Notices to Maine Cruisers

A newsletter for sailors who use A Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast.
copyright 1999 updated 8/13/99


Go to the Maine Coast Guide on the web.

Dear Sailors,

If you find other things we should list, please contact us.

In the meantime, enjoy one of the best summers anyone can remember.

Sincerely,

Curtis Rindlaub

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INTRODUCTION
Preparations for Cruising in Maine, p. 5
Here are a few tips from James Farrell on Maine's lobster buoy poulation: "We have lobster pots in Rhode Island, Mass and Long Island too. But nothing like Maine. The Maine lobster pots are really something to be concerned about (given the chilly waters which are nothing to fool with if you have to go for a swim). In any given area, the cruiser may find pots with toggles or without. Knowing how to recognize which ones have toggles and which do not is a must. Maybe you could get some articulate lobsterman to explain what the pleasure boat operator should look for when motoring along. My wife and I discovered that it is absolutely imperative that one knows which way the current is moving in order to know where the usually-submerged or partially-submerged toggle is located in relation to the free floating part. Once we saw one of these with the line from the toggle to the free floating marker (at the most insidious depth of about 3 or 4 feet) and how they were situated vis a vis the current, we then knew what to look for. When the wind and current oppose each other, then it is really a night mare. I am curious what a lobsterman could offer in terms of suggestions for avoidance.

Radiotelephone communications, p. 22
James Farrell also forwards the working channels of coastal fishermen: "According to a Rockland-based lobsterman, there are customary, working frequencies for lobsterman and fisherman depending upon where you are. I was told 68 for West Penobscot Bay and 72 for East Penobscot Bay. However, you might want to check that out. 06 is, of course, widely used and is a great source of entertainment. These frequencies are useful for the cruiser to know in case help is needed or, better yet, you're looking for a 2 pound lobster to steam for dinner. I was told by a lobsterman, just hail us anytime. The working frequency for the schooner fleet seems to be 09 and 18."


SOUTHERN COAST
Isle of Shoals,
Anchorages, moorings, p. 30: Take a mooring if available, but leave if asked by a club member.
The clubs do not manage their guest moorings, so don't call on your cell phone.
p. 32, para. 1: The establishment selling lobster rolls closed in July, 1999.

CASCO BAY
Falmouth Foreside, For the crew, p. 72
The Portland yacht Club now accepts visa and mc and will even take personal checks.

Wills Gut (west), p. 84-85
The phone number to the Orrs-Bailey Yacht Club is no longer correct, much to the dismay of Beth O'Connell who drew the unlucky number when she recently signed up for new phone service. She doesn't have diesel either.

MIDCOAST


PENOBSCOT BAY
Large Green Island, NOS 13302, Chart Kit 21
Between Large Green island and Matinicus, relocate Green Island Seal Ledge whistle buoy "SL" from 43-53-28.2N, 068-58-33.1W to 43-53-12.0N, 068-58-52.0 Note that this is a marked waypoint on Chart Kit chart 21.

Monhegan Island, For the crew, p. 166
The Monhegan Store is no longer in business, making Monhegan that much more remote. If you are inspired, the store is for rent.

Rockland, for the crew, p. 200
The IGA (and the market that replaced it) is no longer across the street from Knights Marine. The nearest supermarket is Shop 'n Save a couple of miles to the north on Rt. 1, not an easy walk, and even worse coming back. James Farrell writes: "It's an 18 minute walk (I
timed the walk 6 times) from Knight Marine." He also adds, Rockalnd Ferry Terminal
next to Knight Marine is also a stop for the Concord Trailways bus "Coastal
Maine Route" that runs from Boston Logan Airport to Boston South Station
(Amtrak and MBTA) along the coast to Bangor. The bus is very comfortable,
runs on time and is a great way to get crew to and from the coastal ports to
Metropolis on the east coast or elsewhere. They do not take credit cards."

Rockland's Harbormaster John Trumble will hold mail for cruisers at 270 Pleasant St. (USPO) or
Harbor Park, Main St., (FedEx, UPS), Rockland Maine, 04841.

Vinalhaven, Seal Bay, p. 220
I have been taken to task for my comment about cooking on your barbeque upwind from hungry Hurricane Island Outward Bound students on their "solos" around Seal Bay. Elaine Ruback reminds us that there are no fires allowed at all in any part of Vinalhaven. My mental picture of the scene, though I wasn't clear, was that your barbeque might be mounted on your stern pulpit, not ashore. Please, along the entire coast, be extra careful with fires.


MOUNT DESERT
Camp Island, p. 275
We have a report of four or five new rental moorings placed (by the owner of Camp?) exactly on the 11-foot sounding we recommend as the ideal anchoring spot. But there is still ample room to anchor. There are phone numbers on the mooring balls, but we don't have them. Are there any spies out there? Also, a small nun has been placed off the privae dock on Camp's the east side.

Deer Island Thorofare chart, p. 271
Roberta Wells reports that can "8" under the "Th" of Thorofare on our chart should be C "13." Also, a w/o buoy has been added to mark the rocks north of Bold Island.

Eggemoggin Landing (348-6115, Ch. 09, 16, http://www.acadia.net/eggland), P. 282
There's great news for those of you who arrive in Bucks Harbor (p. 254) and find there is no room at the inn, so to speak. The former Bridge Inn, on Little Deer Isle, now has 12 rental moorings and a 320' pier for cruisers. Approaches. The Landing's moorings are in the small cove just to the west of the suspension bridge over Eggemoggin Reach, on the Little Deer Isle side. Beware of the large ledge shown on the chart that projects northwestward from near the base of the southern bridge support. For the boat. The house at the end of the pier has a marine store which also sells ice and fresh-baked goods, and the floating dock has fresh water. Depths alongside are 3.5' at dead low on a spring tide, but typically 4.5'- 5'. For the crew. Ashore, the 20-room Motel at Eggemoggin Landing is ideal for resting your sailing bones or swapping crew. To eat at the Sisters Restaurant, you can bring your dinghy in form the moorings, or catch a ride from the Landings' launch service. The restaurant (reservations recommended) specializes in seafood "comfort food."

Baker Island, p. 316, NOS 13318, Chart Kit 74
Relocate Baker Island bouy 1 from 44-14-18.5 N, 068-11-18.3W to 44-14-17.3N, 068 11-17.8W


DOWNEAST
Mistake Island Harbor, p. 342, NOS 13325, Chart Kit 77
Moose Peak light now only reaches 19 miles, instead of 26. And that's when there's no fog!

Little Kennebec Bay, p. 350, NOS 13326, Chart Kit 78
Betsy and George Hess write: the water depths in the two branches as shown on chart 13326 and chart kit #78 are significantly inaccurate... The western arm of the bay has about 10 feet less than the above referenced charts show with the shallowest reading we got showing only 6 feet at low water. the eastern branch, Collins Branch, that you described well also has only 10
feet at low water in the shallowest area, rather than the greater reading given by the chart.

PASSAMAQUODDY BAY


FUNDY AND SAINT JOHN


APPENDIX


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