A rough night. The tiny cove, protected on the south side by rocks, lost the protection as the tide came in and submerged the rocks. The little boat rolled and bounced on the swells coming in from the Bay of Maine. Swirling winds. A fitful sleep. Early morning hours the tide falls, the swells go away.
Morning comes calm, cool and clear. I put on some fresh clothes. No wind. Under power at 7:00.
7:20 motor on lumpy water, leaving Salters and Stage Islands to the stern. 8:10 inside of Fuller Rock with a lighthouse on the point to starboard. 8:20 rounding Bald Head I look to the west and see Casco Bay spread out in front of me. I smile.
I'm tired from the rough night. I try to tuck into Bald Head Cove to get some rest but waves wrap around the point. Looking north I see a nice white beach with tidy Gooseberry Island nearby. I motor behind the tiny island and see that the beach is a camping area, tents up on the bluff and families enjoying the beach. I set the anchor in calm, clear water, lay back in the cockpit and drift off to sleep.
10:25 wake to a light southerly breeze. 10:35 under sail at 2.2. 11:30 passing Mark Island, 2.9. 12:25 better wind and making 3.3 to the west, Bailey Island to the starboard side.
1:00 the wind continues to build. Jewell Island off the starboard bow. The wonderful wind comes with chop and spray, SPARTINA surges through the water at 3.7 to 4.5.
2:05 passing the west end of Jewell Island, fall off the wind to pass north of Inner Green Island. Wind aft of port beam, making 4.1 on calmer water. Easy sailing. 3:05 cutting across Casco Bay, I realize I realize I have mistaken Cushing Island for Peaks Island. I've missed the turn downwind to Great Diamond Island.
Jibe back to the cut and pass between Peaks and Long Islands. 3:45 off the east end of Great Diamond Island, headed for the narrow cut inside of Cow Island. A ferry is coming out of the harbor, the captain sees me and slows to idle speed to let me pass.
We round the point, pass by some rocks and tuck into Seal Harbor. There is a mooring field in the harbor, most of the moorings empty. 4:00 I tie up to a mooring, set up the boom tent to get out of the sun.
I will head for Portland in the morning so I look at Navionics for a marina. The first one I call, on the Portland waterfront, gives me a quote of $260. Ouch. I find another marina, this one in South Portland, for $100. That's better.
25.35 NM
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