Morning comes with fog and a southeast wind. Anchor up up at 6:40, motor past the rocks at the cove's entrance, full sail at 6:55. Making 2.1 headed east, then 3.4 as wind freshens.
7:25 Big Black Ledge appears, a dark shape in the fog. 7:35 making 3.8 as surf breaks over another, this time unseen, ledge to the south. 7:55 fog burning off, cool morning and glad to be wearing three layers plus the dry suit. Sun breaking through, 3.7.
8:20 less wind, 2.0. 8:45 motorsailing. 9:05 foggy again, grey and an ebb tide running. 9:20 approaching the cut inside Green Island and Petit Manan Reef, rough water over the shallows. 9:25 crossing the shoal in the fog, can't see any markers, using the gps to navigate. Swells rolling up on the stern. 9:30 over the shoal, sailing east at 2.1.
Fog thickens, doing 3.0. 10:05 more fog, grey, grey, grey. Only colors are the lobster pot floats. 10:20 3.4, wind has swung around, now over the starboard quarter. 10:40 fog lifts, still heavy overcast, making 3.3 to the northeast.
Soon pick out Jordan't Delight in the mist, and in the foreground Jordan's Delight Ledge.
Wind is almost on the stern, not making great speed. Decide to turn to ENE, wind aft of beam and making much better speed. Instead of going inside the islands, now heading outside to the Seahorse Bell Buoy. The buoy marks a series of shoals leading to Great Wass Island.
Wishing for some blue skis, I settle for overcast and 5.3 on the gps. Wind falls off, then fills in again.
Steady, easy sailing, watching for lobster trap floats out in the deeper water.
12:30 think I can see the marker, swells rolling in off the ocean.
12:45 round Seahorse Buoy in a mixture of chop and rolling waves, surf breaking on the shoals to port. Making 4.5 and glad to be past the buoy. Fall off downwind, calmer water, Great Wass Island off port bow in the fog.
1:20 reach the west end of Great Wass Island, rolling in the swells. A puff of wind and gps shows 6.2. Then back to a steady 4.5. 1:45 rough water in steep chop inside the Black Ledges on the way to Mud Hole Channel. 2:20 sails down and following a large sloop into Mud Hole, granite walls and pine trees on either side. 2:40 anchor down in calm water. A good day's sail.
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