Summer 09 plans?

[Auspicious]

When you get to St Georges make an appointment to visit the RCC. Long walk up the hill but worth every step.

[Oldrig]

Thanks Dave,

I think the skipper has already set this up, as well as a meeting with two locals who just bought Cape Dory Typhoons and had them shipped to the island.

--Joe

[Tim]

Heading for Alaska in a couple weeks. Put a small RV on the Alaskan Marine Highway for the way up and drive the Alcan back.

Figuring to be gone a couple months will be able to stay in contact through modern technology though :)

If we get back early we will probably run up to the Canadian Gulf Islands or Desolation Sound again for a couple weeks.

[marujo_sortudo]

Cruising locally for the summer, here in Maine.  Moored right off Eggemoggin Reach, so I'll be sailing along the Reach for short daysails, but good days should put me out in either Penobscot Bay, Jericho Bay, or Blue Hill Bay.  Also, some weekend or overnight cruises with friends a bit further afield.  I love sailing the coast of Maine.

I've sailed her twice already, and I don't know how many of you have ever bought a boat on the hard, but it sure is comforting to finally get her out sailing and see that you were right about how well she sails....  :)

Come Sept 1, I go south....but that's another story.

[Frank]

Maine sure is pretty. An Alaska tour is going to be awesome. Good stuff....have fun

[Frank]

We're off to Moosehead lake again in Maine for 9 days in mid july. Went last year...simply beautiful but it rained every day. Hopefully we'll encounter better weather this year. It should be called 'Loon Lake' as they are everywhere. It certainly creates quite the orchestra while at anchor. The lake itself is huge with many bays and islands....all surrounded by mountains. It's a trailer-sailers delight. Rick is joining me again on his M15.  It'll be our 7th cruise together. I'm breaking tradition this year as Judy is coming along as well. Looking forward to some quiet times,reading,fishing and hopefully some good sailing days with sunshine too. It works out well as it's about 450 miles to get there from home for both Rick and I. Gotta love trailer boating.

[Jim_ME]

Joe, Have a great voyage to Bermuda! A CD33 seems like a comfortable and seaworthy boat for such an adventure. Look forward to reading about it and seeing some photos. Fair winds.

Frank, Moosehead has been on my short list of places to go, starting with Lily Bay State Park. I need to get another trailer sailboat...(should have kept that ODay Mariner 19 centerboard). Unfortunately, there is a large (for this area) development planned for there that has many concerned...
http://www.environmentmaine.org/preservation/save-moosehead-lake

Tim, My sister and her husband lived near Craig, on Prince of Wales Island, for two years. It was quite an experience for them. A couple years ago, they moved from Down East Maine to Ojai, CA. With them and a couple friends in (your) the San Francisco Bay Area, I have been imagining spending part of the winter out there (possibly including the Gulf of California). It's a long way out there, though... I started reading Passage to Juneau: A Sea and Its Meanings by Jonathan Raban, about the area that you are going...his description of Port Townsend reminded me of the fishing communities in Down East Maine.

Greenman, On my more ambitious days I dream of sailing up to Halifax, and Cape Breton Island, and bringing my father along (his father was born in Windsor).

Would like to get up to Penobscot Bay in August, and combine some sailing there with the Folk Festival in Bangor [August 27, 28, & 29], which I've enjoyed in previous years. Perhaps I'll see you up there Marujo_Sortudo, and others may make it a destination event? (How far North are you headed, CJ and Laura?) [Here's the website for the event... http://www.americanfolkfestival.com/ the Holmes Brothers (Blues/Gospel/R&B) are back again this year. I saw them at the festival a few years ago, and they were great. They always have wonderful Celtic performers, and this year it will be Paddy Keenan on Irish pipes. Admission is free, although they do seek voluntary contributions.]

Maybe I'll be able to trailer sail there. I have just lifted the Hurley 18 out of its cradle and loaded it into the float-on trailer that I had used with the CD Typhoon 19 for years. The H18 has a 3'-3" draft, and it didn't seem like it would be that much of an increase over the Typhoon's 2'-7", but it looks like a lot now that its loaded in the trailer. So it may have to be a very good ramp to float it off the trailer, even with the trailer's 8-foot extending tongue, and an additional 10-foot extension.

With the uncertainty of the economy, and the disaster in the Gulf play out, I'm finding it an effort not to feel pessimistic about things in general...and making plans...

All the more reason to go sailing.

 

[Frank]

A big development on Moosehead would be a shame. Other than the little hamlet of Greenville at the southern tip and sparse cottages..again mostly at the southern end, this lake is prestine and much as it was 100's of years ago. I certainly hope it stays this way.

[Oldrig]

Frank,

Moosehead is fabulous, a veritable inland sea with beautiful, wild shores, some islands that are open for camping and fantastic views of the mountains. If I remember from my days as a Maineac, there's plenty of wind. The lake is shallow in many parts, but if you've got a centerboarder (like Jim's old Mariner), it would be a great place to sail.

Enjoy!

--Joe
PS, gotta agree that shoreline development would be a real crime.

[Frank]

Yep...the suncat's only 14in board-up. The pic under my name was taken last year @ Moosehead. Thats Rick's M15 beside....sure makes a suncat look big.

[Jim_ME]

Frank & Joe, The controversial development plans were approved by the state's regulators in September of 2008.

Here is one article that sums up the situation...
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aHVhhWBUh.A0&refer=home

and others here...
http://www.moosehead.net/news.html

I haven't heard much about it in the news recently. I don't know whether the development has started, or if it may have been delayed by the recession, including the soft real estate market.

Sadly, we all may need to get up there and experience that pristine character of Moosehead Lake before it is lost.

[Oldrig]

Jim:

Thanks for the links; I do remember reading about Plum Creek's plans.

They're probably facing the same shortage of financing that's put so many construction projects on hold.

But that doesn't mean the condos won't get built, once the economy heats up again.

Frank:

Get to Moosehead now, before Plum Creek has a chance to restart its project!

--Joe

[marujo_sortudo]

Yes, get to Moosehead while it's still pristine!!!!  ...and look me up if you get anywhere near the Blue Hill peninsula before Sept. 1.  Maine is such a gorgeous place and I have high hopes for this summer...

[Frank]

This will be my 3rd Maine trip...2nd to Moosehead Lake. It is beautiful and very 'remote' feeling .... I've met some great people there too. Reminds me of home...hot summers and cold snowy winters.

[Pappy Jack]

Not much. Just trying to cope with a herniated disk :'(. I don't even have the boat in the water yet but hope rains eternal, doesn't it?

Fair winds,

Pappy Jack

[Frank]

Just back from 8 days on Moosehead Lake. We had a great week.. only rained one day...good reading day. Last year it rained every day. This lake is simply beautiful. I feel it is wrongly named...should be "Loon Lake". They are everywhere and the concerts put on by their calls are amazing. I'll post a few pics once I reduce them.

PS...lost an anchor for the 1st time ever. Simply could not break it loose.Did all the things that worked before...none even made an inch difference. It was in about 18ft of dark/cool water...too deep for me to dive it. We figure it got wedged in rocks. I've never used a trip line...thinking of one now

[marujo_sortudo]

Maine sailors are very fond of trip lines.  All my anchors have one permanently attached.  Methinks you found out why....

I was pulled up at the dock in Belfast the other day to refill my water tanks.  A passerby commented, "Nice boat you have there.  Too many anchors, though." (4)  Good thing I didn't tell him I was planning on getting another one....  :o

[Frank]

 pics.

[Frank]

pics

[Frank]

pics