Rolling in the wake of lobster boats at 4:30. Ignore them, sleep in late, decide to take my time. Texting with BAKHITA, Paul and Edwina say they might end up at the north end of Isle au Haut. Clear morning with the bright sun coming in the back of the boom tent. 7:05 sail off anchor, the anchor and chain coming up covered in thick mud. Made a mess in the forward end of the bunk flat.
Making 2.4 in wind out of the west. 8:50 Merchant Island off the starboard bow. 9:10 windless, drifting east of Merchant Island. 9:35 wind returns. I take the very shallow cut between Pell and Nathan Islands.
Looking through the clear water I am surprised how shallow it is. Thin water, but still deep enough for SPARTINA.
10:40 light winds. Near Birch Point I see a couple in a tandem kayak. It is Jock (Jock, not Jack) and Annie out for a week on the islands.
They had just left Kimball Island where Annie says a cow had trampled their tent. This did not seem to bother them, they are bright spirits on a bright and sunny day. We talk a bit, exchange contact information and then grab a few photographs. They are on their way east to Marshall Island. I wish them well.
Docked Isle au Haut 11:50. The small ferry is just leaving and I get a few questions from the passengers.
I walk the short distance to The Lunch Pail, a little sandwich place that operates out of a trailer next to the island store. A nice panini, chips and an iced tea for lunch, sitting in the shade of the store.
12:30 cast off, motoring down the channel. Sails up near Flake Island when I see BAKHITA flying their large Code Zero sail. I sail out in the open water while BAKHITA goes inside of Flake Island. I text Paul about the two free guest moorings inside Flake Island, tell him I will meet them there after they are tied up.
Soon I am rafted up with Paul and Edwina. It has been a while since I last saw them at Russ Island, so we compare notes on our sailing in the last couple of weeks. Edwina makes a generous offer of a great dinner, tells me I am welcome to stay. I thank her, tell her I've got to be on my way. The time I spent with the crew of BAKHITA on this trip has been an absolute pleasure.
4:30 cast off for an easy downwind sail on Merchants Row. I look at Merchant Island for an anchorage, then continue on to the anchorage between McGlathery and Round Islands. The gusts are building and it is a brisk sail into the lee of Round Island. A man in the cockpit raises his arms and gives me a celebratory shout as I sail by. Anchor down 5:40.
Eating dinner, the man who had shouted from his boat rows over with is dog Astro. His name is Tom and he asks if I would like to join him for a walk on Round Island.
I accept his offer, we row in and have an pleasant walk on the small, rocky island.
After the walk, we row over to the classic 1918 Sea Bird Yawl. There we meet the owner, also named Tom, who has had the boat since 1960. We chat for bit, he asks us to join him for a cup of coffee. I am tired and it is getting dark, so I thank him for the offer and say good night. Tom and Astrol drop me off as SPARTINA.
15.41 NM
