WHITE ISLANDS Hurricane Sound, Vinalhaven

Corrected waypoint: 44° 02.72’N 068° 54.58’W

4th ed. Cruising Guide page 224

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Charts: 13303, 13305, 13302

Chart Kit: 68, 21, 19

Penobscot Bay overview chart Harbor chart

OFF the southwest shore of Vinalhaven lies a tiny archipelago that is among the most beautiful in Maine. Shown as the White Islands on the chart, the group includes Big and Little White and Big and Little Garden. Charles Lindbergh and his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh (author of Gift From the Sea), donated Big Garden to The Nature Conservancy, which also owns Little White and part of Big White. Little Garden is privately owned.
COPYRIGHT 2002 DIAMOND PASS PUBLISHING
The islands are wooded, with tiny beaches and steep, sloping shores of white granite. Anchored in the lagoon, with vistas of the Camden Hills and not a house in sight, any yachtsman can feel fortunate indeed.
COPYRIGHT 2002 DIAMOND PASS PUBLISHING
Approaches. The southernmost islands of the group are Big White to the west and Little White to the east. Enter from the south between these two islands, favoring the eastern side.
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Although the entrance is clear and straight, it also is narrow, so it is more comfortable to come in near low tide, when you can see the ledges bordering the channel.
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Anchorages, Moorings. Anchor between Big and Little White in approximately 24 feet at low. There is not much swinging room, and tidal currents of as much as a couple of knots will affect the way you hang. A stern anchor might be appropriate. One of the windjammers that sometimes lies here puts a line ashore.
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You can also continue past the end of Big White and anchor near the 20-foot mark on the chart. Here it opens up a bit, with more swinging room, better views, but there is also greater exposure to the west. Again, you might want to use a stern anchor in case of a middle-of-the-night wind shift. There is good holding ground here, in mud.
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Getting Ashore. Land on Big White with your dinghy on the little beach at the northeastern tip. The landing on Big Garden (northernmost of the group) is in the little cove formed by South Big Garden, a separate little island at the southwest end. If your dinghy has an outboard, feel your way in carefully—there are ledges lurking just beneath the surface at higher tides.
COPYRIGHT 2002 DIAMOND PASS PUBLISHING
Things to Do. Visitors are welcome on Big Garden and Big White for day use only. There are no trails on the islands, but there is a salt marsh and a wide variety of plants, including abundant blueberries and beach peas. An old field on Big Garden has wild iris and primroses in early June and July. The birding is good, especially during spring and fall migrations. As Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote, “I must remember to see with island eyes. The shells will remind me.”