Back once more for two weeks of viewing the world from the water. We had some great sailing on the way up and suffered the usual mechanical issues. DRAFT!

Bath, High & Dix, Rockland, Perry Creek, Cabot Cove, Georges Harbor (aka Allen & Benner). 

Back once again to the land, well, bay, of islands and harbors and vistas. We found free moorings in Rockland on busy weekends, ate lots of cookies, had lovely genoa-only sails across capes and around islands, and of course, suffered some mechanical failures.

High & Dix, Rockland, Perry Creek, Seal Bay, Merchant Island, Cradle Cove, The Basin. 

Mattapoisett, Padanarum, Cuttyhunk, Hadley, and later on Quissett

The trade-off for three weeks last summer in Maine was none this year!

With more time this year, we had a relaxed visit to harbors new and old, sailing the Maine way. That is, going with the 5- to 10-knot winds, not trying to cover more distance than can be sailed on a given day. And we finished up with a wonderful, unplanned, overnight sail across Mass Bay.

Pulpit Harbor, Burnt Coat Harbor, York Island, Isle au Haut, Rockland, Seal Bay, Perry Creek.

Sailing, steaks, scallops, and a parade, Cuttyhunk was full but not overcrowded. 

The Key Lime Sailing Club and Cottages provided a relaxing week of sun, sand and sailing in a real Keys environment. And a break from the endless snow of New England. 

Once again, new and old harbors and new and old friends. Here, the always-dramatic Isles of Shoals after our second day of being chased by storms boiling off the land.

Pickering Island, Buckle Harbor, Isle au Haut, Winter Harbor, Long Cove.

A cruise of new and old harbors but either no wind or wind on the nose. We were treated to several days’ worth of rainbows, here in Cabot Cove, rafted with fellow cruisers, Paul & Sally Merry.

The Mud Hole, Frenchboro, Pulpit Harbor, Perry Creek, Rockland

Sunset in Corea Harbor; the only pleasure vessels in this quietworking harbor. We were rafted on the “guest mooring” with fellow cruisers, Paul & Sally Merry’s Calypso.

Perry Creek, Burnt Coat, Corea, Buckle, Round & McGlathery, Merchant/Harbor.

Where the adventure began: the city dinghy dock at Garrison Bight, way too late at night.

The sun had set during dinner at the Keys Fishery in Marathon, so it was pretty dark as we loaded the humongous dinghy at the Garrison Bight dinghy dock in Key West. Not used to big dinghy docks (or perhaps just tired) I nearly ran the shopping cart full of possessions off the float. Would have been a wet start to a cruise!

Here’s Nan as we ease into the sunset, having rounded Cape Ann, heading towards the Isles of Shoals, alongside our fellow cruisers, Paul & Sally Merry in Calypso.

Cliff, Harbor, High & Dix Islands, Bucks Harbor, Blue Hill, Mackerel Cove, Seal Bay.

A two week cruise on Hickory Wind along with the Merrys on Calypso. Some new harbors and landfalls; sticking with Penobscot Bay.

Great Misery Island, Harbor Island, Pulpit Harbor, Rockport, Winter Harbor.

A two week cruise with the Merries on our new boats: our Sabre 34-II, Hickory Wind, and their Bristol 40 yawl, Calypso.
Cohasset, High & Dix, Bold, Burnt Coat, Rockland, Richmond Island.

Onset to Cuttyhunk and Westport

A two week cruise to Maine in Jabberwocky, our Freedom 28, along with Paul & Sally Merry in their Luders 33, Aurora. We headed out to Provincetown on the way up, then over to Matinicus.

Burnt Coat, Frenchboro, Northeast Harbor, McGlathery, Long Cove, Damariscove Island.

A two week cruise to Maine in Jabberwocky, our Freedom 28, along with Paul & Sally Merry in their Luders 33, Aurora. This was our first trip and sadly, this is the only photo. The camera broke and we didn’t know it until the negatives (remember film?) were developed.

Tenant’s Harbor, Merchant Row, North Haven, Bayside, the White Islands.

In 1992 and 1993, four of us cruised the Leeward Islands in Minstrel, a Jeanneau 442. We found them to be a varied and interesting group of islands and cultures. It can be an ambitious vacation, but if you like sailing, it offers great trade winds sails, interspersed with intriguing stopovers.