Summer Cruise

 

Summer Cruise overview
(click to enlarge; not for navigation)
Our 2014 Summer Cruise will visit some of Maine’s finest cruising grounds over 2 weeks in mid-July.  From Saturday, July 12 to Sunday, July 27 we will travel from Falmouth to Northeast Harbor and back.  Along the way we will visit harbors that range from crowded to serene.  The cruise will end in conjunction with a Family Cruise to Quahog Bay in western Casco Bay.
click to enlarge
Here is the schedule for this year’s Summer Cruise:
  • Wednesday, July 9, 6 p.m.: Pre-Cruise Meeting at Portland Yacht Club
  • Saturday, July 12: Boothbay Harbor, with dinner at the Tugboat Inn
  • Monday, July 14: Warren Island State Park, with a lobsterbake
  • Thursday, July 17 and Friday, July 18: Northeast Harbor, with a visit to Acadia National Park
  • Sunday, July 20: The WoodenBoat School in Brooklin, with a morning tour on July 21
  • Tuesday, July 22: Seal Bay on Vinalhaven
  • Wednesday, July 23: informal side trip to Matinicus, conditions permitting
  • Thursday, July 24: Tenants Harbor, with a dinner at Cod End
  • Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27: Family Cruise to Little Snow Island in Quahog Bay
See below for details about these destinations and events.

BOOTHBAY HARBOR
43°50.945'N, 69°37.711'W



Boothbay Harbor marinas
(click to enlarge; not for navigation)
The first stop on our Summer Cruise will be Boothbay Harbor.  This popular harbor is at the height of its touristy charm in July!

Tugboat Inn
(photograph from http://www.tugboatinn.com/tbi_restaurant.html)
In Boothbay Harbor we will meet for cocktails and dinner at the Tugboat Inn (restaurant tel. 207-633-4434).  The distinctive restaurant is built in a tugboat’s superstructure, and centrally located at 80 Commercial Street in downtown Boothbay Harbor.  Cocktails will begin at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:45.  For those who are interested, the adjacent lounge offers live entertainment into the late evening.

Slips and moorings are widely available in Boothbay Harbor.  The following are some providers of these and other marine services:
WARREN ISLAND STATE PARK
44°16.452'N, 68°56.564'W

Warren Island
(click to enlarge; not for navigation)
Warren Island is located west of Isleboro’s southern end, off Lincolnville and northeast of Camden.


Warren Island State Park
Warren Island State Park is specifically intended for boaters.  There is no road or public ferry access to the island, which has limited facilities serving its camp and picnic sites.  The park has a good pier and a number of moorings that are available on a first come, first served basis.  The island’s hiking trails offer excellent views of central Penobscot Bay.

Warren Island State Park, showing group site
(diagram from http://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/camping/pdf/warrenisland.pdf)
On Warren Island we will enjoy a lobster bake in the park’s group site, which includes cookout facilities and a new shelter.

NORTHEAST HARBOR
44°17.749'N, 68°17.023'W

Northeast Harbor and southern Mount Desert Island
(click to enlarge; not for navigation)
Northeast Harbor is a yachting playground in July.  The harbor has ready access to many marine services, and regular shuttle service to destinations throughout Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island.

Northeast Harbor Public Landing
On Thursday evening, July 17 we will kick off our visit with a cocktail gathering among some of our moored boats.  On Friday those who are interested will hike or take the shuttle to Jordan Pond House, where popovers and beautiful views await.  Additional hiking opportunities are readily available on the park’s many trails and carriage roads.  Our visit to Jordan Pond and the park's trails is meant to cater to cruisers of all abilities, so please join us for as much or as little activity as you wish.

Southwest Harbor, Northeast Harbor and Acadia National Park
(map from http://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/upload/ACADmap2005.pdf)
Moorings are available through the Town of Northeast Harbor’s fine yachting center; contact the Harbormaster’s office (tel. (207) 276-5737, email harbormaster@mtdesert.org).  Mooring rentals also include access to WiFi and the yachting center’s clean modern bathrooms and showers.  Note that anchoring is not permitted in Northeast Harbor’s crowded mooring field.
  
THE WOODENBOAT SCHOOL
44°14.724'N, 68°33.397'W

The WoodenBoat School in Brooklin
(click to enlarge; not for navigation)
On Sunday night and Monday morning, July 20-21, we will gather at Maine’s renowned WoodenBoat School.  The WoodenBoat School is located in Brooklin, at the eastern end of Eggemoggin Reach.  A relatively protected anchorage is available between Babson Island and the WoodenBoat School grounds.


WoodenBoat School and Eggemoggin Reach
(photograph from http://www.thewoodenboatschool.com/facilities.php)
On Sunday evening, we can enjoy cocktails and a cookout ashore.  Then on Monday morning the WoodenBoat School’s staff will provide a guided tour of their facilities!  This is an excellent opportunity to see how Maine’s traditional boatbuilders are passing their skills on to new generations of craftspeople.

WoodenBoat School Campus
(map from http://www.thewoodenboatschool.com/img/facilities/campus-map.png)

SEAL BAY, VINALHAVEN
44°5.313'N, 68°48.628'W

Seal Bay, Vinalhaven
(click to enlarge; not for navigation)

On Tuesday, July 22 we will have a beach party in secluded Seal Bay on Vinalhaven!


Hay Island in Seal Bay, Vinalhaven
(click to enlarge; not for navigation)
Seal Bay is on Vinalhaven’s east side, south of Fox Island Thoroughfare’s eastern end and west of Isle au Haut.  Enter Seal Bay carefully: its deepwater channel runs close by unmarked ledges and rocks in several places.  We will anchor in the vicinity of Hay Island for an afternoon of fun activities.

MATINICUS
43°51.825'N, 68°52.918'W

Matinicus Island and southern Penobscot and Isle au Haut Bays
(click to enlarge; not for navigation)
On Wednesday, July 23, several cruisers hope to visit remote Matinicus.  Matinicus is often surrounded by fog or rough seas, so this destination is subject to prevailing conditions.

Matinicus Harbor
(click to enlarge; not for navigation)

Our planned destination is Matinicus Harbor, on the island’s east side.  Moorings are available and we will prearrange a group; please contact the Cruise Officer at cruise@pycme.net if you are interested in joining this side trip.


Matinicus Harbor

Matinicus is serene but beautiful, inviting walks along a small network of roads that run past colorful gardens and island homes.  The island’s lobsters are legendary!


Matinicus beach
TENANTS HARBOR
43°57.892'N, 69°12.486'W

Tenants Harbor
(click to enlarge; not for navigation)
On Thursday evening, July 24 we will gather for a casual dockside dinner at the Cod End Restaurant in Tenants Harbor.  [NOTE: it has recently been announced that Cod End's restaurant might not open in 2014, although they will still rent moorings.  We will adjust our plans accordingly; stay tuned!]

Tenants Harbor
Tenants Harbor is conveniently located at the southern end of Muscle Ridge Channel.  Cod End is near the head of the harbor, and offers moorings and fuel in addition to delicious seafood (but see preceding note)!  Moorings are also available at nearby Lyman Morse Boatbuilding.  If you prefer to anchor, sheltered Long Cove is only a short distance outside of Tenants Harbor to the northeast.

Sunset at Long Cove in Tenants Harbor
QUAHOG BAY
43°48.919'N, 69°54.332'W

Little Snow Island in Quahog Bay
(click to enlarge; not for navigation)
Our Summer Cruise will end with a weekend in sheltered Quahog Bay on July 26-27.  We will join the Family Mini-Cruise for a cookout and island activities in this calm and beautiful area of eastern Casco Bay.  A separate page (http://pyccruising.blogspot.com/p/family-mini-cruise.html) provides additional details about the Family Mini-Cruise and our visit to Quahog Bay. 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)