Moving South in Baby Steps
25 September 2014 | York, Maine
Sunny, Temp 68F, Wind N-W@5-10
Wellington Gay
Very sad news from Charlottetown. Long time member of the Charlottetown Yacht Club and good friend to all he met, Wellington Gay died. He had been diagnosed with cancer just 2 weeks ago. He will be sadly missed for his good humor and his willingness to help anyone at anything. Fair winds, Wellie!
Sept 21st: Yesterday's plan changed. Motoring down the Damariscotta River, we were met at the river mouth with clear skies and light southerly winds, so plans for Boothbay Harbor were abandoned in favor of taking advantage of a nice breeze.
By days end, we were closing in on Casco Bay when the fog settled in. Plans were to head for Great Diamond Island where we would find a mooring and nice restaurant ashore. But in the thick fog, we diverted into nearby Jewell Island, another excellent anchorage. We groped our way in aided by radar and keeping a sharp lookout for lobster pots.
In the anchorage, we were alone, unusual as it is so close to Portland, but in a foggy Sunday in late September, not even another cruiser heading south like us! We took a short walk ashore, then back aboard for dinner of BBQ steak in the fog. But down below was warm and dry.
Sept 22nd: This morning we woke to clear skies but S-W 20-30 winds... right on the nose for our passage down the coast, a trip of 50 miles... not happening!!! So we motored over to Great Diamond, winding our way through the islands with spray flying everywhere.
At Diamond Cove picked up a vacant mooring and went ashore to find the restaurant closed on Sundays and Mondays. But we were just in time for the tiny passenger ferry into Portland, so we headed in for the day. Lunch, some shopping a visit to Hamilton Marine, and a visit to South Street Linens, owned and operated by Jeannie's cousin Jane Ryan filled the day.
We headed back out to Diamond where we decided to return to Jewell as there is an ocean swell that makes life very uncomfortable in Diamond. A quiet night.
Sept 23rd: We woke to clear air and light southerlies and were quickly under way. Our course was S-W in southerlies, so it was close hauled all day with winds varying in both strength and direction, so that it was a busy day with the sails. At 4pm we were motoring into the tiny harbor of York, Maine.
It was our first time in York, and the guides exhort caution to stay off the ledges as you are swept by the strong currents, and with good reason. But we were safely in and picked up a town mooring and ashore for a tour of a very nice new harbor.
In the warming air we had drinks in the cockpit, but still too cool for dinner. Next week sounds like a return to summer.
From here, a few more stops, then through the Cape Cod Canal later in the week, and cruising in Buzzards Bay and Long Island Sound.