Cruising Maine June 2012 VI Friday, June 22, 2012 Seal Bay, Vinalhaven, Maine Water temperature 61 F

As we left Long Cove yesterday morning the water was like glass. We motor sailed up the Muscle Ridge Channel in crystal clear conditions with unlimited visibility. The scenery was spectacular. We took Fishermans Channel out into Penobscot Bay and headed for the Fox Island Thorofare that runs between North Haven and Vinalhaven. I had hoped to pick up some wind when we got out on the bay but that didn't happen. We motor sailed across Penobscot Bay hand steering and dodging lobster floats.

A mile or two into the Fox Island Thorofare we passed two high domed rocks named the Sugar Loaves. A pair of Bald Eagles had a nest on top of one of the Loaves and a seagull was dive bombing the nest. We had to stop and watch this. The nest looked small for an eagles nest and we don't remember seeing eagles when we passed this spot in the past. So, it could be a new nest and the way the eagles were defending it there must be eggs or chicks in the nest. Until the chicks are big enough to defend themselves one of the adult birds will always have to be at the nest or the chicks will be seagull food.

As we reached the east end of the Thorofare and were going out into East Penobscot Bay, the wind picked up and the windjammer Mercantile sailed across our bow. It was time for a little fun. We unrolled the jenny, shut down the diesel and traded tacks with the Mercantile. In the light air we could keep up with this much larger vessel and it looked like we were pointing higher also. On our last crossing the Mercantile was on a starboard tack and we were on a port tack, so she had the right of way. We fell off just enough to safely clear her stern and gave the paying passengers a Kodak moment. The Mercantile sailed off to the east and we made a few more tacks until we could sail into Winter Harbor on a reach. We were headed for Seal Bay, one of our favorite anchorages anywhere. We sailed into Winter Harbor but when we turned into the narrow opening into Seal Bay the wind was right on our nose. We cranked the diesel and motored to the spot where we wanted to anchor. We were the only boat in Seal Bay and in the past there have been up to ten boats sharing the bay. It may be the third week in June but prime sailing season hasn't arrived yet in Maine. We were more than willing to have this lovely anchorage all to ourselves.

After the hook was down and the boat secured I gave the outboard the attention it had requested. Removing the carburetor and squirting WD40 through all the little passages usually fixes it and it did this time. We put the outboard back on the dinghy and went for a test ride and did not have to row home. It was time to call it a day.