SAILING TO EAGLE ISLAND

AUGUST 6, 2016

EAGLE ISLAND MAINE

My sister Judy Emerson from Arizona is with us escaping the desert heat.  Daytime temperatures here in Maine are around 80 degrees now and the nights cool into the low 60's.  We could get use to summer's like this.  The sun was shining and there was a light breeze as we left Broad Cove early one morning.  We put up the sails, the temperature was in the low 70's.  We sailed out of the cove and into the waters of Casco Bay.  We are headed for Eagle Island off Harpswell Neck.  As we rounded Cousins Islands the water became a field of lobster trap buoy's.   Rod is getting very good at taking It's Perfect through row after row of traps, leaving them on both sides.

It's Perfect threaded its way through the small islands for about 2 hours before we saw the rocky shores of Eagle Island.  This island was once owned by Admiral Robert Peary the first to lead explorers to the North Pole.  He lived for years in the house at the top of the rocky island.  The Peary family eventually gave the island to Maine in trust for all Americans.  The Friends of the Peary's Eagle Island continue to maintain it and welcome visitors daily.  In the guide book it says there are mooring balls and room to anchor at the base of the island.  As we approached it didn't look promising.   All of the 8 mooring balls were already taken and the depth of the water in the area was 63ft.  While we were pondering what to do a Maine State Parks boat approached to see if he could be of assistance.  As it turns out the mooring balls were not put in for large, heavy boats and the bottom was mostly rock.  If we wanted to try one of the balls we could be put on the waiting list.  We were disappointed but waiting for a too small mooring ball was out of the question.

We turned away from the Eagle Island and as we passed Haskell Island we could see the large bay of Potts Harbor, Maine.  This harbor has one small marina and its shore is used by lobster boats off loading their catch.  Like most other harbors here there are mooring balls used by local boats.  We made our way in until we found 20ft depth and dropped our anchor in deep mud.  There is about a 10 to 12ft tide, it was almost low tide.  The flat shoreline is mostly rock with few trees.  The residential area must be farther in.   As the sun set Rod grilled up hamburgers and made margarita's.  We were the only anchored boat in the anchorage.

SUNSET IN POTTS HARBOR

SHORES OF MAQUOIT BAY

The next morning we headed  for the very large anchorage in Maquoit Bay, between the mainland and Merepoint Neck.  On the short 5 mile trip we saw our first dolphin surfacing in the open water.  We have not seen many on the entire trip up from New York.  The shores around this bay are beautiful.  The wooded land grows up from rocky shores and has beautiful homes hidden between the trees.   There are almost no lobster buoys to be seen.  We dropped the anchor again in about 20ft of water.  As we settled in we could see seals surfacing to take a look at us.   They look almost like dogs as they swim across before rolling back underwater.

The seals turned out to be very entertaining.  Late in the afternoon they herd fish around in a circle until the water is boiling. They then easily eat their fill.  Most stayed well clear of the boat but late in the day a baby seal swam over and took a closer look.  He was very small with huge eyes and small white spots in his fur.  It was the first baby we have seen in the wild.  We took a break from seal watching to make dinner and pour a glass of wine. 

We stayed two nights in Maquoit Bay, once again the only boat at anchor.  Lobster boats came in about dark and put out their nets catching their bait for the next day.  The second morning we pulled up the anchor and headed back to Broad Cove.  Internet service has been spotty in the anchorages and places to get water not easily reached.  There is a city dock and police station just off Broad Cove where we can fill with water any time.  We will return to Maquoit Bay another day.

SUNSET IN MAQUOIT BAY, MAINE