Day 61, August 17 -- Rockland to Warren Island Cove, Gilkey Harbor, Islesboro -- 14 NM

Started a few minutes after noon. Reefed main and small jib were used, appropriate for the strong westerly gusts in the harbor. But we were under-powered most of the trip, did not change sails and started motoring when speed got down to 2.5 knots. Lobster trap coverage was light on this clear, bright, sunny, summery, day and we ended covering the miles in three hours, mooring to mooring, on a clear, warm, bright sunny day with wind out of the east during our sail NE. We were in no hurry on this short pleasant passage.
We had never before been to Islesboro Island, ten miles long, in Penobscot Bay. On its west side, is Gilkey Harbor, largely formed by Seven Hundred Acre Island, lying off Islesboro's west coast. But Gilkey itself is too large to provide shelter and several of its coves serve that purpose. The one we selected is formed by Warren Island lying NW off Seven Hundred Acre Island. Warren is a state park and seven free moorings there are provided. Only two were occupied and we took a vacant one in deeper water, lowered the dink, sprayed ourselves with insect repellent (having been warned that mosquitoes swarm there), dinked in to the dock and walked the trail largely around the Island. About an hour's walk. Signs say that wood is for sale at $5 per day. Is that per person or per campsite? Several campsites are available, some with sleeping sheds, but only one was occupied, by two men with their tent and canoe and the men sleeping in hammocks. We were there in the late afternoon when the tide was low, exposing the beds of seaweed that skirt the island. That is not sand.

A powerboat from Searsport was at the dock. We visited that town and its museum in 2009. Their transmission failed when their prop caught a lobster pot. They had been cut loose by a diver who was planning to tow them home tomorrow.
Several windjammer schooners ply their trade at Warren Island.

Beautiful "Olaf" with lots of bright shiny wood was at the dock when we returned to the dink.



Larger "Mercantile" came in later and anchored near us. They both take their passengers to a campsite for a clambake and lobster roast dinner. Mercantile stayed the night.

Back aboard ILENE I raised the dink (for the second time today), some cooking, dinner and reading before a calm night's sleep. Mainland Islesboro is ILENE's backdrop, with the ferry landing just to the left.

Tomorrow's planned passage to Belfast will be early to avoid the stronger tidal flow and the forecast rain.