Devil's Island & Hell's Half Acre, Maine

Serafina
Rob & Sarah Bell
Sun 11 Aug 2013 20:00

44:09.2N 68:36.5N

 

Saturday 10th August

 

A very much nicer day all round and we headed off 1000 hours to sail round to North Haven Island Yacht Club to take on water, but having made our way most of the way down the Thoroughfare, we found out why they had sounded surprised that we had called! Their dock was not set up for this at all and so we quickly abandoned this plan and chose to sail on west and then right round the south end of Vinalhaven Island and head back into Merchant’s Row which is the maze of tiny wooded and granite islands due east of Vinalhaven.

 

We were soon sailing in 20 plus knots of westerly wind and romping along, but during the course of the rest of the day, the wind came and went, so we peaked at 9.2 knots, but spent the majority of the time sailing at 6 plus knots. But it was a beautifully sunny day and so it was all a great delight – although as ever the omnipresent lobster buoys continued to present challenges all the way.

 

As we re-entered Merchant’s Row, the wind veered to give us a lovely broad reach to meander between the rocky outcrops and small islands as well as the pots and we made good time to our chosen anchorage in behind Devil’s Island in a small and well protected anchorage also shielded by an island known as Hell’s Half Acre.

 

The wind was warm for a change and the unbroken blue skies meant a lovely clear and balmy evening, so we settled down to a quiet night and another BBQ. We heard on the VHF, the yacht that had lost its dinghy the other day (we had sailed past them on our way into this cove) asking for help as they had now caught 3 lobster pot buoys around their prop and rudder. They are not having a very good week it seems! A motorboat not too far away from them heard their call and went over to help them and eventually they were freed and able to continue on their way.  We did sympathise with them privately as the pots here are VERY thick on the ground and it is not at all easy to find a way through or around the masses as they are so close together, especially if you are sailing quickly!