We were finally ready to go cruising! Every year we say we are just going to go wherever the wind takes us, but it never seems to end up that way as we plan to meet up with family and friends. We tried to be prepared in plenty of time but ended up just throwing things on the boat and pointing north. After bashing up to Kittery one afternoon, we left under a very smoky sunrise the next morning, and made it to Tenant’s Harbor and felt that we were finally away from things. I put the sail on the dinghy and had some fun exploring.

We had a fun day making our way through some of the classic Maine passages: Muscle Ridge Channel, Fox Islands Thoroughfare and the Marshall Islands, ending up at Hell’s Half Acre, which despite its name is one of our favorite spots.

Next was Northeast Harbor on MDI, where we met up with friends from our 2022-23 cruise to the Caribbean. This felt like quite a reunion! As we came into NEH, Nick from Maalu 4 was there guarding a mooring for us – just like coming into Iles des Saintes in Guadeloupe! Moored in front of us were Maalu 4 (Nick and Michelle) and Pax (Auguste). We all hope to be in Antigua this November (more about that later). Friends Sue and Denny joined us on Persephone and we had a lovely evening on board Maalu 4 catching up. We also managed a great hike up to Jordan Pond the next day. Sailing friends are awesome friends and it was so good to see everyone again!

We had ambitions to get to Roque Island again, having said for several years that we were going to do it, and never quite making it happen. With a forecast of 90 degrees in NEH we decided that was warm enough to overcome Roque Island’s chilly water. We hoisted our brand new Genneker and set off. It was an easy trip by Maine standards (fog and lobster pots). Once there, we had a glorious day walking along the beach, poking around in the dinghy, and enjoying a steak dinner on board.

We sailed back to the Cranberry Islands, had a great meal at Islesford Dock Restaurant, and the next morning dropped off Sue and Denny for a foggy ferry ride back to their car. Then on to McGlathery Island, where we met up with Jack and Dru on Gannet for a hike and cocktails with a spectacular sunset.

We then headed to Camden and picked up Bloxie and Kyle for a few days. Strong winds limited our itinerary so we stayed around Vinalhaven. Bloxie and Kyle did some epic paddle board safaris and I joined them for the first part of a hike. I was thrilled that we went all the way over to the other side of the island and ended up at Long Cove, although Vinalhaven is such a weird shape that it’s not actually all that far! They ended up on the far side of the harbor at Perry Creek and swam back to their paddle boards, so I wasn’t sorry to have made my own way back by then!

With Hurricane Erin due to throw big swells and strong winds at us a few days later, it was time to head home, so after dropping Bloxie and Kyle back in Camden we slogged down to Boothbay, getting in just before sunset. Heading into a steep chop and a setting sun, spotting lobster pots was hard work, and we were pretty beat by the time we got in. We left early the next morning and had an uneventful motor back home – no wind, no sun, no drama and mysteriously no off-shore lobster buoys – maybe they’d all been pulled ahead of the storm?

It was a great cruise, and now we can’t wait to move aboard to head south! We have a lot of work to do, and multiple packages arrive every day. Hopefully my next post will be on board and ready to head off!