2008 REED’s East Coast Edition - Pilot Notes
Maine and New Hampshire
Classic East Coast Cruising Grounds
REED’s RECOMMENDS: While a true Downeaster will tell you
that any time is the right time to visit Maine, sailors will find July
and August to be the most comfortable months, with the tempera
tures of sea and air about as warm as they ever get.

Those are also the months with the most fog, so if you wait a month or two for a
late summer or early fall cruise, you might get the best combination.
Early September is Windjammer Weekend in Camden, a gather-
ing of some of Maine’s most beautiful wooden sailing vessels that
can sometimes make this historic old harbor look like it did be-
fore the days of white plastic boats. Taking guests out for a cruise,
whether for an afternoon or a week, has an honorable history here.
The first skippered charterboats began operating more than 70 years
ago, and the business continues to grow.

For something a bit more isolated, head east from Camden across
West Penobscot Bay to the east side of Vinalhaven Island. You‘ll see
the entrance to Winter Harbor bearing 260°M from the waypoint
of 44°06.2N, 68°48W. This cozy hideaway is blessed with good hold-
ing but no aids to navigation other than your eyes and the depth-
sounder, so proceed with caution once you enter. Local knowledge
is priceless, and Winter Harbor is a popular destination for Camden
sailors. Ask around and head out.

Winter Harbor is open to the NE, so if you’re ducking out of a
nor’easter, take a turn to the SE once you’re past Hen Islands. That
will take you into Seal Bay, with more than 30 feet of water under
your keel in the main channel. You’ll find some good spots to an-
chor S of Hen Island, but don’t make the turn N for this spot until
you have a clear line of sight S across Seal Bay to the mainland.
For an anchorage farther in, continue SSE past a few small islands to
port and there is good ground roughly 0.8nm SE of where you made
the turn to enter Seal Bay. The bottom rises quickly, so proceed slowly.
Though you probably won’t want to cruise there, seeing that it takes
place every March, lovers of wood boats and fine craftsmanship should
make a pilgrimage at least once in their lives to the Maine Boatbuild-
ers Show (www.portlandcompany.com), held in a charming, funky
indoor venue at the old locomotive railroad foundry in Portland.

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