Sailing from Potts Harbor to Ports Harbor (approx. 160 nm) on the 1975 30 ' Albin Ballad

[Samura Sailer]

I'm helping my friend who just purchased a 30' Albin ballad sailboat sail with him to his house in Ports Harbor from Potts Harbor where currently docked. The boat seems to be well taken care of and it is in a great shape for our adventurous voyager, and we are very exited about it. I'm planning on taking 4 days to sail spending 6-10 hours per day starting July 19, 2022, spending every night in harbors. Is this a good plan in general or a crazy plan?

 

[dlochner]

Without knowing where Ports Harbor is and where Potts Harbor is, it is difficult to offer an opinion or advice.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

I’m not sure I’d sail a 30+ year old boat hundreds of miles without first doing a thorough trial sail first.

 

[Sailor Sue]

Not sure, but I think they might be in Maine.

 

[Samura Sailer]

Sorry I didn't give good information. We're sailing from Dolphin Marina in S. Harpswell ME to Ports Harbor in Addison, ME. We plan to moor in Boothbay Harbor, Tenants Harbor, Stonington Harbor, and NE Harbor on our way up. Sounds feasible?

 

[PaulK]

It makes a lot of sense to make short hops in a new-to-you boat. At about 25 miles, Boothbay seems like a longish first day but just going to Sebasco might seem too short. Tides may extend your travel times and fog may slow you down, so it might be smart to plan additional or alternative stopover points just in case. Getting in to port and back out to sea can take a long time too. Make sure to get some blueberry muffins from the Dolphin Marina Restaurant before you leave. Theirs are the best!

 

[Samura Sailer]

Thanks so much! I'll definitely get some of those muffins!

 

[shemandr]

6 -10 hours a day may be a bit much. It's less fun to arrive exhausted especially when you need to secure the boat for the night, eat a meal and prep the boat for sleeping. Rushing out in the AM isn't for my taste either. I would try to be in that 6 hour zone or even less.
Definitely have alternative stops planned. Sometimes it's just better to change the plan than adhere to one that isn't working.

 

[Samura Sailer]

Thanks for your input. We will start early, and end early. I hope it will be closer to 6 hours of sailing, but allowing longer time if wind and other conditions are less than ideal.

 

[Art12050]

We’ve done the sail you described. Doing it in four days might be a bit aggressive. One of the first rule of sailing is don’t sail on a schedule. Your stopovers sound about right, but you need to allow some time for weather and especially fog. You’ll be sailing in prime fog season in Maine.
Make sure you have mooring reservation, easily done on DOCKWA. As mentioned have some alternatives just in case.
Most importantly, as also mentioned, spend this weekend and next week doing shake down sails in the Harpswell area. Make sure all the systems are working OK.
If the owner is not a Boat US or Sea Tow member, I’d strongly suggest joining up.
Potts Harbor is aptly named, as you can nearly walk on the lobster pots at the entrance.
Good Luck!

 

[Samura Sailer]

Thanks for your very useful information. We have 2 extra days we can spare just in case, so we should be OK for the length of the voyage. My friend is registering for Boat US now. By the way I live in Gainesville, FL where the headquarter of Hunter Marine was, and I worked with the Director of International Sales for Japanese dealers - I am a professional Japanese interpreter. I regret I misspelled my user name for the forum. I meant to put "Samurai Sailor", but when I realized I misspelled, it was too late, and I couldn't change it.

 

[PaulK]

When we cruised the Maine coast on our J/36 - we planned on a 5 knot average cruising speed. For a 30' Albin Ballad It might be wise to plan for an average speed closer to 4 knots. You may need those two extra days.

 

[jssailem]

Looking at charts of the waters, the schedule could be ambitious. I understand but dislike tight schedules. It makes people go out on the water when they should stay in port.
Having a new to you boat I like to be sure the boat is sound and the water will stay on the outside. The safety gear is all accounted for and in usable condition. The power systems I.e. Sails are capable for the trip. The rigging will keep the mast standing tall and the running rigging is capable of controlling the sails. The anchor systems are ready to save the boat if disastrous conditions arise. Finally that the rudder will be there for the whole trip.

Then untie the lines and have a great time.

 

[dLj]

It seems to me like you are running this trip more as what I call a "delivery" trip rather than a "pleasure" trip. You do not have "enjoyment" time allocated in there. Since that appears to be your focus, I think what I would do is set the boat up at the start point as if you are going to make the trip straight through off-shore. Then I'd use that first leg to Boothbay Harbor as a sea trial - might want to have an intermediate stopping point in there just in case. Depending upon how the boat handles that first leg, I might then do a second leg to your Tenants Harbor location or I might just head off shore. Of course you must be watching your weather windows. Given your time constraints, I think this may give you a better trip. But you know yourself and who you are sailing with better than I do...

dj

 

[PaulK]

Would hesitate to go overnight in a new-to-me boat with just two aboard (both getting tired & sleepy) and fog likely. Too many "what-ifs". Putting in at night seems like it would end up a happier trip, even if it does lengthen the travel time.

 

[Samura Sailer]

Thank you, dLj for your comment. Yes, "delivery" is my first priority, it is how this venture/assignment started, but I wanted make it in to an adventurous voyage with certainty of safety. I will have time to go through the boat and equipment, etc. during the handover process with the owner/seller a day before I begin the trip, hopefully a short sailing in the bay during or after the handover. I will use the first day as you suggested to get some feel and comfort level of the boat as well as the capability and measuring an average distance/range of travel per day, then decide the ports we selected are appropriate. I don't have any plan to do any overnight sailing. We will pull in to a port every night, so PaulK doesn't have to worry about that - thanks for your concern thought. I do have one question of a dingy. This boat is supposed to come with an inflatable dingy. Q1: how do I inflate it and how long does it take to inflate? Do I need a specific pump to inflate? Q2: Do I need it to get to the dock if I moor the boat at a port? Q3: Do you advise to tow the dingy the whole trip? Thanks,

 

[sailme88]

Dolphin to BBH is an easy run.. Then onto Tenants is also doable.. But you might want to scope out intermediate safe havens.Port Clyde is a viable early stop should Tenant's not be within reach. Rather than Stonington I'd suggest staying closer to your line of travel and look at Isle Au Haut or Swans Island, from here it's an easy run to Addison on with e sea breeze or a NW'er..

 

[jssailem]

Your dinghy questions depend on the dinghy and the equipment you have.
I have a DC electric pump and a hand pump. The valve takes a specific fitting provided on the pumps.
9 ft long takes 30-60 minutes to inflate and assemble depending on experience and helpers. Use electric pump to do most of the work. Hand pump finishes the task. Nice and taut tubes.

 

[sailme88]

Thank you, dLj for your comment. Yes, "delivery" is my first priority, it is how this venture/assignment started, but I wanted make it in to an adventurous voyage with certainty of safety. I will have time to go through the boat and equipment, etc. during the handover process with the owner/seller a day before I begin the trip, hopefully a short sailing in the bay during or after the handover. I will use the first day as you suggested to get some feel and comfort level of the boat as well as the capability and measuring an average distance/range of travel per day, then decide the ports we selected are appropriate. I don't have any plan to do any overnight sailing. We will pull in to a port every night, so PaulK doesn't have to worry about that - thanks for your concern thought. I do have one question of a dingy. This boat is supposed to come with an inflatable dingy. Q1: how do I inflate it and how long does it take to inflate? Do I need a specific pump to inflate? Q2: Do I need it to get to the dock if I moor the boat at a port? Q3: Do you advise to tow the dingy the whole trip? Thanks,

Inflatables come with a foot pump inflater. There should be 3 towing rings. Use the rings on each pontoon and make bridle.. This will make for a smoother tow. There will be drag not great but drag.. Consider landing it forward upside down with the transom against the mast. Many mooring areas offer tender services ( 0800-20:00 hrs)

There are several cruising guide books for Maine waters.. They provide things like dining options. mooring locations, phone and vhf radio channels quite anchorages or lively spots and on and on...

 

[dLj]

Thank you, dLj for your comment. Yes, "delivery" is my first priority, it is how this venture/assignment started, but I wanted make it in to an adventurous voyage with certainty of safety. I will have time to go through the boat and equipment, etc. during the handover process with the owner/seller a day before I begin the trip, hopefully a short sailing in the bay during or after the handover.

You are going to be checking out the boat, how it sails, all the systems, preparing for the trip - all in one day? That is a very short amount of time, in my opinion. There are a lot of things to inspect and understand about a new-to-you-boat....

I will use the first day as you suggested to get some feel and comfort level of the boat as well as the capability and measuring an average distance/range of travel per day, then decide the ports we selected are appropriate. I don't have any plan to do any overnight sailing. We will pull in to a port every night, so PaulK doesn't have to worry about that - thanks for your concern thought.

I am a strong supporter of only doing what you feel comfortable with.

I do have one question of a dingy. This boat is supposed to come with an inflatable dingy.

What do you know about the dingy? Do you know if it's PVC? Hypalon? I'd recommend finding out ahead of time and picking up a patch kit for the correct dingy material.

Q1: how do I inflate it and how long does it take to inflate? Do I need a specific pump to inflate?

As others have said, there is typically a pump that comes with the dingy. - could be electric, could be manual - often has a special fitting that goes into the tubes. How long it takes to inflate depends upon how big it is and how good the pump is. I would definitely have on my check list that you check to make sure the correct fitting is on whatever pump comes with it actually fits the fitting in the dingy. I would also check to make sure each connection works.

Q2: Do I need it to get to the dock if I moor the boat at a port?

Are you planning to pay for slips in each of your perspective overnight harbors? Have you budgeted for that? If that's your plan then you won't need to dingy in. If you are planning to get mooring balls, or anchor out, you'll need a dingy.

Part of the first day inspection/handover would be to pull out and measure your anchoring system. Does the boat have all chain? All rode? Chain and rode? Exactly how many feet of what? How is that anchor rode measured when setting it out?

Q3: Do you advise to tow the dingy the whole trip? Thanks,[/QUOTE]

I never advise doing that, however if you are only sailing 6 hours or so a day, you could. You do really want to inspect the attachment points of the dingy to make sure they can withstand the towing. If they look worn or iffy - I'd put the dingy on deck.

Just my 2 cents worth...

dj