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I’m sorry for the long delay in updating the blog here. After a passage of about 250 miles, two anchorages and an overnight sail, Sylvia, John and I arrived on Sans Souci at Somes Harbor on Mount Desert Island, Maine.
The crossing of the Gulf of Maine overnight was challenging and uncomfortable. The wind kicked up to over 30 knots at about 9 PM on Friday night and didn’t diminish much for about 12 hours. The wind from the NNW was not favorable for a comfortable ride and we spent the hours crashing into building seas. Sans Souci handled the wind and seas very well and I have no doubts at all about her seaworthiness. The crew were another story, myself being the one experiencing the most nausea on the Midnight to 4 AM watch. With the cockpit enclosed, visibility of the horizon, a great way to stay grounded in heavy seas, is greatly diminished. John and Sylvia felt no ill effects from seasickness but we were all exhausted from long watches and the challenges of moving around on a pitching boat below decks.
Mount Desert Island was a sight for sore eyes on Saturday afternoon. We found a lovely, calm and quiet spot to anchor at Great Cranberry Island where we shared a delicious premade (by John) chicken stir fry and slept soundly.
Sunday morning we traveled 8 miles up Somes Sound (reportedly, the only true fjord on the east coast of North America), stopped at Hall Quarry Boat Yard for water and a wash-down and then continued to a mooring in Somes Harbor, near our family property.
I’ve been enjoying the time up here since, working mornings and taking afternoons to visit, hike, swim and sail.
For the return, John, my daughter Nova and I will depart early Friday morning for the return crossing. I’ll sorely miss having Sylvia aboard but we will be adequately crewed for the windward trip to Massachusetts.
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Congratulations on the overnight passage! They are exhausting and the darkness can be very disorienting.
Thanks, Eric! Darkness, stiff winds, choppy, confused seas made for a difficult passage. I was glad when it was over but felt a great sense of accomplishment.
Wow!!! Sounds like an experience that you all came through well! Enjoy the time there and safe travels to your next location!
Hughie, we’re eager to hear about the return trip. Sorry to have missed you up there by one day! Sounds like your passage was similar to mine on the Ilaria many years ago. Uncle G.