Crossing the Gulf of Maine by trawler is different from doing it by sailboat. First, we can go faster. Second, we’d really rather not do it at night because of the lobster pot issue. Third, you can’t — wait for it… — sail. It’s motoring the whole way.
Our Tug is really comfortable motoring at seven to eight knots. Most of all, the noise level is acceptable and can be tolerated for long periods of time. It’s the ‘happy place’, as long as you don’t need to get somewhere fast. Continue reading Maine Cruise 2018 – Gulf of Maine to Boothbay→
Pepper was still not great in the morning, so we needed to get him to a vet. We got an early start and headed for Portland, 35 miles away. On our way out, we waved goodbye to our new friends on Emilie B. It was a beautiful, clear, calm sunny day and we had a quick, easy run. We were in Portland before noon. On the sailboat it would have taken more than five hours in good conditions. It took us three and a half. That’s what 480 horsepower will do for you. Continue reading Maine Cruise – Day 25 – Portland & Portland Veterinary Specialists Emergency Clinic→
We have only cruised through Muscongus Bay once before, almost 20 years ago on our the first Esmeralde, the little Able Whistler 32. I remember it as being a little bit of a hairy experience. It was thick thick thick fog, we were navigating with a new GPS, and the screen was indeed a chart, but it was about 2″ x 3″, black and white, and didn’t have a lot of pixels. We didn’t have radar. How things have changed. Continue reading Maine Cruise – Days 22 – 24 – Muscongus & Boothbay→
We set out from Buck’s Harbor with a typical Maine forecast: FOG. Make that RAIN and FOG. It was clear enough getting through the harbor entrance, but then it socked in thick and stayed locked-on. While I’ve done this for days on end in a sailboat, often with nothing but a dodger for some shelter, I can’t help but admit that being in a warm and dry pilot house was rather civilized. Two large nav monitors, radar zoomed in, zoomed out. And a Very Big Horn. It was not a bad ride. As usual, the lobster buoys commanded rather intense focus and tracking the numerous lobster boats cruising around like drunken flies was challenging, but in the end, Maine is Maine and FOG is part of the territory. Continue reading Maine Cruise – Days 20 – 21 – Rockland→
After four days in Northeast Harbor and enjoying much that Mount Desert has to offer (including a lot of lobster!) we cast off from our town mooring with no particular destination in mind, other than to begin to nudge west again. We were still a little nervous about Pepper’s health so wanted to keep ourselves within reasonable access to a vet. Continue reading Maine Cruise – Day 19 – Somes Sound & Bucks Harbor→
All things fun (and tasty) in the life of the Beards
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