USA 250th anniversary cruise July 2-19,2026

Log of sv Oriane

Thom Perkins, Captain

Kathy Bennett, Admiral

July 2, 2026

We arrived in Rockland, Maine as the outside air temperature gauge reads 102f. It’s bloody hot as we load the boat with gear for a 10 day cruise.

We got word that potential buyers want to look at the boat tomorrow morning at 9:00AM. So rather than heading out of the harbor for relief from the heat we take a mooring at the north end of the breakwater. It’s a smidgeon cooler. A gin and tonic (or two) were enjoyed in the cockpit followed by dinner of fresh caught swordfish and homemade Thai peanut noodles. It’s rather sad thinking that this might be our last cruise on Oriane.

July 3

After a showing for potential buyers, we headed out of Rockland harbor and pointed toward Tom Cod Cove. Fun, gentle downwind sail under Genoa. Wayne Cronin and his family pass us in their Friendship Sloop “Rights of Man”. We moored for the night. Kathy went for a swim.

July 4

Moved to Castine Dock with special permission to stay longer than the max 2 hr limit so that we could go to the kids’ costume parade and town festivities.

After the festivities we moved back to Tom Cod Cove for the afternoon. The plan is to move at dinnertime to a MMA mooring across the harbor from Castine to watch the fireworks.

July 5

Cousins Nancy and Ellie met us for coffee on the dock after Kathy completed her kayak mission. Lovely conversation over coffee.

After our see ya laters, Oriane headed down Eggemoggin Reach and ended up in one of my favorite places - Buckle Island harbor with its view of Mt Desert. The evening passed lazily. And the crew retired for the night.

July 6

It was a two blanket night. Feels nice after the heatwave.  Breakfast of buckwheat blueberry pancakes and coffee enjoyed in the cockpit surrounded by the going’s on of nature and lobster boats.

Kathy heaved her kayak overboard and climbed in to explore the neighborhood while the captain did the dishes and sparkled the galley.

Today we head across Blue Hill Bay passing over the Bass Harbor Bar with the destination of Little Cranberry Island. We hope to find one of the guest moorings open upon which we can hang.

After an uneventful crossing to Little Cranberry and finding an open guest mooring, we spent an  equally uneventful night in the harbor providing the crew with excellent views of Acadia National Park and an equally wonderful sunset.

July 7

We moved Oriane to the extraordinary Northeast Harbor arriving at 9:15 AM. We found our friends Art and Beth on their cute 24’ Hobbitship. Showers and a walk to town were first on the agenda. Art and Beth and our crew made our way to the flesh pot’s of Bar Harbor for a late afternoon early dinner and a run to the grocery store.

An uneventful night after returning to Oriane.

July 8

The crew had lunch in Southwest Harbor with our friends Carey Kish and Fran Leyman then another trip to Bar Harbor this time for ice cream and general sightseeing. We caught the last bus back to our boat and spent the evening relaxing.

July 9

Showers & farmers market missions completed, we said a fond farewell to the amazing Mark the launch driver and headed to Hinkley for a spot of maintenance, pump out and 12 gallons of fuel. We cast off the lines releasing us from Hinkley’s dock and headed up Somes Sound. Kathy had a business Zoom call to make mid-afternoon. We arrived in Somesville with plenty of time to spare after a lazy beam/broad reach up the only true fiord on the East Coast of the US.

Secured in the harbor there is little more to report.

July 10

After a calm night we slept in until almost 7 am. Banker’s Hours!!

Kathy’s business required staying put until 11:30. Various destinations were considered as Oriane romped down Somes Sound taking advantage of the 8-15 knots north wind pushing us along.

Destinations considered included Frenchboro, Bartlett Island, Burnt Coat and finally the anchorage between Opechee, Black and Sheep islands where we set the anchor. Getting here meant crossing the Bass Harbor Bar yet again. The incoming tide boosted our ground speed to 8 knots….. whee! The crossing of Blue Hill Bay was easy with a close reach on a NW wind. It did require vigilance for the myriad of lobster pots.

This is my second time anchoring here. The last time was probably thirty years ago. It’s lovely with views of Acadia, Swans and Isle au Haut. Sheep Island has a large glacial erratic on it.  Serious relaxation commenced once the anchor was set and checked twice.

Kathy determines that her business obligations could be conducted from the boat and that we might as well extend our cruise for another week. No argument from the captain.

July 11

Spent the day on anchor. I was able to get in and out of the dinghy so off we went to explore the neighborhood. Flagged down a lobster boat and got 4 bad boys and he threw in an extra.

After lazy time back on the mothership we did another dinghy mission to a beach where repairs were accomplished on Porcine (our inflatable dinghy which rows like a pig) to keep it from sinking.

Back again on Oriane, gin and tonics and snacks were brought out while the water in the lobster pot came to a boil.

Dinner was energetic with all the cracking and picking.

We brought out the guitars and played a few songs in the cockpit. Then an episode of intrigue on the iPad and reading took the stage until lights out.

July 12

Dawn broke ending a 2 blanket night. We determined that the wind forecast made a 11 am departure optimum. Breakfast and Boat chores occupied the morning while listening to WERU radio Sunday morning folk show. When the appointed hour came we raised the anchor and bravely made our way out of the anchorage and raised the sails. The north wind carried us east through Casco Passage and into Eggemoggin Reach. The wind was squirrelly requiring frequent course changes and tacking. All the while dodging the orchard of lobster pots.

The further up the reach the pots thankfully petered out.

A Bucks Harbor Yacht Club guest mooring was open and we took advantage of their hospitality. The didn’t answer our phone calls nor respond on the radio.

It is first come first served and we were first.

In Bucks Harbor a required tradition is to take advantage of the now historic outdoor shower. Feeling restored we headed off to the market only to find it closed on Sundays.

We filled a couple of bottles with drinking water and pointed Porcine back to the mothership.

Pre-dinner snacks and beverages were consumed with relish. Lobster pasta dinner prepared and consumed.

July 13

Kathy made use of the calm morning to kayak around the harbor. I did my TaiChi and exercises on board.

We took the time before Kathy’s business required her attention to land Porcine at the Yacht Club dock and stroll to the store to replenish our stores plus a few extras.

Upon our return we fired up Johan the Phantom and pointed Oriane into a stiff breeze that came directly from our intended destination. With a zoom meeting dictating our arrival we chose to motor recharging our batteries and devices as we made our way to the west cove of Pickering Island. It’s a place where I had never been, to spend the afternoon and the overnight protected from the current and forecasted strong winds. We found the cove pleasantly calm after a rather bouncy but thankfully short crossing from Bucks. 

Another exercise session, dinner, and a game of cribbage, we prepared the cockpit for the night, went below, turned on the anchor light and called it a day.

123 nm since leaving Rockland eleven days ago.

July 14.

After a 3 blanket night, breakfast of Cheerios and berries was taken in the cockpit with Pickering and other assorted surrounding islands in the middle and far distance and swooping Ospreys as our morning entertainment. After Kathy finished her morning work, Oriane cleared the cove and headed to inspect another cove on Pickering. We ended up circumnavigating Pickering avoiding numerous sunkers both seen and unseen. Oriane passed by the lovely Barred Islands deciding that with the predicted weather we would ask our friend Paul if his mooring in Pulpit was available for the night. It was so we sought the protection of this excellent harbor.

Wind was directly on the nose. Kathy did an extended trick at the wheel all the way in past Pulpit Rock with its ancient osprey nest perched on top, to the mooring. Speed prevents me from running forward to pick up the mooring so we traded places and Kathy goes to the bow to pick up and secure the line.

Another business Zoom call late afternoon then dinner and a game of rummikub accompanied by Latin music on WERU, 89.9 fm Blue Hill. They have eclectic programming on the best volunteer radio station on the planet.

139 nm for the cruise.

July 15

Oriane spent the day in Pulpit Harbor. So did the crew. Sunrise was unusual as wildfire smoke in the air was so thick that it turned the Sun bright red and one could look directly at it. It seemed small compared to when it’s blazing on a clear day.

We abandoned ship late morning taking Porcine to the dock at the head of the harbor. The crew walked the familiar road uphill to the island’s market for some exercise. Another spectacular day interrupted only by Kathy’s need to spend time talking with clients about their marketing needs.

Drinks and snacks were enjoyed in the cockpit with Paul and Dawn (sv/Bubu) whose mooring we have used occasionally when in Pulpit. It’s interesting to hear others sailing and life adventures. Dawn and Paul are no exception. A bunch of the early evening was spent discussing the finer points of going beyond Roque Island to sail in the Bay of Fundy and Passamaquoddy Bay.

A nice sunset was appreciated while the crew completed a challenging game of Rummicub.  Kathy won so the score is now 1-1.

The anchor light was lit, the crew watched the rest of a movie below decks then turned in for the night.

July 16 day 14 of the 250th Anniversary Cruise.

We arrived at the Rockland Public Landing at 11:30 after the 12 nm crossing from Pulpit Harbor on North Haven Island. Rain was threatening and the weather radar showed strong storms with wind were heading our way.

We docked port-side-to pointing Oriane’s bow into the coming weather. A cruise ship was on another section of dock 50 feet off our stern.

After  we were  secure we strolled to the harbor side farmers market in the park at the top of the dock Then Kathy went off to the grocery store and the captain started getting the boat ready for guests arriving  tomorrow at 10 AM. Excess unnecessary gear was excavated from Oriane and remanded to the car.

Alec Binder our engine mechanic arrived at quarter past noon. A wire had gotten pinched under the valve cover during a previous service. This very minor issue was successfully addressed.

Kathy got back and groceries were stored.

Friendship sloops were out racing in the harbor and a cruise ship was dealing with passengers and loading supplies. It was a perfectly lovely summer afternoon.

But the western sky was growing darker.

All of a sudden the skies opened up and for 18 minutes recorded winds peaked at 70 knots.

The wind pressure against the side of the  cruise ship resulted in the ship pulling a piling and a dolphin (3 pilings lashed together) out of the bottom into which they had been pounded. Docks to which the ship was tied were lifted clear out of the water.  Heavy cleats ripped from other sections of dock hung askew or were sent to the bottom.  Four people were in the water. 

For a few long minutes the ship was out of control.

Meanwhile the sloops were hit by the wind wall. All kinds of carnage ensued. Boats broke masts; sails were shredded.

A boat capsized in the south end of the harbor.

Black smoke belched from the ship’s stack. By this time the ship had been blown 90 degrees and was drifting out of control threatening to take out a bunch of moored boats. The captain struggled to get the ship back under control. While doing his best the ship’s stern destroyed the deck of the Safe Harbor dock house. The ship suffered four broken windows.

The wind was accompanied by blasting rain. One of the ship’s passengers didn’t get back to the ship in time and was on the dock next to us so we insisted that she come aboard to get out of the weather.

We had ringside seats for all this fun. As planned with our bow to the wind and our stout dock lines and large fenders deployed, we were perfectly safe.

After the fracas hot showers ashore were taken and an early dinner ashore was enjoyed.

When we were walking the dock out to Oriane we remarked to each other how low the tide seemed.

We fired up Johan the Phantom, and Kathy retrieved the dock lines and stepped aboard. I put the gearshift in forward and nothing happened. I put it reverse with the same result. My first thought - the prop had fallen off. Or the shaft had pulled out of the transmission coupler or the transmission had given up the ghost. What???  We were disconnected from and on the inside of the U-shaped dock with hard stuff on 3 sides of us  with no steerage nor propulsion.

Kathy warped us back and secured the bow, stern and aft spring line. I got on the dock while Kathy got to the helm. First was to see if we had a prop. Yes we did. Next to put in forward to see if the prop responded. It did. Next reverse. Again the prop spun appropriately. ???

Then it dawned on me, we were aground. I turned on the depth sounder and sure enough it read 0.1 ft under the keel. So we secured the machinery and went below to wait for the tide to lift us enough to escape.

Half an hour later the tide was one hour past low which means that 1/12 of the tide or approximately 1’ of water should be under our keel. We disconnected from the dock for a second time. With Johan the Phantom set to idle forward Oriane’s bow slowly turned towards the clear opening. I watched the depth sounder like a hawk. 0.3….0.2…..0.5……0.9.  Slowly we got to deeper water and finally made our way to our mooring.

It’s been a weird but good day.

250th Anniversary Cruise July 17 day 15

Our friends Chris and Rose Ellms arrived at 0930 to join us for a weekend cruise. Oriane threaded between the dock face and the Prock Marine tug and barge which was there to effect repairs to the town dock damaged by the cruise ship during the previous day’s storm. The western wind was up promising a fine day of sailing.

We flew across the 6 miles to the Fox Island Thorofare entrance running downwind in 17-20 knots of wind with a building following sea. The fine sailing continued on flat water after we passed the Fiddlers Ledge granite monument marking the entrance of the Fox Island Thorofare.

We were going to stop in Perry Creek for lunch but the sailing was so good that the crew voted to continue on and have lunch underway. Sandwiches were passed up the companionway as North Haven disappeared behind Iron Point. Passing Goose Rocks spark plug light, the fourth lighthouse passed today, we continued on out to cross Isle au Haut Bay. Chris took the helm and practiced the recently learned finer points of lobster pot avoidance.

The visibility continued unlimited and the five mile crossing to Mark Island light slipped playfully by. The crew resumed sightseeing as Oriane entered the Deer Island Thorofare flying her sails wing on wing. As the fishing village of Stonington came abeam the sails were doused and Johan the Phantom was roused to allow the crew to spectate as we threaded through the myriad spruce and granite small islands. We briefly diverted our course to give the guests a chance to see up close the schooner Stephen Tabor which had anchored off Russ Island.

Resuming course we continued to dodge islands and lobster pots finally dropping the hook at McGlathery Island. We had covered 24nm in four hours.

The crew immediately took to the dinghy to make an amphibious assault on the beach.

The finer points of anchor position affected by tide and wind were discussed as Oriane came close to a nearby lobster pot.

Dinner of crab cakes on salad followed by fresh strawberry shortcake was taken in the cockpit followed by an inspiring sunset. Conversation resumed below deck to escape a possible onslaught of mosquitoes.

The lights went out and the crew retired at about nine thirty.

It’s been a great day.

250th Anniversary Cruise July 18 day 16

The forecast for the day was increasing winds during the day, increasing to 40 knots during the night and very windy on Sunday.

We left McGlathery mid-morning and headed towards Seal Bay to weather the storm. A close reach across Isle au Haut Bay followed an exit tour of the myriad islands of Merchants Row.  Sails got doused just outside of the entrance to Winter Harbor. I took Oriane and the crew for a peek at inner Winter Harbor before heading into Seal Bay to spend the night off Hay island. Seal Bay lived up to its name with a bunch of seals lounging on the rocks. 

We were happy to get to a place that I knew would be safe for the night. Rummicub was played before bedtime. The wind increased. The wind instrument was playing with high 20’s when it was turned off for the night. Late evening gusts came screaming with 40 knot sustained gusts whistles the rigging.

Everyone was awake from the noise and the motion as Oriane leaned over tacking back and forth as each gust buffeted her hull and rigging. The captain had a long night.

250th Anniversary Cruise July 19 day 17

After coffee and toast breakfast we were facing the prospects of 20-25 knots of wind and 2’-4’ breaking seas once out into Penobscot Bay after turning into wind on the nose for the crossing to Rockland. We planned to have Johan the Phantom due the heavy lift. It was all relatively flat past Widow and Birch Islands, Zeke and Iron points, past the village of North Haven and out to the Sugar Loaves. Interestingly, Navionics calls them “Fox Ears” but I find that hard to accept after 40 years of passing these two small islands which everyone calls the Sugar Loaves. Once Oriane turned west at the Fiddlers Ledge navigational monument the full force of the seas and wind hit us. The 6 nm mile fetch had built up significant breaking waves, occasionally sending a firehose of water over the deck into the dodger. Oriane was punching back with spray and waves being thrown aside. We made slow progress past Drunkards Ledge which provided a brief and minor but appreciated reduction in wave height. The fun continued for the hour and a half crossing. The waves slowly diminished from the shorter fetch as we got close to the Rockland breakwater. The waves had diminished but as typical the wind increased as we cleared past the breakwater lighthouse and made our way to Oriane’s home mooring.

After securing the mooring pendant, gear got organized and everything cleaned up and secured then the RYC launch arrived and we went ashore.

We put 200 nm under the keel during our cruise, saw many wonderful things, celebrated the 250th anniversary of our country and enjoyed the company of friends.

It was a good cruise.

Nothing further of consequence to report.