August 20 -- Five Islands to Snow Island

11:30 to 4:00 for the 20.4 miles. The first 10.4 via the shortest logical safe route, were actually about 16.3 due to tacking, almost 60 percent more! This was southerly, out of the Sheepscot and to the passage between Cape Small Point, the eastern edge of Casco Bay, and Fuller Rock, off the Cape. In prior years I would have gone around Fuller Rock but increasing confidence permitted us to go through the passage and it was 65 feet deep in there and 100 yards wide. But the chart makes the gap seem so tiny. While tacking to that point we passed by Seguin Island, off the coast, first north of it

and then west of it.

The second half of the trip was north of west, through Casco Bay past several rocks and up into long skinny Quahog Bay, toward the Northeast corner of Casco Bay. Snow Island is off the eastern shore of that bay and created a large area of water that is 13 to 16 feet deep at low tide.  No businesses, just boats.  And not many of them, though there is room for many. Some of these photos were in the evening, others in the morning's tranquility, though the whole spot is tranquil.

We are in 14 feet at low tide, so 24 feet at high tide, so 100 feet of chain is out. Having room for such a big swinging area is a luxury we do not get in the anchorages closer to home.

Nights are getting warmer, sheet or light quilt replacing the heavy duty down comforter. We did not lower the dink and explore the anchorage and say hello to strangers. Good home cooking and a good night's sleep. In the morning, after cleaning the boat for several hours, while heading out, we saw this unusual ferry.