Places & Ports

Photo by Christopher BirchRoque Island, Maine.

My favorite anchorages – Part 2

November 25, 2024 at 12:00 am

December 2024 By Christopher Birch Marinas are handy, moorings are great, but nothing beats the satisfaction that comes from spending a night at anchor. As the year winds down, I’m feeling nostalgic for some of my favorite spots to drop the hook along our beloved New England coastline and haveRead More

This aerial view of Roque Island shows the extent of the mile-long white sand beach for which it is known.Photo by Libby Simon

5 days Downeast

May 20, 2024 at 6:00 am

An itinerary: From Winter Harbor, just east of Mount Desert Island, bound east-northeast, five days of sailing will reward your crew with a magnificent shoreline seldom explored by casual cruisers.

The large ship’s anchor at the Hingham Shipyard Marinas recalls the marina’s former role as a shipyard which turned out vessels for World War II.Photo by Marilyn Pond BrighamKilroy image couresty Wikipedia Commons

Kilroy was here

August 21, 2023 at 12:00 am

And you, too, can be at Hingham Shipyard Marinas, as was the original Kilroy in the mid-1940s, when the site was known as the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, which built warships to help keep our country free.

A sign on Matinius Island urges passersby to enjoy a sit on a rustic bench – just don’t light up there. Photo by Albert Presgraves

Quick cruise to Matinicus

July 24, 2023 at 12:00 am

Each Maine island with a year-round population is distinct from the others; the most remote of these is Matinicus, some 10 miles out to sea from Vinalhaven. I cruised there, and found a community with a singular character.

Plymouth Harbor. At left, the famous Plymouth Rock. Below, the author’s always-popular dog Ellis.

Plymouth rocks

June 19, 2023 at 12:00 am

It scintillates in its own charming, homey and historic way. And, like cruisers today, the Pilgrims and their Mayflower knew how to pick a secure, protected anchorage with vital amenities: like water, food and a helpful tribe.

Squirrel Point Light, Kennebec River, with Phippsburg in the background. Photo by Tim plouff

Surf & turf cruise

March 20, 2023 at 12:00 am

When the weather numbers don’t roll upright, a land cruise along the Maine shore can be a joy, providing rich seascapes until conditions improve, when priceless landscapes can be savored from your boat.

Photo by Jack FarrellThis granite breakwater creates a critical harbor of refuge for Gosport Harbor on Star Island in the Isles of Shoals.

Points of refuge

March 20, 2023 at 12:00 am

Spring 2023 By Jack Farrell When my passion to become a respectable sailor was at its peak many years ago, I was a voracious consumer of the practical literature of the sea. While I spent my summer weekends at the self-directed school of hard nautical knocks, my winter evenings wereRead More

Photo by Jack FarrellOne of the mysterious iron eyebolts found embedded in the bedrock of Star Island. They were possibly used as moorings by the original inhabitants of the Isles of Shoals. They certainly would provide a solid hold on the island.

Replacing hope with certainty

November 21, 2022 at 12:00 am

December 2022 By Jack Farrell With a long winter ahead of us, one of the best ways to keep in touch with a passion for the ocean is to read about it. Ever since I bought my first little sailboat over 45 years ago, I have supplemented the school ofRead More

Marshall Island: A true Maine getaway

Marshall Island: A true Maine getaway

August 22, 2022 at 12:00 am

Marshall is one of dozens of islands in the MDI/Deer Isle/Penobscot Bay region that affords public access. Materials from the Maine Island Trail Association (mita.org) and Maine Coast Heritage Trust (mcht.org) outline which islands you can visit by oar and paddle, sail or powerboat and which islands offer camping options.Read More

Photo by Bruce ParsonsA bird’s-eye view of Star Island.

An insider’s guide to the Isles of Shoals

June 20, 2022 at 12:00 am

There’s lots to love about this location just off the Maine and New Hampshire coasts. Here are some tips for making the most of your visit.