When we first started our sailing life, a seasoned sailor told us, "Any sailor worth his salt has gone aground." Soon thereafter we had our first grounding experience. That experience not only makes for a good story, but it makes us feel that now we are the seasoned sailors.

It happened on our first grand tour of Casco Bay in our 22-foot Columbia, Halcyon. We had sailed up from Portsmouth, N.H. in late September, and were just finishing up a week of exploring the bay, including visits to Jewell Island, South Freeport, Mackerel Cove, Snow Island, and Sebasco Harbor.

Cape Small Harbor, on the eastern end of Casco Bay, rated four stars in our bible, "A Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast," so we were eager to explore it. We rounded Goose Rock, and before I read the part of our book that said "At mid-tide or lower, you probably cannot run a straight course over these bars" we hit bottom.

Obviously it was midtide or lower, and like a bathtub with the plug pulled out the water was draining quickly. All attempts on our own to kedge off ended in futility. A few kind souls passed by and tried to help, but most shrugged their shoulders as if to say, "You are just one of many, so don't fight it." Halcyon was soon on her side, resting on a bed of mussels (ironically, one of Michael's favorite shellfish, for which he had been in search during our entire voyage).

Since we knew we were stuck until the tide came back in, we made the best of it. It was late afternoon, so we just relaxed and read the paper, and when that became too uncomfortable we curled up for the evening in the V-berth to nap.

Smooshed against each other though we were, we managed to sleep. Around 11 p.m. we heard the glorious sound of water flowing, and Halcyon was afloat once more. By the light of the moon we navigated our way through the moored boats farther into the cove and picked up a mooring.

The next day came with small-craft advisories, so we hunkered down in the cabin while the rain fell and the wind gusted. After the discomfort of the night before, we counted our blessings that we were not only safe and sound but upright and afloat.

Return to aground index page