ON the west side of Mount Desert Island, Blue Hill Bay has long stretches of sparkling, wide-open waters, protected from ocean swells by the many islands at its southern entrance. Although less dramatic than neighboring Frenchman Bay, it offers great sailing, with alluring Blue Hill ahead and the hills of Mount Desert to the east.
COPYRIGHT 2002 DIAMOND PASS PUBLISHING
This magnificent sailing territory has relatively few good harbors. Blue Hill Harbor, at the northwest corner, is the jewel of the bay and home to the Kollegewidgwok Yacht Club. In the center, Long Island is the largest island off the coast of Maine without a year-round population—of humans. Steer clear of the bison! At the southeastern end of the bay, Bass Harbor on Mount Desert is the base for a substantial fishing fleet and also offers complete services for yachtsmen. Pretty Marsh Harbor and several little coves lie along the west coast of Mount Desert Island and the eastern shore of Bartlett Island.
COPYRIGHT 2002 DIAMOND PASS PUBLISHING
Much of the beauty of Blue Hill Bay will be forever preserved. The string of islands dividing the southern end of the bay—Bar, Trumpet, Ship, and the Barges—have important nesting colonies of eiders and are owned in part by The Nature Conservancy. Bartlett Island, off the west shore of Mount Desert, was bought by the Rockefeller family to preserve it from development. The Penobscot Indian word “kollegewidgwok” says it all. It means “blue hill on shining green water.”