Slate Island to Canada

Slate Island
Saturday, July 20 - We originally had planned to go to Bar Harbor then head back west. However, Gary and Renee wanted to touch Canadian waters and since it was only a few more miles east we decided to go with them. We left Somes Sound in Mt. Desert Island at 8:30 a.m. with a clear sky, smooth water and warm air. Once in the Gulf of Maine the winds were light at less than 10 knots. We were on a starboard beam reach and able to use both main and jib to help us along at 5 knots with the motor. Water temperature was 61 degrees which makes the air colder especially in the cockpit where there is little sun. Before long we were in jackets and Pepper was in her sweater. I spent time on deck in the sun where it was much warmer and helped look for submerged lobster pot bouys. We anchored at Slate Island at 3:30. Only 3 boats were there; us, En El Viendo and one other sailboat closer to shore on a mooring.

Rogue Island
Sunday, July 21 - We prepared to depart Slate Island shortly after 9 a.m. and made a quick hop to Roque Island, staying close to the Maine shoreline. Winds were playing havoc with sails, flipping from port to starboard. We eventually gave up and motored with the mainsail. We did manage to catch a lobster pot line. I was at the helm watching the lobster bouys on our starboard side when all of a sudden one of them came racing toward the boat and under it. I had a hard time locating where it came up because the dinghy blocked my view. When I finally saw it we were clearly dragging it. My instinct had told me I should turn more to port but it was not as close as some of the other bouys Kevin had passed by; I should have listened to myself. Eventually it broke free or our prop cutter cut the line. Gary later said there was a 3rd Bouy that I didn’t see and that’s the one I snagged. In Maine they always have two lobster bouys together, sometimes three.
We anchored at 1:00 p.m. at Roque Island. After lunch we went ashore to a beach on the island. Stepping into the water was an awakening at 58 degrees! The island is private but the owners allow beach access. We found it interesting that there were a lot of rocks on shore but very few shells. We let Pepper off her leash and she had a good run in the sand.

Canada
Monday, July 22 - Last night we went over to Gary and Renee’s boat and agreed to head straight to Canadian waters rather than the original plan of stopping at Mink Island for a night. Weather forecast was rain Tuesday through Thursday and Renee and I both thought it would be better to make a long one day journey in nice weather rather than risk moving in rain or having to wait it out before going. We awoke at 6 a.m. and left by 7 a.m. The air temperature was below 60 degrees when we woke up and the water temperature was down to 53 degrees. At 9:30 a.m. our course heading was 100 degrees east, water depth was 300 feet one half mile from shore and winds were 8 knots. And it was cold. A cute seal popped its head out of the water and looked first at our boat then turned and looked at En El Viendo next to us. At 10:30 a.m. we were in Canadian water. We sailed another 60 minutes to the island of Grand Manan, Canada and went to the rock formation called Southern Cross to take pictures. On returning the wind was against us at 20 knots, coming off our port side bow. We pulled out the jib and motor-sailed at 5 knots, and later on we were up to 7 knots when we turned to the north a little. With the wind against us it was much colder and we were heeling about 18 degrees, this made for an uncomfortable ride as there were so many lobster pots to watch out for and i was hunched down looking under the jib or sticking my head out the window all with a cold blast of air in my face looking for the next pot. Finally at 2:00 we reefed the main then pulled in the jib and the ride smoothed out. We anchored in Northeast Harbor of Cross Island, National Wildlife Refuge at 2:36 p.m.Les mer