Alpha Crucis - Maine Bound

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11/09/06
Had a phone call from Terry & Lois 7:30 am Sunday (NZ Time). They were motoring in thick fog and thousands of lobster pots on their way to an island just off Maine. They will have a lobster dinner, stay the night and be off early the next day on their Atlantic crossing. I wll update the blog as their position reports come through - Cheers Murray.
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09/09/06
We have had a lovely couple of days in Muscongus Bay. We are on a mooring owned by Rem & Taylor Briggs, we met them in Acapulco. These are the people that have just completed their circumnavigation on a 38 foot yacht without a refrigerator!!!
They live on a little island called Bremen Long Island, fabulous spot. The mooring is between the island and the mainland. It is so quiet that you would think we are on dry dock, amazing. The township is Damariscotta which is about 9 miles from the dock in Bremen and we have had the use of Rem and Brigg’s car to do our errands.
We have had dinner a couple of nights with them – famous Maine Lobster one night cooked on an open camp fire – and we had dinner for them on board last night plus a couple of their friends.
We have done half the provisioning already and will do our produce today, fuel and water tomorrow. Terry has to dive down to check the propeller which has been vibrating.
We intend leaving this area tomorrow (Saturday) and go back down the bay (pass the millions of hazards – lobster pots – won’t miss them which we have had to content with all the way from Triboro Bridge, New York) and anchor overnight and leave Sunday morning. Will have to buy some fresh lobster tomorrow to have on the eve of our departure – washed down by the crisp white wine of course!!
As you know we have had a wonderful time in the US and will be hard to leave however it’s time to push on to our destination, which has always been Europe.
This is of course our last long passage- in one way I will be pleased when it is behind us and the other hand slightly little sad that this will be our last. But never say never I guess!!!
We don’t have much of a phone signal anywhere in this region otherwise we would call. We are able to do text msg’s in some places so will try to communicate otherwise will email you when we can to keep you posted.
We are not sure if the sail mail will work as we cross the Atlantic and there is only one station in Europe but if it doesn’t will certainly use Inmarsat.
Take care
Lois and Terry
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04/09/06
Position: 42 56 N, 070 17 W
Days out from port: 01
Mile Run: 0065
Wind Speed: 20Kn
Wind Direction: 240
Weather: Fine
Sea: Moderate
Comments: Departed Gloucester, Massachusetts, (Perfect Storm Setting and Port of origin for the fatal event itself}1400 today bound for Bremen, Long Island in Muscongus Bay, Maine. Clipping along a little too fast to make the coast of Maine after dark but will alter speed later to compensate. Spent 2 nights at the Boston Yacht Club which is not in Boston but up the coast 15 miles at Marblehead. Were well looked after and shown around the area by Don Humphreys, a previous Commodore and local Historian. A very attractive and quaint area with substantial and elegant real estate. Friday night became very uncomfortable on our mooring which was exposed to NE winds of about 30 knots so we were forced to leave early with advice to make for Gloucester, the oldest fishing town in New England. Also a large harbour open to the south affording the solace we were seeking. Rained and drizzled until this morning. Despite that we went ashore yesterday pm to hide in a typical quaint pub and chatted to a few locals. Had an excellent meal, because earlier Nicole called to remind us it was Father's Day in NZ, at a local Bistro and as you would understand that means something as Lois' standards have remained very high.

Nice to be a sea again funnily enough - of course when it is nice conditions such as we have tonight. We have a 3 quarter moon which of course means we will not be crossing with the moon across the Atlantic now so that's a bummer!