With provisions secured, we had a wonderful sail through the Deer Isle thorofare, past the lighthouse on Mark Island and over to Calderwood Island. We anchored between Calderwood and Burnt Islands just in time for golden hour. There were more boats there than we were expecting, but we found a great spot to drop the […]
Anchored off Hells Half Acre in the Merchants, I realized I’ve run out of adjectives for the beauty of this place. Hells Half Acre is a small, granite island with a little forest, wild flowers, wild raspberries and a surprising number of birds. The Maine Island Trail Association maintains three primitive camp sites, and small […]
Tuesday morning, we were up early to make the hop down to Little Cranberry Island. Windara felt super sluggish, and we were down about a knot from where our boat speed should be as we motored in the morning calm. We were worried that it might be an engine issue (we’re just past the 4,000 […]
After work, we hauled anchor and raised the sails, bound for the anchorage behind Bar Island. The wind went light, and we eventually had to turn on the engine in order to make it before dark. Normally night sailing isn’t an issue for us, but with the carpet of lobster buoys all along the Maine […]
We left Belfast as the breeze filled in and raised sail off Turtle Head at the end of Islesboro, beating our way to the Eggemoggin Reach. It was a perfect reach through the Reach, and we managed to avoid the minefield of lobster traps. The scenery was amazing, Windara was fast, and it was one […]
On a foggy Sunday morning, we slipped the lines at Warren Island and headed off for a slow, peaceful sail to Belfast. The wind was light but we were able to sail most of the way regardless, and the fog was high enough off the water that visibility wasn’t an issue. At least, not until […]
Just off the coast of Islesboro lies Warren Island State Park, which can only be accessed via private boat. The park maintains nine moorings between Warren Island and Spruce Island, available on a first-come-first-served basis for $20/night, and the mooring field is well protected from most wind directions. We fell in love with this beautiful, […]
A Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast describes Camden as “…one of the jewels of Penobscot Bay,” and gives it five stars, and I can see why. In one direction, you have beautiful sunrise views over the Penobscot, and in the other, the sun sets just behind the picturesque Camden hills. Windjammers sail in and […]
If you think of quiet little fishing harbors, pine forests ending in seaweed-covered rocky shores, and pitch black nights as quintessential Maine, you need to visit Pulpit Harbor. Tucked away on the west side of North Haven, the entrance is hidden by Pulpit Rock, topped by an osprey nest that’s over 150 years old and […]
Maine cruising isn’t easy – between the fog, thick carpets of lobster traps, and unforgiving rocky shoreline, you’ve got to be on constant alert. But the more of the Maine coast we explore, the more I find myself falling in love. I’m a total lighthouse nerd, and I am in absolute heaven – we see […]