Conference unifix::sailing

    I'd beat feet to Maine. Hit the Isles of Shoals for an afternoon,
    maybe anchor overnight, then straightline for upper Casco Bay, cause
    there's little interesting south of that, poke around there a bit
    and then get up to Penobscot Bay. You won't have enough time to 
    do justice to Penobscot. A whole summer would not be enough.
    Save 3 days to get back home. It is about 100 miles from
    Tenants Harbor to Rye Harbor, add about 30 more back to
    Manchester-B-T-S.
    
    Since my boat is trailerable, I have been towing to Penobscot. Last
    year I spent 3 weeks on the bay. I have sailed up the coast from
    Rye or Portsmouth to Orrs Island (Upper Casco) twice also.
    I'd try to spend most of my time up there, as opposed to getting there
    and back.
    
    Get the Cruising Guide to Maine if you don't already have it.
    
    Bill
    

    	Could anyone elaborate on this Maine stuff here. Robyn and I are
    talking about a trip to Maine. It is partly dependent on our getting
    the boat we are currently shopping for, but should that work out I see 
    70 mile days not beyond reason.
    	What is the fascination with Isles of Shoals?? I hear it on the
    weather report, but otherwise it doesn't mean much to me. 
    	How do you, or should I say when do you, beat the fog? I've heard
    that the fog can be really bad (from someowhere in here) and I've
    always prefered sailing with visibility. 
    	How's Mount Desert Isle for sailing area. I've been to the island a
    few times and enjoyed it thoroughly, but never by boat. Since I started
    in a boat large enough to go places I've thought it would be a nice
    place to go. 
    	Very little is set in stone yet, but it looks like Maine would be a
    nice place to go. When would be a good time to beat the fog??
    
    	Geoff With_probably_more_questions_to_come

    There is nothing superb about the Isles of Shoals. They are a semi-
    interesting group of 6-7 islands  seven miles off the N.H. coast
    (although the majority are claimed by Maine, due to a sout-easterly
    boundary line extending to sea. But they are about the only thing that
    is interesting off the coast from north of Cape Ann to Casco Bay.
    (unless you count Boon Island or the mouth of the Piscataqua River
    at Portsmouth). For people day sailing off the N.H. coast, they
    are one of the few places to go, but you will find no dockage and
    a limited welcome on land. The largest (?) island, Appledore, has
    a church retreat on it, but you can't tie up at the dock, which is
    only for the ferry.
    
    There is some pretty interesting and colorful history from the 1800's
    including murder and kidnapping (as I recall). Other than that they
    are just there as an attractive group of small islands on an
    otherwise dull stretch of coastline. (Dull as compared to Maine
    north of Portland.
    
    Bill
    (A N.H. native and resident who loves the mid-coast of Maine)
    

    
    	That's accurate, if not polite Bill. I bought that new edition of
    the Maine Cruising Guide (2 big thumbs up) altho it was even kinder
    yet. I found a mooring ball quickly enough, and it's a pleasant, big
    lagoon with 360 degree protection. But that was it. Supposedly, you can
    tie up your dinghy at a small float near the ferry dock, but some of
    the retreat kids were throwing each other off of it, fooling around.
    When we and another rowboat tried to tie up, they'd have none of it;
    this was their toy. OK, we rowed to a breakwater between that island
    and the next, took a few pictures. Now we were harassed by kids on
    mountain bikes; these were their rocks, we were to get off. "For our
    own good". The fun part was their uniform, featuring brown shirts. I
    gave a quick SeigHeil and prepped the boat for takeoff asap. Even the
    dock at the far end with a Lobster Rolls sign was not to be approached-
    geesh!
    	For accuracy and respect, when I spoke to a couple later, who have
    used the retreat, they were appalled and assured me this was not
    standard practice. But , been there, done that. 
    	Had lots more fun in the artist's colony in Gloucester, just a few
    hours south.
    	As far as the Maine cruise, Go For It! What a great time, people
    actually seemed Happy to see a transient boat. Thought I had sailed to
    another planet. Really foggy in early July tho.
    	Scott (headed South this year)
    

    Don't forget Biddeford Pool, south of Portland. It's a nice place to
    visit, has a useable beach, if not a tiny bit cool, and very nice
    people at BPYC. It's also about 70 or so miles from Gloucester and hence
    a nice waypoint from the Boston area to P-bay. The pool was the only
    place i found warm enough to go swimming, although i didn't spend much
    time in the water.

    One thing about Isle of Shoals, I hope you either stay up late, or 
    sleep well. About 9:30-10:00 pm some cruise boat comes through the
    lagoon showing the interesting sites. I swear the loudspeakers are from
    a football stadium.
    
    Just as annoying as the party boat in Salem (If they play "Red Red
    Wine" one more time, one of my crewmember is threatening to swing
    aboard pirate style via a halyard and destroy the tape/disk ;>)  .
    
    It is a good place to hide out for the night if the radio is calling
    for any kind of weather.

	My boat is currently down-east at Great Island Boat Yard, near
	Brunswick Maine. I have spent the last four years sailing in
	in Casco Bay, Penobscot Bay and Blue Hill Bay.
	
	Now the question is: Shall I come down (west) to Boston,
	the Cape or the Isles for say two weeks ot for the whole season?

	I fancy bringing the boat at the beginning of June and
	returning in October. Where should I moor it for the season?
	Travel distance is no object. As I'm used to travelling to Maine
	from Acton, Mass, it should be relatively easy to travel to
	the North Shore, the Cape or Rhode Island.

	a) Where is the nicest place to keep a boat?

	b) Where are the least expensive moorings in this area?
		(I spent less than $500 for 
		mooring all season, last year)

	Mike

	

    My husband and I sail out of S. Freeport Maine.  The Casco Bay region is
    a sailors delight.  Hundreds of Islands, lots of well protected
    anchorges and no crowds.  Hilites of Casco Bay are Jewell Isl with it's
    WWII lookout towers, great views of the bay, Eagle Isl with the former
    summer home of Admiral Perry and "The Goslings" a great little
    anchorage.  Typical summer winds are 15 to 20 knots from the Southwest. 
    Transients are welcome at our marina Brewers So. Freport and it's very
    well protected.  Also close to LL Beans for you outlet shoppers.
    
    Fog can be a challenge in July and August but we sailed all last summer
    without radar without any disasters.  Typically the fog lifts by noon. 
    Another point to remember when in Maine is the tides.  The swing at So.
    Freeport is 9 feet and gets worse as you go Down East.  Keep this
    in mind when anchoring.
    
    Nice spots farther up the coast are Booth Bay, Christmas Cove and
    Camden.  The large Windjammer Schooners sail out of Camden.  Moorings
    typically run $10 to $20 a night.  Call ahead on big vacation weekends.  
    
    If you decide to cruise Down East this summer give us a call.
    
    M. Kolb
    DTN 297-5517    

This cruise is intended to be approximately two weeks long.  At its end, I may
take Holiday II down to Woods Hole for my cousin to use for a month or two.
I have a family reunion on Sat July 30.

Initial criteria of  ports of call were high interest and high harbor rating in
the Maine Cruising Guide.

Departure from Manchester-by-the-Sea
Sunday July 31.
Goal is to reach Ilse of Shaols for Sunday night.  PRobably take the route
around the Cape.  After all this is the down wind part of the trip.

Aug 1
Most desirable goal, Jewell Island.  We be in Casco Bay.  The following order 
is sloppy and the actual schedule is open.  Most days of sailing will be short
(less than 4 hours?) with lots of time to play on shore.

	Harraseeket (South Freeport)
	Snow Island
	Cape Small Harbor
	Sebasco Harbor
	The Basin
	Portland

The beat back to Mass will be done in small stretches, Richmond/Seal Cove,
Perkins Cove, York Harbor.  Finally dipping through the canal bypassing Cape
Ann.  

This gives 11 ports of call in 14 days.  This is effectively allowing for 25% of
the days being totally unsuitable for sailing.  If worse comes to worse, I have
another week to get back. I honestly do not know if this is too aggressive or
not.  Though Penobscot is of interest to me, I worry about trying to bite off
too much and suffering from indigestion.  I personally plan on taking a hotel
room every third night or so.  A steady bed, hot showers, some one else cooking
food all sound good for domestic tranquility.  

Any comments?  Any one interested in sailing with us, or meeting along the way?
As I firm this up, I will let you know the details.

    
    Your trip sounds great....my husband and I sail out of S. Freeport.
    Look for "Kotchka" at Brewers S. Freeport Marine.
    
    Some suggestions/comments on your proposed itinerary:
    
    - Isles of Shoals to Jewell will be a full, long day sail.
    - Jewell offers great anchorage, but can get a bit crowded (for Maine)
      in season.
    - Jewell to the Haraseeket is about 3 hours.  Suggest stopping at Eagle
      Island to see the Admiral Perry estate.  Well worth the trip.
    - At Haraseeket, Brewers offers transient slips/moorings.  Have dinner 
      at the Haraseeket Lobsta and Lunch.
    - Haraseeket to Snow is about 4-5 hours - depending upon wind.  Quiet,
      beautiful, tranquil.  If you're lucky, you'll have the place to
      yourself.
    - Sebasco Harbor is a nice stop.  A bit rolly.  Transient moorings
      available.
    - The Basin is very well protected, real near by Sebasco. Plenty of
      anchoring room.  No place to go ashore.
    - On your return, you mentioned Perkins Cove. To my knowlege,
      transients are not welcome.  Plus, the harbor is VERY shallow.
      You may want to stop in Kennebunk instead.  Chick's Marine is real 
      friendly.
    - Bypassing Cape Ann thru Blynum Canal is a good plan.  Very pretty
      passage.  Scituate is a good stop before going on to the CC Canal.
    
    Let us know Holiday II's plan and we'll keep an eye out for you.
    
    - MK
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    I hope you are not planning to overnight in perkins cove. They have
    had signs up indicating no guest moorings and there used to be a 
    sizeable fee for emergency accomodations. I wouldn't expect to be 
    welcomed there even to tie up for a few hours, as there are a number
    of "working boats" (some catering to the tourists) that use the docks
    there. Perhaps you have found a way to make prior arrangements or
    otherwise have connections. If that isn't true, you may want to
    reconsider. It has been a few years since I was in there but it
    wasn't hospitable to visiting sailors for as long as I can remember.
    
    Bill
    
    
    

Well here it goes.  I think this is a fairly firm schedule.  Have to buy
ariplane tickets and all of that.  My time estimates are based on Holiday II
motoring at about 3.5 knots and sailing at about 4 knots.  In otherwords I am
not going to attempt to make passage records.

This itinerary is a "fair" weather one.  I am going to set up bail out ports
along the way.  I am cruising, so I do not feel obligated to "arrive" anywhere.
This could change if we are meeting people along the shore.

I plan on calling Sam Dufor and finding out if he wishes to join us in his B30
Tawny Loon.  We may have space for one or two additionaly people.  There is
always room for additional boats.

Aug 12 Sat      Arrive in Boston

    13  Sun     Leave Manchester 12:00
                Overnight sail.
                This takes us about 30 miles off shore and will only be done
                if we have enough crew to stand a watch, and have good weather.
                Once we clear Cape Ann it should be a broad port reach the whole
                way.

    14  Mon     ETA Portland light 12:00
                forgot the distance round Cape Ann
                Yarmouth/Royal River ETA 18:00

    15  Tue     South Freeport Haraseeket
                8 mile trip
                Transient moorings at Brewers.
                LL Bean etc.
                Dinner at Haraseeket Lobsta and Lunch.

    16  Weds    Snow Island
                19 miles
                Supposed to be warm enough to swim.

    17  Thu     Sebasco/Cape Small/ The  Basin
                4 miles
                These are close together.  Just wander about them.
                The Basin is quiet and warm water (ie. swimming).
                Sebasco has a lodge which caters to cruisers.

    18  Fri      Sebasco/Cape Small/ The  Basin

    19  Sat     Nothing planned.

    20  Sun     Jewell Island
                10 miles
                Stop and see Admiral Perry Estate at Eagle Island on the way.

    21  Mon     Seal Cove
                12 miles
                headed home :(

                Probably skip Biddleford Pool, even though the Maine Guide and
                Paul Sears recommend it.

    22  Tue     Cape Porpise (sic)/Kennebunk
                22 miles
                Either harbor.  Close by each other.
                If Kennebunk, Chick's Marine.

    23  Wed     York
                19 miles

    24  Thu     Isle of Shoals
                13 miles

    25  Fri     Manchester
                37 miles
                Use the canal and go through Glouster.
                This is a long day.

    26  Sat     Clean up and maybe Great Misery

    27  Sun     Go home.
Suggestions on the itinerary and activities are welcome.

Any are welcome.  I will try to coordinate things if there are others going.
If you want to tag along and follow a more experienced skipper (boy have you
got the wrong Holiday II, follwo Dick Ashenden, not Doug Claflin).  If you
have done this before, I'll follow you.  Of course it should fit the catagory,
of the more the merrier.

Doug Claflin/Amy McGowan
this is probably the surest contact.  You will probably reach Amy.
hm 719 596-7485

Doug Claflin
dtn 592-4787

Current roster

Holiday II
        Doug Claflin
        Amy McGowan
        Jessica Claflin (4 by then)

Tentative boats and crew.

        Tawny Loon
                Sam Dufor

Tentative crew, boat assignments uncertain.
        Leif Loftfield (15?)
        Eric Loftfield

    Re overnight in the Kennebunk river: I always stayed at KYC
    (Kennebunk Yacht Club and Marina). I toured the area by road and talked
    with all of them. KYC is just above Chicks in the river and noticeably
    less expensive. They have showers (coin-op) free coffee by 6:00 a.m. or
    so. No marine store or pay phone. Those are available next door at
    Chicks. Decent accomodations, but really shallow if it is a spring
    tide.
    
    Never stayed at Chicks - it was a little expensive for my taste.
    I beleive he does take care of the boat for George Herbert Walker Bush
    tho.
     

re .12:

A few itinerary comments:

You only go out about 20 miles on the rhumb line from Cape Ann to Cape 
Elizabeth, which is far enough that you can get some largish waves. 
Thickish fog, especially in the morning, is not unusual. If the wind is 
NW (all too rare), you should have a marvelous sail with good winds and
clear visibility. If the winds are SW (ie, astern), they tend to be
lighter and there tends to be more haze. 

It is a fairish long trek from Cape Elizabeth up to Yarmouth/Royal
River. You might want to consider anchoring overnight at Richmond Island
off Cape Elizabeth and going on to South Freeport the next day. Another
alternative is Handy's Boat Yard in Falmouth Foreside. Excellent
restaurant, too, or at least it was two years ago. The moorings are
reasonably priced, and there is launch service. 

Jewell Is, since it is close to Portland, is a very popular anchorage.
'Tis likely to be crowded, but maybe not too bad on a Sunday night.
Still, have an alternative in mind as the anchorage is small. 

I'd skip York and go to the Isles of Shoals from Cape Porpoise or 
Kennebunk. To my mind, the entire coast from Cape Elizabeth to 
Portsmouth (or even Cape Ann) is worth missing. We've stayed overnight
at Cape Porpoise several times, however.

Watch out for the jillion lobster trap bouys. They're a real menace,
especially at the entrance to Cape Porpoise. 

"Water warm enough for swimming" depends on your definition of warm. 
Maine waters don't meet mine. 

I've never enjoyed the Annisquam Canal. Besides, the bridge into 
Gloucester now only opens on the hour or half hour (I forget which). The 
last time we went through the canal we arrived at the bridge just as it 
was closing and had to anchor for an hour. I prefer to go around Cape 
Ann, but then we're usually coming from further east.

Finally, you are skipping the best part of Maine -- Penobscot Bay and 
east. Another year, perhaps.

Thanks Bill and Alan for your advice.  Time to huddle again tonight, then return
to DEc for my usual late night work.

Casco Bay was taken as a target for a couple of reasons.

	I have never cruised Maine.  So one place is much like the other.

	While personally I would love just sailing each day.  That is not high
	on Amy's list and Jessica would drive both of us to murder (each other 
	and Jessica).  So short sails should dominate.

	We are currently restircted to a two week window.  If this changes,
	ie my contract does not get renewed (which is likely to be the case) 
	then another week opens beofre I have to hustle up work.

	While it would be nice to go with others, I plan on traveling alone.  I
	want to keep the endeavor well within my capability.  Forinstance, if
	we do not have a third person on Hliday II who can stand watch, I plan 
	on taking small jumps up the coast.  My sailing experience is limited,
	but I have done alot of backcountry camping packing etc.  Fatigue is an
	insidious enemy since it compromises your mental and physical abilities. 
	So I will not risk it.  With two adults, I must maitain enough reserve
	that I can operate solo with an acceptable level of safety.  If things 	
	get rough, Amy will be taking care of Jessica.  So I delibrately limited
	
	the scope.

	Finally, I have to admit to being a little intimidated.  I am willing to
	undertake a trek in the mountains with about 4 days warning.  Get maps,
	load my pack, by the first food, load up on mole skin for blisters.  
	Come out of the mountains every week or two for laundry. Cruising 
	requires foresight and planning.  Again a knowledge/experience thing.

	Hopefully there will be other trips to Maine.

All of this can be changed for good reason.  Forinstance:

	Bill French, Marcie Kolb, or you, say let's go to Penobscot Bay.  This 	
	would mandate a quick huddle on our part.

	The Maine Guide lied, and things are really much prettier to the east.
	We went by car to Acadia a number of years ago.  I would like to go to
	both Booth Bay and Bar Harbor by boat.

	A crow passes on the port by Cape Elizabeth, and a white gull veres to
	starboard.

Do you put a penny under a deck stepped mast?

Doug

    re .15
    
       Never put a penny under the mast step. You are starting
    electrolsis !   ;>)
    
    
       

    Doug,
    
    While Alan and I and many other others think Penobscot Bay is 
    the greatest place, and the place to which we keep returning,
    Casco Bay is also pretty neat. I agree with Alan that south of
    Cape Elizabeth is too much of nothing. Once you have seen it once,
    you have seen it all.
    
    I vacationed on Casco Bay for 4 years before I did Penabscot.
    The first 2 by trailer, the 2nd 2 sailing up the coast from
    Rye Harbor (N.H.). Now we trailer to Penobscot, to maximize our time
    up there. (This is an easy option with a 20' 2000 lb boat that is
    one reason I haven't gone to a larger boat).
    
    It sounds like your comfort level with new experiences is a lot
    like mine. Stick with your plans for Casco Bay for this year.
    There is plenty to see and do there. I haven't personally 
    overnighted at Richmond Island, but know several who have, and it looks
    pretty decent.
    
    Asuming that you plan to still be sailing in the future, leave
    places like Penobscot Bay and beyond for the future. They will still
    be there. Don't push your family very far beyond it's comfort level.
    You want them to be willing partners in expanding your sailing
    horizons. You will be thrilled spending 2 weeks in Casco Bay if you
    haven't been there before.
    

    
    
    "KOTCHKA" just got back from 12 days "downeast".  Fog and sparse
    wind was the norm.  As soon as we returned to Casco Bay, the skies 
    and sailing improved immensely.  For a first timer to Maine -
    restricting your cruise to Casco Bay is not a bad idea. 
    
    It is do-able though, to go up to Boothbay and/or Christmas Cove in a
    day.  Fair winds can see you there in about 6 hours.  Both have welcome
    overnight accomodations. Since you're going as far as Cape Small - these 
    harbors are not much further.
    
    - MK

    By the way, Doug, If you are in that neighborhood, there is a 
    place not to be missed. It's called the Dolphin Restaurant,
    it's at the southernmost tip of Harpswell Neck. There is a small
    harbor there and follow the buoys carefully.
    
    Anyway, they have the best lobster stew that I have ever had. You
    can get a cup or a bowl with a blueberry muffin (it's very good 
    also) for a reasonable price. I haven't been ther for about 3
    years. They used to start serving the stew and muffin at 10:30 a.m.,
    after breakfast. At least half the people there will be eating
    the stew & muffin.

Thanks, I will merge that into my itinerary.

With luck, I can have everything timed down to the minute.  Then I can optimise
for tidal current and build in some slack that way.

Any others intersted yet?

I plan on being in Boston the last weekend of July.  I am the president of the
Claflin Family Assoc. and we have our 150th consecutive annual meeting on 
that Saturday.  I hope to get out on Salem Sound at least once that weekend. 
Look for me on Holiday in Manchester Harbor, mooring C101(hear the old dike by
the salt marsh.

Doug

re .20:

Don't forget the most important principle of cruise planning ......



Sailors have destinations, not schedules.

:-)

    Hello from an infrequent participant.  We are 90% done with our cruise
    to Maine (I bring the boat back this upcoming weekend) and thought that
    I would add a couple of thoughts.
    
    1) Navigation
       We found many bouys have been moved (Lumbo ledge, White Island for a
       few examples).  My charts (Chart kit) is one year old, but it seems
       that the Coast Guard has been busy.  I highly recommend a review of 
       Notice to Mariners before departure.
    
    2) Popular Harbors and Moorings
       Many YC's have started their summer cruises.  If you plan on going
       to the more frequented harbors (Camden, Tenants, Boothbay) either
       arrive early or call ahead to reserve space.  For example, we
       reached Tenant's @ 14:30 on a Wednesday and had no problem finding a 
       mooring.  By 17:30, they were all taken.  Camden inner harbor was
       full by 16:00 each day.
    
    3) Good Bargains
       Dockage remains expensive ($1.50/ft @ Wayfairer in Camden, Chick's
       in Kennibunkport, etc.)  We did find the following buys:
    
       1) Camden  Inner harbor floating docks ($25/night) Camden YC.  The
                  docks have signs on them and the YC monitors Ch68.
    
       2) Tenant's Cod End moorings $10/night.
    
       3) Boothbay Tugboat Inn moorings $16/night (a little more pricey)
    
       4) Cape Small Sebasco Inn moorings, get this: $60/week or $12/day (I
          think).  Where else do you have access to pool, tennis, and golf
          for $60/week? No radio, first come/first serve.
    
    4) Things to avoid (IMOHO)
    
       1) Bidderford Pool   Transients moor outside the pool...No
    			    exceptions (so they say).
    
       2) Boothbay          More touristy this year (if this is possible).
                            They do have Ben + Jerry's store however.
    
       3) Port Clyde        Busier than last year with work boats.  Nice
                            place to visit if you like to wake up @ 5:00
                            by the sound of roaring diesels.
    
    Safe sailing.      

I leave for a jet plane in about 5 hours.  I will be in greater Boston this
weekend.  Hopefully I will get out for a sailing on Saturday.  If things go
somoothly, I may even be out Friday eveing.

Stop on by Manchester and say hello to Holiday II.  I will be futzing around
trying to prepare her some for the trip n a couple of weeks.  If anyone wants to
just come out for a sail (Gene are you there?), here's a chance.

Saturday evening I plan on taking my sister-in-law out for a short sail.  I
think I will just simply go around Misery and then back in.

Friday is hard to call, since I know that the sails have to be hanked on etc.
Still it looks like I have half of Friday free.  

Holiday II is located on C101, roughly even with the break in the old dike.  It
is a short row from the Manchester Harbor Boat Club's floating dock (at the head
of the harbor).  My dingy (Workaday) is tied to location #2.  There are some
club dingys.  If there is a dockmaster there on Friday, they might let you use
one to go to a club boat.

The best way to reach me after about 4pm EDT is through Andy Stangel
dtn 227 3275.  I hope to coerce him to going out on Friday.

Doug

Had a very enjoable passage this past weekend. I helped our distinguished 
moderator move his boat abot 130 miles up the coast from Marblehead (Mass.) to
Rockland (Maine), where he will be using it for the next month or two
for weekends and vacation weeks.

We got onto the boat Friday evening, with intentions of getting up at 5:00
a.m. on Saturday and heading out by 7:00, planning on a 26-28 hour 
non-stop passage that would take us about 25 miles offshore, taking the
rhumb line course from the tip of Cape Ann to bouy 14M just west of
Monhegan (and Manana) Islands.

At 5:00 Saturday a.m., the rain was beating down on the hatches and splashing
in the open portholes, so we elected to sleep in.

Within an hour or so, the rain ended and we got the boat ready to depart.

We were underway around 8:30 with a goal of making Rockland by noon on
Sunday. Minimal acceptable sailing speed was 4 knots.

By noon, we were saying good-bye to Cape Ann, and land in general. We 
alternated between sailing and motoring as the wind never built to the
forecasted 10-15 southwesterlies. Seas were not heavy although the 
2 foot swells became 4 foot at times. Both of us decided to put on
scopolamine patches - just in case.

The only rain we encountered was a brief shower around 8 p.m. Skies were
clear most of the night overhead, but there were continual flashes of
lightning in the distance. Around 8 a.m. we made bell 
14M off Mongegan (actually off Manana) Island and set a course up Muscle Ridge 
Channel. We cleared the point at Owl's Head around noon and for the first time 
in the trip faced stiff westerlies - right on our nose. 

After motoring into
the harbor, we attempted to pick up a mooring that we thought was the 
one we were borrowing. Here I had a close call where I could have lost
my hand. The boathook had a cord on the end, which I wrapped around my hand,
in case I dropped it. I then proceeded to get the end of the boat hook
caught in the chain in the mooring. As 17,000 lbs of boat drifted forward,
I was pulled into the lifelines. Fortunately, Alan was right there and
was able to get the cord, which was pulled tight around my hand off and
I was able to drop the pole. I had a bruise just below my collar bone
from the lifeline for several days.

Having forgotten the gasoline for the outboard, we had to row the inflatable 
to shore from the outer reaches of the mooring field into a stiff westerly
wind. Alan and I each did all the rowing we cared to do, but finally made it
to shore and connected with my ride home, but not before visiting the
Sea Dog brewpub in Camden for supper.

It was a very enjoyable trip, except for the experience with the boat hook.
Mother nature mostly spared us, and I saw glimpses of whales backs and
tails nearby three times, and as usual, saw porpoises in Muscle Ridge Channel.

A week and 3 days from now, I'll be back up there at Lobster Buoy Campsites
in South Thomaston, with my Com-Pac 19-II on a mooring (mostly for me) and a 
tent on  shore (mostly for my wife). We'll be starting to look for a small
piece of land, as Penobscot Bay keeps calling us back each summer.

Bill

re .24:

Well, the trip back from Rockland to Marblehead last weekend wasn't 
nearly as pleasant. Dave Carter graciously (foolishly in retrospect 
perhaps) agreed to accompany me on the passage. My thanks to him for 
being along.

Julie, our two Maine coon cats, and I had spent the previous two weeks 
sailing and relaxing in Penobscot Bay. Lovely weather, mostly. Saturday 
morning Dave and I put Julie, Dave's wife, and the cats ashore and 
headed seaward. 

We left Rockland about 0845 in a calm, found a southerly breeze off
Monhegan Island, and had fairly miserable trip after that. The wind was
15 to 20 kts oscillating between SE and SW with the usual short, steep
chop which finally built into more comfortable, higher, less steep seas.
Our Monitor windvane was its ever marvelous self. It steered unattended
from early Saturday afternoon until around dawn Sunday, following the
wind wonderfully, keeping us close-hauled with no need to trim sails.
All we had to do was check our position occasionally once we'd gotten
offshore a ways. We motorsailed for a while in the Sunday morning rain
since we wanted to get to Marblehead before the weather got worse. We
picked up our Marblehead mooring early Sunday afternoon just minutes
before a violent NE squall with blinding rain. 

Of course, the next day would have been ideal for the trip back. Sunny 
and moderate NW winds. 

Alan