Christine Fletcher

Absolutely gorgeous day, highly variable wind but a lovely sale out to Hendricks lighthouse, back through Ebenecook harbor and around the northern tip of spectacle island before heading back to Robin Hood. Several very close curious seals, multiple porpoise sightings, great company, a lovely day all around!

We left from Robin Hood at about 2 o’clock, brisk 10 to 15 not south southeast wind, sailed a bit in the bay before heading downwind through Ebenecook harbor and through the Southport bridge to Boothbay, disembarked in Boothbay at Hodgdon Marina at 5:10. Sure leave with Tripp to Shermans, pizza, ice cream, left Hodgins Marina at about 645, 100 yards from the dock motor started to run rough, less than full power. very slowly made our way back to Robin Hood, arriving in the last remnants of daylight. Luckily the tide was with us, and Rachel had packed a good flashlight. Christine rowed the whole crew back to the dock and then returned to the boat for a solo overnight on the mooring. Fabulous stars.

Set out with a NNW wind, 5 to 10 kn but highly variable during our sail. Beautiful day, timed our trip through goose rock passage so as not to need full motor capacity and it performed well. saw some seals, sailed more than halfway through the passage on the way home.

Left marina at about 3 o’clock, took the southern route toward five islands and sailed back-and-forth across the mouth of the sheep good river with a lovely breeze about 10 kn, very strong incoming current. Eventually headed into Ebenecook Harbor in an effort to make the 530 Southport bridge opening, got there just on time but discovered some motor issues, wasn’t behaving well at full throttle or higher throttle levels, Rachel surmised likely a cylinder not firing. We had a leisurely motor into Boothbay Harbor, Hodgdon Marine let us tie up on their dock and we walked in to Shermans where we purchased books for our PEI vacation, headed back on board and made our way to Southport bridge again. Learned that after six the bridge only opens on request. Phoebe did some excellent seaweed hunting with the boat hook, Hannah enjoyed Lord of the rings down below. Absolutely beautiful sunset motor back across to goose rock channel, unfortunately full outgoing current conditions and with our impaired motor we were unable to make headway in the typical channel. We ended up going through the northern channel instead with the center board up, just barely were able to clear the current and made our way back to the marina. Dropped the kids off at the dock, Rachel and I put the boat to bed and had rowed back to the dock, I stepped off onto the float and then somehow lost my balance and fell right in the water. Luckily no injuries or damage and was able to pull myself out.

Rough start to the morning, but we were on the boat and casting off at about 11 AM. Motored to Boothbay Harbor to meet friends for lunch, went north of spectacle Island, probably faster to go just north of Boston Island. Perfectly beautiful gorgeous day. Arrived at Southport Bridge Just at the tail end of the open time. Used a mooring at Hodgins Marine and took the dinghy to the dock, met Michelle and Katie and Imogen and Henry and Michelle‘s brother Rob and went out to lunch in Boothbay, really fun time. Followed by Sherman‘s outing and then ice cream, learned that Biden had dropped out of the race while at their house. Back to the boat, hit the Southport bridge at exactly the right moment, once back in the mouth of the Sheepscott River sailed with jib alone up wind against south wind, phoebe had a lot of fun hunting for seaweed with the boat hook. Headed downwind for home at about 6 PM just north of the Hendricks lighthouse, truly beautiful evening. Phoebe really wanted to be able to be pulled by the dinghy, so once we were in the mooring field she got her wish.

Lovely short sale with quite heavy wind, sailed under jib alone and still had significant heeling.

Lovely morning, breakfast and rubbernecking in boothbay harbor then headed out about 11:45 with moderate SE wind. Motored to Southport bridge, waited ten minutes in very light rain, then once out in bay sailed under jib alone over to channel, near slack tide, made it 1/2 way through channel before needed to start motor. Did some practice maneuvering under power in reverse in mooring field, got to the point of feeling very confident with this. On the mooring then home, conditions rated as SCA but didn’t seem that bad. Great trip all around.

We had an epic beautiful day sailing, we waited in the harbor a bit as the wind was so strong and the small craft advisory was set to be lifted at about noon. After a less than perfect docking job by yours truly we set off with a NNW wind easily driving us down the coast, we realized we thought we could make it to Seguin Island under these perfect conditions. We lucked out with an open mooring there, and we went ashore to explore the beautiful island and trails and lighthouse. While we were there the wind shifted to the SSE and we had a truly lovely crossing to Boothbay Harbor complete with beautiful views of the Cape Newagen lighthouse. Between Seguin Island, Henricks head, and burnt Island it was a 4 lighthouse day! Pretty much completely perfect sailing, we spent the entire day sailing either downwind or on a broad reach. We found our mooring at the carousel Marina without difficulty and enjoyed our room at the Browns Wharf Inn in Boothbay Harbor. Excellent dinner at the tapas restaurant followed by favorite ice cream.

Really lovely sale, we went out into the bay with a very brisk south wind, at least 10 to 15 kn, excellent sailing with a good heel. We then made our way through Ebenecook Hsrbor to the channel to Boothbay via the Southport swing Bridge, newly operational again. We nose out into Boothbay Harbor, watched a rainstorm come, docked at Robinsons and had ice cream during the brief gentle rain and then motored our way back home, very strong north northwest wind with extremely heavy coming back through goose rock passage, needed full throttle to make it back to the harbor. Definitely no mosquitoes rowing in. Spectacular sunset, really great company, amazing boat snacks, a delightful outing all around.