Advise on a fantasy coastal sail to Maine

[rfehon]

One of my favorite past-times during this season of dry docking is to fantasize about “the big adventure” that may come some day. I have opened folders on my laptop dedicated to gathering information that would ultimately lead to the trip: maps, stories, detailed information about inlets, weather, conditions, etc.

So, I am dreaming of a day that I and some other friend or my wife will make a trip either from Liberty State Park or some spot in the Long Island Sound and up to Casco Bay, Maine. We drive up there and every year and have for the past 12 years. Two years ago we took the MacX and sailed to Jewel Island.

Well, when I expressed this desire to a friend I hadn’t seen in a while and who had experience power boating and some experience sailing, he told me without reservation: this boat is not meant for this trip. The wave action is far too great. He even knows the boat and understands it can fight currents with its power, but that its lack of stability and steerage might make it too difficult. I have only handled it on a lake and only that once in Casco Bay, so, although it SEEMS it should do fine, I am now left wondering. Yes, I have read about passages and it seems that most have been from Florida to the Bahamas.

So, I am asking for readers to comment on this particular trips and if anyone else has sailed this coast up north here; if conditions are very different from going to the Bahamas or any other comment is welcome.

Thank you for this forum that has given me hours of enjoyment and useful information.

[NiceAft]

rfehon,

Your X would be able to make the trip.

About thirty years ago, a friend who was an instructor at the Navy facility at Newport Rhode Island, brought his thirty foot Hunter down to Ocean City New Jersey. He was reassigned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The Admiral and I met him in NYC and went with him on the final part of the trip, NYC to OC. We motored through the night in six foot seas. A big advantage the Hunter had was being able to motor for nineteen or twenty hours on its diesel engine.

Sailing is a Zen thing. The journey is what's important, not the destination. Your X could make the trip under sail if you knew in advance where you were going to port if the weather changed. Your X could motor the trip with costly stops, but if you do that, you might as well trailer her up to Maine. You would get up there quicker, have more time for sailing, and the cost would be much less.

A slip neighbor at our marina has a thirty-two foot power boat. He tells me he can be at Annapolis MD with it in five hours. I tell him that with rigging time, I could be there in about four, and out on the water sailing while he is still powering down the intercoastal. I won't even go into his fuel costs as opposed to mine

Ray

[KayakDan]

I can't tell you about the journey from LI to Cape Cod,but you Mac is perfectly capable of the conditions(reasonable weather ,of course) along the New England coast. With a bit of caution for certain conditions,you would have a wonderful trip.
We have been sailing and kayaking the coast of Maine for 10 years,and you can see some of our sailing fun in the NE-TS website
http://www.ne-ts.com/

A few notes of caution:
Get an Eldridge book of Tides and Currents for the NE coast. You will want to know the currents in the Cape Cod Canal,in order to go through,and as you may have already seen,coastal Maine has some BIG tides.
Make sure you have good charts of coastal Maine,even if you have GPS. There are lots of ledge areas,and it's always helpful to be aware of your route for a distance ahead Also keep in mind that danger areas vary with the tides. A ledge sticking out at low,may be covered with 8 ft of water at high tide(all depths on the chart are at mean low water). Tides should also be kept in mind when anchoring. If it's high tide when you anchor in that 10ft of water,what's it gonna be at low?? If there's a 9 ft tide,you may be cutting it too close. And along with tides,there are frequently cuurents,so be aware of narrow channels between islands ,and the inland river areas.

That said,Maine is a magical place to sail,with hundreds of wonderful,scenic spots to stop along the way.The coast gives you a choice of open water passages,like the 12 miles from Rockland to Fox Island Thoroughfare,or sheltered bays like Harpswell Sound in Casco Bay.
We are partial to Penobscot Bay,and Casco Bay for sailing,and our favorite kayaking is in Casco and Muscongus Bay.
Come sail with us !

[Chinook]

We've sailed twice in Maine waters, and greatly enjoyed the experience both times. First trip was in our Mac, September 2003. We put in at Southeast Harbor, on Mt. Desert Island where Acadia National Park is mostly located. We explored several nearby inlets, and then ventured south to Stonington on Deere Isle. Mostly beautiful weather, but with some foggy periods. Previous comments about tides, currents, and rocky ledges are right on. Lobster pot floats also present serious navigational challenges. They are like confetti on the water surface in many places. At least with the Mac you can tip up the outboard and clear a fouled prop if need be.

In July, 2007 we joined friends in their 32' Caliber for a cruise from Bridgeport CN up to Acadia. Had a great time. We went up Long Island Sound, stopped at Fischer Island and Newport on the way up the Sound, traversed Cape Cod Canal, and then made an overnight crossing of the Gulf of Maine, from the tip of Cape Cod to Isle au Haute near Acadia. Got hit with a 50 knot squall approaching Cape Cod, and cruised through dense fog crossing the Gulf of Maine. We went up to Schoodic Penninsula before heading southward. We stayed along the coast on the return trip, making several interesting stops and traversing the Cape Ann Canal. Many fascinating places along the way. All the coastal waters look great for cruising in a Mac. We found that, the further north we went, the more spectacular things got. Hope your plans materialize.

[rfehon]

Thank you all for your help and advise. I thought this boat would be capable and with the motor on this boat I bet getting through the East River is also done without much trouble. My friend was being overly cautious and not having first hand experience with the MacX he was making assumptions. We are jsut looking at it as an adventure. Time is not so much an issue, though I am hoping one week is not rushing it...give or take. I know I COULD trailer it, but having done that once already with the HOnda Odyssey, am not looking forward to THAT again until I can redistribute weight or get an attachment to the tongue that would prevent wiggling. Thanks again and I hope to report back in a couple of years on the successful completion of this trip.

[NiceAft]

and I hope to report back in a couple of years on the successful completion of this trip.

Don't wait that long to make your next post

Ray