Cast off the lines at Spring Point Marina 6:45. Clear morning, calm, no wind. Motoring at idle speed.
Tie up at the town dock at Peaks Island 7:20. Two pastries - yes, I'm hungry - and an iced tea at Unruly Girls Peaks Cafe. I somehow beat the crowd and catch up on the news while enjoying breakfast.
A walk through town on a pleasant morning, waiting for the grocery store to open. When it does open, I get in line to buy a half-dozen apples.
Casting off from the town dock at 8:30, a lobsterman tells me he doesn't like sailing, but he likes my boat. I thank him. Out on the water I have to watch for traffic. There is a run/swim event going on, competitors run the length of an island, swim to the next island, run across that island, swim to the next island, and so on. I admire the runners/swimmers, but am content to be on my little yawl.
9:30 at the east end of Peaks Island, sailing at 1.4, a bell ringing on a green buoy.
Better wind, 2.4, then less wind, 1.6. A flood tide with the current running starboard to port. 9:45 motorsailing. Stop to clear seaweed from the centerboard and rudder.
10:10 sailing again, but barely. More wind at Cushing Point at the east end of Long Island. Great Chebeague Island ahead. Keep Deer Point to port and head towards Hope Island, hoping for a place to anchor and wait on the wind. Look at both Hope and Sand Islands, can't find a comfortable place to anchor. 11:30 it no longer matters, the wind fills in. Making 3.2.
11:35 passing Stave Island and dodge a ledge that I had not notice on my Navionics chart. I think I see a second ledge nearby, but it is three seals rolling on the surface. 11:45 Ministerial Island to starboard and feel a strong tidal flow carrying us north. 12:00 Eagle Island off starboard bow, Upper Flag Island to port, 2.8 to 3.6. 12:15 choppy water off Haskell Island. With the running tide and ledges nearby to port, motor sail for more control through the rough water. 12:30 sailing through confused tides and waves at Little Mark Island. With the island's towering monument, at least I know exactly where I am.
1:15 1.9 to 2.4. The day is getting hot, the boat rolls in the waves. 1:30 better wind, 3.0 to 3.8. Looking 360 degrees around SPARTINA, I count 11 sailboats on the horizon.
2:10 sail between Ragged and White Bull Island, turning towards Carrying Place Head, 3.3. 3:00 pick out Burnt Coat Island to the north, and the entrance to Carrying Place Cove just to the south. Approaching what I think is a nice quiet anchorage for the night, I realize it is a working harbor full of lobster boats. I wonder if I will be welcome there. I lower main and mizzen to enter the cove.
I wind my way through the lobster boats and, at the south end of the cove, realize there is no place for me to anchor. I also see a lobsterman watching me from the wharf, and a couple more watch from nearby homes. I swing the outboard into reverse and back out of the crowded harbor. The man on a wharf is waving at me, I motor in his direction. He asks if I need help. I tell him I'm fine, just looking for a place to anchor. He points to an unused mooring ball on the far side of the harbor, says I can use that. 3:35 I tie up to the mooring ball.
As soon as I am tied up, I see the man climbing down a long ladder to his dinghy and cranking up the outboard. He heads in my direction.
"Are you ok?" he asks. I tell him I am fine, I just needed a place to anchor. He keeps asking if I'm ok, says he can help me beach the boat, or even find a trailer for me. I'm a little confused. He explains that he heard someone say I have a hole in my boat, and the boat is sinking. Whatever I need, he says, he can help me with it. I tell him that I am fine, the boat is fine, I just need to anchor for the night. I thank him for his concern, and apologize for taking up his time.
He tells me his name is Ben, and says don't worry about the time, he has nothing else to do. And we start to talk. It's an interesting conversation that ranges from lobstering to sailing small boats; harpooning $10,000 tuna and flying them overnight to Japan; families and friends; kids and colleges; religion and remembering people we have each lost in our lives. I will never quite understand how we wind our way through this conversation, but we do. We find we have a lot in common. Talking with Ben is a pleasure.
And finally, after more than an hour of talking, I once again thank him for checking on me. And he says goodbye, pushing off from SPARTINA and motoring back to the wharf.
19.86 NM
No comments:
Post a Comment