Boothbay, Tenants Harbor, & Rockland

This is the fourth summer we have spent in Maine. Each seems to have a unique character. This year we have generally had rather warm weather with fast moving weather systems giving us some great sailing days as well as some impressive storms.

One of the best days sailing has been from Snow Island past Cape Small to Boothbay Harbor. We had a broad reach all the way with about 10-15 kits of wind and bright sunny skies. Those of you who are cruisers will recognize how unusual it was since we had the engine turned off almost all the way and still made the 25 miles in 5 hours.

Boothbay Harbor (Photo 1, to left) is a classic Maine "tourist attraction" and many local sailors avoid it. But, it does have a certain charm, as well as a nice marina with reasonably priced moorings, laundry and shower facilities. We also have two amateur radio friends who live there that make the visits especially enjoyable.





We made a short run to East Boothbay on the Damariscotta River, and then another very pleasant long run past Pemaquid Point, across Muscongus Bay, past Port Clyde to Tenants Harbor.

(Photo 2, Fisherman's Island Light on passage between Boothbay and East Boothbay.)








(Photo 3, Marshall Point Light at Port Clyde.)












A highlight of this trip was a visit to Eastern Egg Rock (a small rocky island). This is a preserve in Muscongus Bay where many seabirds nest especially the Atlantic Puffins. These were extirpated in the US many years ago, but have been reintroduced at Eastern Egg Rock. We found large numbers of them. The closest were swimming only a 20-30 feet from the boat.
(Photo 4, Puffins at Eastern Egg Rock.)






I think Tenants is one of the prettier harbors in Maine. The South island Light at the entrance is especially picturesque (Photo 5). It is the subject of paintings by Jamie Wyeth and is now owned by him.









The harbor is small with many lobster boats as well as yachts. White clapboard houses and inns overlook the harbor (Photo 6).
The second night we were there a very strong storm system came through, probably the most intense we have seen in Maine. Over 6" of rain were reported, winds were over 30kts and the thunder and lightning were virtually continuous from about 6:30 to 9:30 pm. We were glad to be on a good mooring in a well protected harbor.


But, the next day was mostly sunny with a NW breeze as we sailed up the Muscle Ridge Channel and around Owls Head into Rockland Harbor (Photo 7, Owls Head Light).









As we approached Rockland we found ourselves among a fleet of Friendship sloops racing to a rendezvous in Rockland (Photo 8). These are classic gaff rigged sloops originally developed around Friendship, ME. The wind was 20-25 kits so they were not carrying topsails but were still beautiful to see sailing.












Photo 9, Racing a squall into the harbor past the Rockland Breakwater Light.













Later in the afternoon the Friendship sloops were all moored at the Rockland Public Landing, for the 50th annual "Friendship Sloop Days" (Photo 10).

(Tropicbird is out on one of the moorings in the harbor beyond, but there is also a dinghy dock here where we come in.)

To Snow Island, Quahog Bay, ME

Monday the 12th was a beautiful clear day with the wind south at 10kts. With the near perfect conditions we left the Royal River and decided to pass up our usual first stop and push on around the Harpswell Peninsula and Bailey's Island on into Quahog Bay and the anchorage east of Snow Island.

(Photo 1 to left -Tropicbird at anchor near Snow Island.)





This is a beautiful and well protected spot. Snow Island is perhaps most noted because it is the home of Dodge Morgan who sailed his 60' cutter "American Promise" non-stop around the world in record time in the mid 1980's. He is now a columnist for the New England sailing magazine Points East. (Photo 2 to left - Dodge Morgan's schooner "Eagle" at its mooring off Snow Island- photo to left.)


Although it is not a "wilderness", there is also a remarkable amount of wildlife. There are Ospreys (Photo 3 to left) and Bald Eagles nesting in the area (we had a great look at the eagle as it came by the boat about 50' away, but of course, my camera was not at hand). Lots of Common Eiders (diving ducks) and Double-crested Cormorants are around as well as the ever present Herring Gulls and Greater Black-backed Gulls. We have also seen from the boat, Snowy Egrets, Common Terns, and a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers drumming on a large dead pine.


We have spent a number of days here, some because of fog (Photo 4 to left) and rain. But, even in poor weather it is a great place to be.









(Photo 5 - Sunset over Snow Island.)

Finally Afloat

Yesterday the day of launching finally arrived. We had accomplished all the projects we really needed to complete.

At about 9:30am the truck with hydraulic trailer arrived to load the boat.

Being hauled away from our "home on the hard".

Going down the hill to the launch slip.

Loading on the Travelift.

Stepping the mast.

Almost complete.

Sunset from the boat now afloat in the marina. We plan a few more days here calibrating, testing, and provisioning.