The Small Boats of Maine.

Anyone who’s cruised to Maine, and certainly those who love wooden boats, have made the pilgrimage to the Wooden Boat School and the headquarters for Wooden Boat Magazine.    So, yesterday the cruise headed there from SW Harbor, a distance just short of 20 miles.

As we made our way there yesterday were we passed the iconic Bass Harbor Light.  I believe that this is the most photographed light in Maine.   You can certainly see why.  She’s a beauty.7-31-16a 021Of course, that’s not the only one to feast your eyes on.  How about this one?  It’s still active but unlike the Bass light, this one is someone’s home.  I wonder how well they sleep when the fog horn is blasting away.8-1-16a 030Unfortunately, we weren’t able to sail yesterday or again today as the wind was just too light.  That’s one of the downsides of club cruises as the meals and stops are all planned in advance.  When Brenda and I cruise, we wait to move when there is wind and therefore spend a lot more time sailing.

Let’s hope that by the time the fleet heads back toward NE Harbor in a few days, that we won’t have to beat our heads against the wall to head east. Uncharacteristically, the wind is forecast to be out of an easterly direction for the next few days so we’ll have to wait and see.

So, back to the Wooden Boat School, a place that is a must stop for anyone that admires beautiful wooden boats.  Many credit Jon Wilson, founder of Wooden Boat magazine, with the revival of wooden boat restoration and modern construction.  It takes someone like that to galvanize interest in a dying art.  Clearly the tide has turned and wooden boats are a vital part of the boating community these days.

Speaking of lovely craft, I took a turn around the harbor and photographed some of the lovely craft that are moored there.

This is a sweet canoe stern launch.  Very elegant lines.7-31-16a 029How about the stern on this beauty?7-31-16a 024I loved the detail work on this Friendship Sloop.  Great trail boards.7-31-16a 046I think that this is a Herreshoff 12½ or perhaps a Haven 12½ designed by Joel White as centerboard takeoff on that classic design.   The varnish work is perfect.7-31-16a 033I think that these are International One Designs and may not be wooden.  However, there is a very active fleet in SW Harbor and was racing yesterday afternoon.   Each spinnaker had a unique design and made quite a sight as they raced to the finish line.7-31-16a 008While most of the boats that were moored at the Wooden Boat School are of classic designs, there are plenty of beautiful wooden boats being crafted in Maine of thoroughly modern designs.  How about this wonderful gentleman’s launch that I spied at a marina in SW Harbor?  She’s a real head turner.  They had better never let the varnish work get away from them. 7-31-16a 010I’d say that Pandora takes “modern” to yet another level.  Not a lot of varnish on her.  However, I just love the way she looks and sails.  She looks right at home here in Maine too.7-31-16a 049The sunsets, and I do love sunsets, over the last few days have been spectacular. 8-1-16a 011And a bit later.  Hard to believe that this shot was the same sunset.  8-1-16a 017Perhaps it’s my new camera but this photo actually is better than real life. I guess that’s what they mean when they call it “sunset porn”.   Well, they probably don’t say that but you get the point.   Right?

We are approaching Blue Hill so I’d better finish up for now.   Adios!

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