Sample Cruise
Cruising the New England

Why always visit Caribbean or Mediterranean waters?

We sailed from Camden along the East Coast of Maine, southwards to New York enjoying the unique landscape on route.

Camden, Maine

There are two things to be considered when sailing the coast of New England, and in particular the coast of Maine. The first is the fog which persists throughout the year and in particular in the spring and early summer. The second is the lobster pots: they say that there are more than two million of them along the Maine coast alone, and there are indeed times when it almost seems that you could walk on them.

So it was with these hazards foremost in our minds that we departed from Camden on the 17th of August, 2000 for a two month cruise that would take us from the Canadian border down to Newport Rhode Island, and from New York to Nantucket. All in all, a journey of over 1500 miles, and one with many highlights along the way. Camden, where the mountains meet the sea had been our home for the previous three months, while we undertook a substantial refit under the capable hands of Wayfarer Marine.

As we set sail on a beautiful sunny afternoon in a perfect 15 knot breeze, the glorious scenery of this striking coastline lay before us. With more than a thousand islands dotted along our route, we were sure not to be short of an anchorage, and in those next two weeks we were even more delighted to find many of them completely deserted. Along the way the towns of Castine, Frenchboro and Bar Harbour were all to receive our most favourable comments in the ships log, but great care was needed here, as the current between the islands can often reach speeds of three knots or more, and with our course over the ground being at times more than twenty degrees off our heading, our constant attention was necessary to ensure a safe passage from the many hidden hazards that are to be found in these waters.

Marthas Vineyard

This is also prime whale watching territory, and a day trip out into the open Atlantic brought us face to face with a sixty foot finback whale; truly an awe inspiring sight when seen in its natural habitat. Inevitably there were lots of pictures taken, but photos are a poor substitute when you have seen the real thing.

From here we started to make our way South calling on the isolated communities of Monhegan Island and Sebasco in the Isles of Shoals, where half the archipelago is in Maine, and the other half in New Hampshire. Here life evolves around the scheduled service offered by the small ferry boats that serve these communities, and the tourists that visit in the summer.

It was here, while watching the unloading of some cattle that we discovered that cows can swim! Onward and around the infamous Cape Ann we visited the fishing port of Gloucester, home of the Crows Nest and the fishing boat Hannah Boden made famous by the novel entitled The Perfect Storm, which preceded the film released last year.

Fortunately there was no sign of unsettled weather as we visited the picturesque towns of Manchester and Marblehead. No worries about forgetting the ensign here either; with three exclusive yacht clubs in Marblehead alone, the cannons were firing one after the other, reminding us all of Beethoven’s 1812 overture, and having us running for cover on the first evening. After a five day break in the wonderful city of Boston, our route took us onward once more visiting the many glamorous towns around Cape Cod, Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket, where first rate dockage was always available, all be it at a high price.

A trip through the Cape Cod Canal can save you more than one hundred miles on your journey West, but although passage through it is free, it pays to get the tides right as they can run at speeds of up to five knots at springs. The passage through Woods Hole can also become rather treacherous if you get your timing wrong. Watch your drift here, as you may get pushed out of the channel if you are not careful.

Continuing Westward we passed through Newport and Block Island and into long Island Sound, Visiting Sag Harbour, as well as several pretty anchorages along the North and South coasts of this busy stretch of water. The many barges being pushed and towed through this hazardous tidal area are slow to manoeuvre and should be given a wide berth. Our arrival in New York was undoubtedly the climax of our cruise, and as we motored down through Hells Gate into the East River the skyline of Manhattan lay before us in all its glory. With more than fifteen million people residing in New York City alone, it seemed that a large number of them were on the river with us, and it was certainly worth while monitoring VHF channel 13 to keep in touch with the movements of the numerous commercial vessels going about their business. The Statue of Liberty was well worth a closer look. A bottle of champagne added the finishing touch to our safe arrival and the end of our successful passage down this wonderful coastline.