Hello Everyone, I'm starting to plan a 2 to 3 week cruise from Boston to Down East, Maine. I was wondering if anybody had any specific places that they liked, or experiences they had. Should I try to head as far north as possible or is it better to take my time & see the middle of the coast? What's it like WAY up north near Nova Scotia?? Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff (formerly Drambuie) Catalina 30 Hull# 632
- Status
Allen
I have cruised most of the Maine coast and think Tenants Harbor to Bar Harbor is the best area. This includes all of Penobscot Bay, Fox Island Throughfare, Eggamoggin Reach, Blue Hill Bay, Jericho Bay and more with countless islands to explore. Been cruising this area for 6 summers and still have not explored all of it.
I have cruised most of the Maine coast and think Tenants Harbor to Bar Harbor is the best area. This includes all of Penobscot Bay, Fox Island Throughfare, Eggamoggin Reach, Blue Hill Bay, Jericho Bay and more with countless islands to explore. Been cruising this area for 6 summers and still have not explored all of it.
Sure...
Allen I've sailed the Mid-Coast Maine area a few times on a variety of boats. Most recently, last year we sailed up from Marblehead to Casco Bay on my C320. I'd be glad to share my route & waypoint data with you (send me an email at: rdoesche@rcn.com). Casco Bay is very nice -- many islands and varied conditions, ship traffic, etc. Casco should be at least a one-week excursion in itself. Portland at the southern end is basically an overnight sail from Boston, and has the full range of marinas & yard services. The city itself is quite nice, too. We used Spring Point Marina for an overnight stop point. At the northern end, we anchored up in Quahog Bay; it's a beautiful spot tucked inside of Sebascodegan Island. We've also stayed at South Freeport (Brewer Marine); the entry channel from the Bay requires careful attention to avoid the shoals, but isn't a big problem. Penobscot Bay & the interconnecting waterways out through Mt Desert Island are fabulous. Many beautiful islands, lots of scenic boating (the Maine Windjammer fleet) plus fairly protected waters. We chartered there years ago doing a Rockland - Camden - Belfast - Castene - Brooklin - Stonington - Rockland loop (would have done more except for Hurricane Floyd interrupting our plans). The area inbetween Casco Bay & Penobscot Bay (e.g., the "outer islands" -- Seguin, Monhegan, etc., the rivers, Robinhood, Boothbay Harbor, etc.) represents much interesting and challenging sailing too. Challenging in terms of currents, shoal bottoms, weather, etc. There are a couple of photos of these areas posted at the C320 International Website. I've never sailed into the lower Maine coastal ports, but have visited many by land. My general impression was that there isn't much to offer between Portsmouth & Portland (I'm sure many with more local knowledge would dispute that observation, though!). The harbors are faily small, and the access to the Gulf of Maine can be constricted. Transient services is limited in some, too. For a two-week window, I'd suggest sailing directly up to the Penobscot Bay area and spending most of the time there. Going north is generally a broad reach with the SE prevailing winds in summer. Watch out when they start clocking to the west -- generally will bring storms. Going south you may do a lot of motoring into dead-on winds and seas, so watch fuel consumption carefully. You'll probably have to hop your way south -- e.g., Portland, Portsmouth, Gloucester -- for refueling & rest points. Getting up to Nova Scotia would most likely exceed your two-week limit. Friends who have sailed there liked the area a lot. Just remember, if sailing into Canadian waters you'll need an FCC station license for any VHF, HF/SSB/SATCOM, and RADAR emitters on-board, plus any applicable operator's permits/licenses to use them. Also, you can't legally land on any Canadian territory without first clearing customs. --Ron
Allen I've sailed the Mid-Coast Maine area a few times on a variety of boats. Most recently, last year we sailed up from Marblehead to Casco Bay on my C320. I'd be glad to share my route & waypoint data with you (send me an email at: rdoesche@rcn.com). Casco Bay is very nice -- many islands and varied conditions, ship traffic, etc. Casco should be at least a one-week excursion in itself. Portland at the southern end is basically an overnight sail from Boston, and has the full range of marinas & yard services. The city itself is quite nice, too. We used Spring Point Marina for an overnight stop point. At the northern end, we anchored up in Quahog Bay; it's a beautiful spot tucked inside of Sebascodegan Island. We've also stayed at South Freeport (Brewer Marine); the entry channel from the Bay requires careful attention to avoid the shoals, but isn't a big problem. Penobscot Bay & the interconnecting waterways out through Mt Desert Island are fabulous. Many beautiful islands, lots of scenic boating (the Maine Windjammer fleet) plus fairly protected waters. We chartered there years ago doing a Rockland - Camden - Belfast - Castene - Brooklin - Stonington - Rockland loop (would have done more except for Hurricane Floyd interrupting our plans). The area inbetween Casco Bay & Penobscot Bay (e.g., the "outer islands" -- Seguin, Monhegan, etc., the rivers, Robinhood, Boothbay Harbor, etc.) represents much interesting and challenging sailing too. Challenging in terms of currents, shoal bottoms, weather, etc. There are a couple of photos of these areas posted at the C320 International Website. I've never sailed into the lower Maine coastal ports, but have visited many by land. My general impression was that there isn't much to offer between Portsmouth & Portland (I'm sure many with more local knowledge would dispute that observation, though!). The harbors are faily small, and the access to the Gulf of Maine can be constricted. Transient services is limited in some, too. For a two-week window, I'd suggest sailing directly up to the Penobscot Bay area and spending most of the time there. Going north is generally a broad reach with the SE prevailing winds in summer. Watch out when they start clocking to the west -- generally will bring storms. Going south you may do a lot of motoring into dead-on winds and seas, so watch fuel consumption carefully. You'll probably have to hop your way south -- e.g., Portland, Portsmouth, Gloucester -- for refueling & rest points. Getting up to Nova Scotia would most likely exceed your two-week limit. Friends who have sailed there liked the area a lot. Just remember, if sailing into Canadian waters you'll need an FCC station license for any VHF, HF/SSB/SATCOM, and RADAR emitters on-board, plus any applicable operator's permits/licenses to use them. Also, you can't legally land on any Canadian territory without first clearing customs. --Ron
Check our web site
Allan, Our web site has some info that may be of interest to you (see link). Check page 3 of the newsletter. We cruised there last summer for two weeks between Casco Bay and Swan's Island (just south of Mt Desert Isle). We had moved our boat from Portsmouth, RI to Portland, ME, where we kept the boat for the summer at Sunset Marina in South Portland with a beautiful view of the city. Coming from the Cape Cod Canal, we made for Gloucester (50nm) to rest and fuel. We motor-sailed the whole distance. The next day we made for Pepperell Cove in Kittery, ME. (opposite Portsmouth, NH - 38 nm. We chose to go around Cape Ann to avoid boat traffic in the Annisquam on July 4th - watch the headwinds around Cape Ann). Make mooring reservations with Frisbee's Supermarket in Kittery Point. Then we made for Portland (50nm) to the marina. Read about our two week cruise. Starting in Portland, the group was moving every day. It was almost 300nm (round trip), so plan accordingly. If you have more questions, contact me through the Owner's Directory.
Allan, Our web site has some info that may be of interest to you (see link). Check page 3 of the newsletter. We cruised there last summer for two weeks between Casco Bay and Swan's Island (just south of Mt Desert Isle). We had moved our boat from Portsmouth, RI to Portland, ME, where we kept the boat for the summer at Sunset Marina in South Portland with a beautiful view of the city. Coming from the Cape Cod Canal, we made for Gloucester (50nm) to rest and fuel. We motor-sailed the whole distance. The next day we made for Pepperell Cove in Kittery, ME. (opposite Portsmouth, NH - 38 nm. We chose to go around Cape Ann to avoid boat traffic in the Annisquam on July 4th - watch the headwinds around Cape Ann). Make mooring reservations with Frisbee's Supermarket in Kittery Point. Then we made for Portland (50nm) to the marina. Read about our two week cruise. Starting in Portland, the group was moving every day. It was almost 300nm (round trip), so plan accordingly. If you have more questions, contact me through the Owner's Directory.
some sailing spots
A few other spots: I always do the Annisquam River, just love the scenery, houses, boats along the river - but - be very careful to follow channel markers else on low tide you've got a good chance to beach it! ;-) Star Island 9(?) miles effshore from Portsmouth, NH. There are many mooring balls that local fisherman let you use and there are a few mooring balls from PYC that I think yiu can use unless members come to use same. A place *not* to go: Cape Porpoise: It's a nice enough spot but the number and more especially the *location* of lobster traps is wayyyyy out of control. They are literally strewn all over the channel and it is very hard to miss them. Whatever you do, don't go into CP during the night or you'll get a foulded prop for sure. Jewell Island: 6 miles offshore from Falmouth Foreside: an international stopover spot that has great anchoring and is a place to talk with folks from around the world. Deep in the sheltered cove is a submerged pole at high tide - best to ask locals on that pole location - or just don't be the furthest in anchored boat. Warren Island at West Penobscot Bay: state has 9 or so free moorings, quiet spot, safe from south winds, can get off and do state park. Sommes Sound: go about 3 miles into the sound and look for a free mooring (there are 3 of them right by the cliff and are not marked but I think they all are orange topped floats that look like lobster buoys. They allow either 24 or 48b hours free. This is a very popular and picturesque spot and often you need to get there early in the afternoon to pick up the free mooring. If all 3 are taken, you can travel up the sound another 1/4 miles and on west side is another of the free moorings, not as picturesque but still quite nice. My comments are getting my juices going regarding getting out there sailing! May 27th is drop in water day.
Ron
A few other spots: I always do the Annisquam River, just love the scenery, houses, boats along the river - but - be very careful to follow channel markers else on low tide you've got a good chance to beach it! ;-) Star Island 9(?) miles effshore from Portsmouth, NH. There are many mooring balls that local fisherman let you use and there are a few mooring balls from PYC that I think yiu can use unless members come to use same. A place *not* to go: Cape Porpoise: It's a nice enough spot but the number and more especially the *location* of lobster traps is wayyyyy out of control. They are literally strewn all over the channel and it is very hard to miss them. Whatever you do, don't go into CP during the night or you'll get a foulded prop for sure. Jewell Island: 6 miles offshore from Falmouth Foreside: an international stopover spot that has great anchoring and is a place to talk with folks from around the world. Deep in the sheltered cove is a submerged pole at high tide - best to ask locals on that pole location - or just don't be the furthest in anchored boat. Warren Island at West Penobscot Bay: state has 9 or so free moorings, quiet spot, safe from south winds, can get off and do state park. Sommes Sound: go about 3 miles into the sound and look for a free mooring (there are 3 of them right by the cliff and are not marked but I think they all are orange topped floats that look like lobster buoys. They allow either 24 or 48b hours free. This is a very popular and picturesque spot and often you need to get there early in the afternoon to pick up the free mooring. If all 3 are taken, you can travel up the sound another 1/4 miles and on west side is another of the free moorings, not as picturesque but still quite nice. My comments are getting my juices going regarding getting out there sailing! May 27th is drop in water day.
Ron- Status