Chip Ahoy's 2005 Maine Cruise

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Description

I made Winter Harbor on the afternoon of the 3rd but had a hard time getting the mooring I'd reserved. Once everything was straightened out, I was given a pennant-less mooring where Chip Ahoy was surrounded by lobster pot buoys. The next morning I went ashore and took some dawn photos, this one with the first rays of sun to hit the East Coast striking the peak of Cadillac Mountain -- the first point on the east coast to see the sunrise -- on Mount Desert Island in the background.  (Aug. 4)

I ran into a mooring situation I'd encountered a few days earlier:  no mooring pennants and no place to attach a line to the mooring ball.  My new trick worked well and became part of my cruising skills.

-- See:  My New Mooring Solution --

Planning an early start to hit notoriously-foggy Petit Manan Bar at high tide, I couldn't wait around. Coffee-less that morning, I was underway by 6:15 am. (Aug. 4)

Despite all the warnings and advice in the cruising guides about the usual state of dense fog surrounding Petit Manan Island, and all my contingency courses and plans for any condition I encountered as I closed in, I had a rare, perfectly clear day as I approached the narrow cut through the treacherous bar just ahead of high tide  -- even the lighthouse was clearly visible out on the island. (Aug. 4)

I easily picked out the two channel markers marking each end of the cut and motorsailed between them and through the cut like they were any two sea buoys. The riskiest passage became a non-event and I soon reached Great Nash Island and Eastern Harbor just beyond.

I made it to Eastern Harbor in South Addison by about 1:00 pm after a great day of sailing -- one of the all-around best of the trip. This shot was taken from the deck at the rear of Monica's house, overlooking the harbor at low tide when the mud flats are bare. (Aug. 5)

Monica's and Rich's home viewed from the edge of the hill overlooking the harbor.

Chip Ahoy on its free mooring Monica arranged for my arrival, courtesy of Harbormaster Oscar Look and the Greave Family, who sets out three for visiting yachtsmen.

A view of the harbor from Monica's and Rich's kitchen window.

A view from their living room.

Monica and Rich while aboard for what turned out to be our only cruise.  (Aug. 7)