay. I thought even if we just drifted the wind would eventually catch up to us. Well we drifted for almost an hour and probably didn’t even go a mile. So Mr Perkins to the rescue once more and we just motored the rest of the way. Fortunately it was only about 5 or 6 miles to Hog Island.     Hog Island is an Audubon site with cabins and restrooms and even showers. They run camps for mostly adults. The one going on now is called Mindful Birding. They do own this entire island and it has some amazing hiking trails. We did about a three mile loop which was very pretty. I have always loved the dense Maine forests with the dappled light shining through to the blanket of mosses. Th...
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