GL: New England Cruising.

[Jeffrey Siegel]

> We're laying plans for our summer cruise 2009 and are looking to leave
> Chesapeake early July and travel northeast to Maine, likely going up  
> as far
> as Portland/Freeport, and possibly farther north east, depending on
> schedule.
>

Portland really isn't far enough.  First, there isn't much between  
Portsmouth, NH and Portland.  There's some excellent cruising around  
Casco Bay and Portland.  But it's just a day skip to Boothbay...and  
another day to the Penobscot Bay...and another day to Mt Desert/Bar  
Harbor with more and more things to see as you travel east.  It would  
be a shame to travel all the way up here and stop at Portland.  It  
would be like going to the Bahamas and only going as far as West End  
before turning around.


> I've read as many publications as I can get my hands on for this  
> area. I'd
> appreciate any input/suggestions anyone experienced in this area may  
> have
> but I'd also be interested in a return timetable if we'd choose to  
> move the
> boat back down to Chesapeake for winter storage. What is the latest  
> date we
> should consider for the journey southwest.???

Random thoughts:

- Make sure you feel comfortable traveling in fog especially if you  
like to head out in the morning.  Know how to use your radar.

- Understand the architecture of lobster pots so you can avoid them.

- Make sure you know how to pick up a mooring.  There will be few  
slips - mainly anchorages and moorings.

- September is the best month for cruising along the Maine coast  
especially the first half of the month (IMO).

- I would want to be heading south by October 1st.  People have and do  
leave much later but facilities start closing and the nights start  
getting cold.  I've found the cruising weather to be worse in New  
England as October comes around.

- I've left the Penobscot Bay heading south between 9/10 and 10/1 with  
most of my departures being in the late part of September.  The later  
I've left, the more I've gotten stuck due to weather (Salem, Marion,  
Port Jefferson).

- This year I'm leaving on 8/22, the earliest I've ever left.  That's  
mainly because I need to be on the Chesapeake in mid-September.

- As you might imagine, ActiveCaptain has the coast of Maine pretty  
well covered.


====================================
Jeffrey Siegel
M/V aCappella
DeFever 53RPH
W1ACA/WDB4350
Castine, Maine

www.activecaptain.com
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