Portland

Moonbeam
David and Lynn Wilkie
Tue 23 Aug 2011 23:01

 

43.39.769N  070.14.343W

 

Thursday morning we were delayed by thick fog again but eventually we were able to head back around Cape Small and back up the New Meadows River and into the Basin, this time in glorious sunshine where we anchored with just three other yachts.

 

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                                                                                                                                                                  At anchor in The Basin

 

Despite a threatening forecast it was again a quiet tranquil night and in the morning we watched a Belted Kingfisher looking for his breakfast.

 

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                                                                                                                                                Yacht heading out the entrance ahead of us

 

We left the anchorage just after low water and found more depth than the chart suggests.

 

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Next was Cliff Island where we sheltered from the Southerly winds.

 

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On Saturday we headed to Portland where we picked up a mooring in the rather “rolly” harbour. Like many other ‘cities’ the old Port area was once very run down and now it is being revitalised and becoming trendy. Unfortunately though there is no comfortable place to leave a yacht!

 

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Sunday morning we watched the preparations for the Lobster Boat Racing where stripped out and tuned boats are timed on a course- the record being about 72 mph! There was a great atmosphere with lots of vessels gathering to spectate.

 

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A camper van minus axles mounted on a powerboat!                            A 32’ lobster boat with a petrol V8 and 2 x 200hp outboards!

 

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We were collected by Brad ( from “Breezing Up” – met in the Caribbean ) and he drove us the few miles to their lovely home at Prout’s Neck ( famous for the artist Winslow Homer ) and we went to the beach for lunch- all very select!