THE THOROFARE is a narrow, winding, hidden, and altogether delightful passage from Chandler Bay to Roque Island Harbor. From the west, it is hard to find. One good way is to run a compass course from the eastern end of the Jonesport channel until the Thorofare starts to open up. You will see small, wooded Westerly Bar Island southeast of Bonney Point. Pass midway between this island and the western end of Little Spruce Island and turn southeast toward the slot between Little and Great Spruce Island. Then, leaving Easterly Bar Island to port, turn eastward through the Thorofare.
COPYRIGHT 2002 DIAMOND PASS PUBLISHING
With a southwesterly wind, it’s a pleasure to sail the Thorofare. You will be blanketed by Little Spruce but probably get enough puffs to tiptoe through the passage. There is not much current.
COPYRIGHT 2002 DIAMOND PASS PUBLISHING
The chart shows a rock (“REP”) right next to Easterly Bar Island, but many people have sailed through the Thorofare over the years without finding a trace of it. Perhaps the prudent thing to do is avoid the passage near dead low. The shallowest portions of the Thorofare are farther east, where there may be 7 or 8 feet or less.