Day 1 July 17
Arrived in Rockland and raced on Tannis at the Friendship Sloop Homecoming. Foggy and windy.
Tannis is a 1937, 38’ on deck, 60’ overall sloop. 1400 sq ft of sail when all sails are flying. It was too windy for all 5 sails so the 10 member crew sailed with the Main, Jib and Staysail. It was pretty sporty with the rail buried a number of times. To sail Tannis is to sail a museum piece of history.
We took second behind Rights Of Man.
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| Jeff Cronin steering with two of the crew controlling the main sheet |
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| Tannis Crew |
After the race and G&T’s with my good friend Jack Cronin on his lobster boat Effie M, we loaded Oriane with gear and food and spent the night on our mooring.
It’s been a good day.
Day 2 July 18
Windy over night. NW whistling in the rigging. After breakfast we did a last minute mission ashore then moved Oriane to the fuel dock to top up the tank and take on water before heading out.
As we crossed the harbor the wind was blowing high teens/low 20’s and gusting to 27 knots NW. Perfect for making a passage to Perry Creek for the night. The bay was pretty lumpy but settled down in the Fox Island Thorofare. The jib was rolled up just outside of the anchorage.
It’s been a good day.
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| Oriane crew relaxing post sail - Perry Creek |
12nm under the keel
447nm for the season
Day 3 July 19
Cool overnight required2 blankets but up and at ‘em at 6 with coffee in the cockpit in brilliant warming sunshine. Morning daily games of sudoku and Wordle were accomplished. After a breakfast of cottage cheese with granola and strawberries with an orange juice chaser, Kathy went paddling and I did dishes and straightened out the cabin. Today’s festivities finds us moved to Seal Bay to meet others at the now annual Maine Pacific Seacraft GAM.
A four o’clock dinghy raft up astern Oriane gathered.
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| GAM crews enjoying the raft up |
A feast of goodies were passed as stories were shared. As the crews departed back to their respective vessels, the crew of sv Harmony lingered as we gave a tour of several aspects of Oriane’s interior and deck gear that was of interest.
Dinner was Norwegian salmon with fixings. Delish!
Reading completed.
It's been a good day.
6.4nm for the day
18nm for the cruise
453nm for the season
Day 4 July 20
Dawn broke with clouds scudding above the trees surrounding the anchorage.
Breakfast of poached eggs on avocado toast and coffee in the cockpit proceeded the decision to stay put for another day.
Charts, weather and preferences were considered and tomorrow we will likely sail to Tenants Harbor for the night then to Monheghan, Criehaven, Matinicus then ?? over the next week.
Rich from sv Kelly Mae delivered homemade apple biscuits - a tradition.
Our crew ventured over to sv Harmony another PCS37 for coffee and conversation.
A community lunch aboard sv Mad Jack was enjoyed by all with discussions ranging from sailing to health care.
Severe afternoon storms loomed so I advised increased anchor scope which the other crews agreed was a good precaution against predicted winds.
When the crews returned to their boats all followed through by letting out more anchor chain.
I activated our anchor alarm to make sure that if we dragged we would know instantly.
The radio issued severe storm warnings.
Heavy rain and wind in the low 20’s hit around 3:10 pm. No big deal. The worst thunderstorms went north of us. Another round is expected to hit around 6:30 pm.
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| Not fog but rain impacted visibility. |
While the wind did get frisky - in to the 20’s our anchorage never got the predicted extreme winds. Tea was brewed and enjoyed during the storm. One clap of thunder was really, really loud from a close by strike but most of the heavy storms went around us. The rain, however, was torrential and diminished visibility.
We got word that our friends Lee and Karin on Traveler are in the Bras d’Or Lake in Cape Breton and that Tom and Robin on Althea have successfully reached Shelburne, NS after crossing the Gulf of Maine.
A delicious dinner of homemade crab cakes and salad preceded watching A Star is Born.
All of the weather festivities concluded by about 10 pm and the crew enjoyed a good night sleep.
It's been a good day.
Day 5 July 21
Up at 4:30…..Coffee? Why yes please.
My phone tried hard to reach a cell signal and gave up. These isolated harbors don’t have modern conveniences and sometimes that’s okay.
After breakfast we plan to say “See ya later” to our friends here at the GAM and head to Tenants Harbor.
As planned, we weighed anchor at 7:00 am and raised the main with a reef based on the forecast of 10 to 15 knots with 20 knot wind gusts. Outside of the harbor we added a reefed jib. We sailed past North Haven and headed out into the bay. An out going tide added to our speed. Oriane is a safe boat proved again when the gusts hit 28+knots with apparent winds of 35 knots over the bow, shouldering 4’ seas with at times a firehose of salt water coming across the deck. Glad we have a stout dodger which kept us dry, mostly.
12:10 pm found us finally on a snug mooring in Tenants Harbor.
After cleaning up the lines and gathering shower supplies we headed Porcine, our inflatable dinghy, towards the town dock to walk to the village market for takeout lunch and eventually then over to the boat yard for showers.
Feeling refreshed we got back to Oriane. Kathy put in work time; I relaxed and read after a rather energetic passage.
Oriane continues to tack back and forth on the mooring due to the high wind in the harbor. We believe that the wind will blow itself out as evening arrives
A call was put out to Nick Lunt to see if he had any lobsters for sale. He’s going to drop some off around 6:00. Perfect.
Until then it’s cocktail hour as the high stakes cribbage tournament continues.
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| Actually the cash is to pay for the lobster being delivered |
Lobster feast accomplished.
I suspect a movie and continuing to read “The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float” is on the agenda tonight.
It’s been a good day.
26nm for the day
44nm fort the cruise
479nm for the season
Day 6 July 22
4:00 am and them lobster boys fired up their big Cat diesels and moved about the harbor as they prepared for their day of fishing.
Cold overnight. It was a 3 blanket night and I only had 2.
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| View from my berth with morning sun streaming in. |
After breakfast the crew went ashore. A friend, Dyan, hunted and gathered a small bit of groceries for us while she was in Rockland and brought them to us as we walked the road to the library. Kathy had work to do. I opted to go to Dyan’s farm and see her miniature horse and visit.
The crew looked at the marine weather forecast and a change of plans is in order. Predicted winds in the 30 knot range aren’t very appealing- we’re not in it for the terror- so alternate destinations were evaluated and a new plan was made. The new plan is:
Tenants tonight
White Islands for a night Wednesday
Pulpit for two nights -Thursday and Friday
Long Cove Saturday night
Return to RKD Sunday then home.
We dinghy over to pay a visit to our friend Steve who is working on his house on the shore of the harbor. We rode in his car to see another of his houses that he just restored. Then walked back to our dinghy and returned to Oriane for a light dinner.
For those keeping score, Kathy won the nightly cribbage game.
It’s been a good day.
0nm for the day.
44nm fort the cruise
479nm for the season
Day 7 July 23
After a morning walk ashore and a shower at the marina, lunch was prepped back on board for eating underway.
Out of the harbor, past Southern Island, we set sail bound for Hurricane Sound. A very relaxing broad reach on a flat calm sea. Sometime after passing Two Bush Island, Kathy looked at a real time photograph of the parking lot at the Harbor Master’s office. The parking situation around the Lobster Festival chaos was questioned. Our heading changed to take Oriane back to Rockland in case immediate action was necessary. It took a bunch of time on the phone and text to make sure that our vehicle was properly parked. We finally verified that yes we were okay until Sunday as we had planned. Crisis averted, Oriane immediately turned back northeast with a modified destination of the lovely and secure Long Cove at the top end of Hurricane Sound.
This is the first time I have approached from this angle. Navigating through an unfamiliar, rock strewn stretch of water, we finally were able to intersect a familiar route which would take us into Long Cove. A few minutes later we rounded up and struck the sails and headed to the cove.
Post sail chores were completed after securing in the cove and thus the crew began the serious duty of relaxing.
Here there is no connectivity. My phone displays “SOS”. I guess that stands for “S&%t Outta Signal”.
Dinner - Lobster pasta and roasted vegetables with red wine.
Dishes done.
I finished “The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float”….again. A fabulously funny story.
Sunset cribbage game. For those keeping score, Kathy won....again.
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| Long Cove Sunset |
Went below and watched an episode of “House”.
It’s been a good day.
20nm today
64nm for the cruise
499nm for the season
Day 8 July 24
Slept in. Woke up at 4 but went back to sleep and got up at 7:00. Been a while since I have been in bed that late.
Coffee and banana/blueberry pancakes in the cockpit while watching the world come alive.
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| Prepping for breakfast |
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| Good morning Long Cove |
Plan is to move to Pulpit Harbor later this morning to allow Kathy to work at the Market while this weather blows through. We will head back to Rockland and home on Saturday. Looking forward to seeing the kitties.
We made the run as hoped. Most of the short passage after leaving Long Cove was broad reach and wing on wing run with a following sea in 14-21 knots of wind. A fast, delightful sail further aided by the current from a rising tide.
We arrived in Pulpit Harbor, doused sails and secured on a friend’s mooring. A fast, delightful sail.
We plan to stay here for two nights waiting out high winds and wet weather. We return to Rockland Saturday to head home.
Went for a 2.8 mile walk R/T to the North Haven Oyster Farm. Had 7 delicious oysters which were artisanally opened by the sustainability conscious owner.
It’s been a good day.
8.2nm for the day
72nm for the cruise
508nm for the summer
Day 9 July 25
Lazy start to the day. The crew was up and busy preparing breakfast while I lazed cozily in my berth. Finally got up and into the cockpit for coffee and eventually a mushroom omelette with homemade sweet potato hash browns.
We’re going to hang here for the day to wait out the afternoon’s predicted severe weather.
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| Stephen Tabor |
With an eye on the weather, Porcine made a slow morning pass of the schooner Stephen Tabor (built 1871), through Cabot Cove aka Ministers Cove with surrounding lands possessed by the extended Cabot family. Porcine eventually sidled up to the town dock whereupon the crew walked up to the Market for a second cup of coffee.
coffee.
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| Boathouse Cabot Cove |
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| Pulpit Rock from Cabot Cove |
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| Coffee at the Market |
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| Island Time Chevy |
Back at Oriane we buttoned her up for weather and for heading home tomorrow morning. Sail cover on and Bimini/Dodger connector zipped in. Gilguys, little lines that stabilize the halyards, were checked and adjusted.
Lunch of farro/sweet potato/papita/spinach salad with a tahini dressing was served. Mmmmmm.
Kathy went off exploring on her inflatable kayak, I’m taking a break after lunch dishes.
The wind has been variable all day. The forecast is for afternoon thunderstorms. Maybe.
Scrabble game won by Kathy, I won the cribbage game with a lucky 4th ace in the pegging which put me within 2 points of the finish line with counting still to score.
Winds have abated quite a bit and we swing on the outgoing tide.
Schooners Heritage and the Grace Bailey came in and have anchored nearby.
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| Grace Bailey & Heritage |
During dinner prep storm clouds threaten but it looks like they will stay south of us. Fingers crossed. Homemade mushroom and green olive pizza for dinner.
The forecasted storm went several miles south of us with not a drop of rain here. The clouds, however, were both lovely and impressive.
After dinner the wind calmed down to a wheeze, so off went the kayak with Kathy aboard and I decided to follow in Porcine. We had separate conversations with a nice couple on Remedy. This is their first time to Maine. Advice on some fun places was offered and seemingly gratefully received.
Back onboard I did the dinner dishes and cleaned the galley. The ensign was struck at a gorgeous sunset and Oriane set her anchor light to warn of her presence to any after dark traffic.
Planning an early start tomorrow morning.
It’s been a good day.
0 boat miles for the day
72nm for the cruise
508nm for the summer
Day 10 July 26
Our mid-July cruise is complete. Back in RKD mid-morning. Water and fuel taken on in preparation for our August cruise. Boat interior sparkled and secured.
Time to head home and kiss the kitties.
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| Oriane back in Rockland |
Nothing further of consequence to report.
It’s been a good day. It’s been a good cruise.
11nm for the day
83nm for the cruise
520nm for the summer.
