Chip Ahoy's 2008 Maine Cruise
“Seafaring” to Chebeague Island, Casco Bay, Maine

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Description

During the tour of the island Marianne provided, we spotted this storm rolling in off the north side of the island.  The morning forecast had called for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon, but this view was particularly awesome and illustrative.  (Aug. 4)

Back aboard Chip Ahoy, more of the same abounded.  Though picturesque from a distance, those towering clouds are menacing if overhead . . .

. . . and they were moving in . . .

. . . and soon arrived.  (Aug. 4)

The next morning, as I was preparing for departure and homeward bound, I was greeted by a spectacular sunrise, but was dogged by the old rhyme:  "Red in the morning, sailors take warning . . ."  (Aug. 5)

Chip Ahoy and I departed Chebeague Island at 8:20 for Saco, a change in plans.  With a perhaps one day weather window again, I decided to bypass Portland and go for the shortest route home -- out between Long and Peaks Islands through Hussey Sound (photo on left) to Casco Bay, then across directly to Saco.  I'd probably need to spend the next couple of days somewhere, so it might as well be at Marston's Marina.

Passing through the opening to Hussey Sound with Long Island in the background.  The lobster boats were busy hauling their traps -- which were numerous.  A good eye and lots of helmsmanship was again needed to avoid them.

While crossing Casco Bay the sky was strange.  A slash of cloud cover stretched to the east for most of the day and never seemed to move.  It remained relatively sunny overhead.

To the west, over the mainland, the clouds were denser and gray for most of the day.

It was raining over there but not effecting where I was, gratefully.

The sea and air were calm, almost dead, so we sailors were all motoring to reach our destinations -- some faster than others.

I arrived at the mouth of the Saco River at about 2:00 pm, by chance catching the current perfectly, slowly outgoing.

Another view, a point I particularly remember and like, where the river narrows and deepens, the channel reaches from one side to the other.