2005 CYC Maine Cruise

Maine Masterpiece 2005

Twenty-five Corinthian boats returned to Maine for the annual cruise, from July 30th through August 14th. After an absence of a year, we toured familiar harbors in Casco Bay, Penobscot Bay, and Mount Desert Island, with a few new opportunities thrown in. We were served up great food, great sailing winds, continuous cocktail parties, and (just about) zero rain and fog. Some of us even went in for a quick swim. If you see beautifully tanned CYC-ers wandering around the docks and the harbor, that's us. For a closer look, try the photos below. And, if we might be able to convince you to consider cruising next year, just send a note to Andy Lippman, Fleet Captain, or talk to any of the cruisers and we'll get you on the mailing list to plot and plan the future.

For your calendar: Share photos, stories and suggestions join us for dinner Friday October 14th, 6PM. All are welcome.

Resting up at Wreck CYC Cruising in Maine is all about quiet anchorages, bustling harbors, and sailing between them. Stops are often 20 miles apart, giving us plenty of time to set the anchor, dinghy to shore, wash up and entertain. Here are the early arrivals at Wreck Island, where the club fills the tiny anchorage.	Warp 9 reaching warp speed 2005 featured good winds and calm seas. Speed demon Warp 9 lifts the ama in this reach across Penobscot Bay around the top of Vinalhaven. On that day, other boats started with ten knots of wind and ended up under a reef main. Warp 9 just goes with it...	Reserve reachs across Jericho Bay Mike and Kay Hoffman on board Reserve have cruised Maine for more twenty years with the club. A master of the wind and skies, Mike is shown here reaching towards Mount Desert Island.
Spirit of '76 drifts to the next harbor There were a few days with glass seas and perfect clams. Halifax racer Ed Cloutier took the chance to relax on Spirit of '76 for two weeks before returning to Marblehead. Along the way, he also arranged a performance of the songs from "Carousel" for the group on the 50th aniversary of filming the eponymous movie at the marina.	Rafts and Cocktails at Laughing Lady Perparations for a CYC cruise usually include meals for three days at anchor and hors d-oeuvres for ten. Fleet Captain Andy Lippman's and Annie Harris' Laughing Lady, here rafted to past Commodore Mike and Kathi Frigard's Loose Goose X served up a spread for 40 people to prepare them for dinner.	The Merchant Island home-built boat regatta Sailboat racing at the CYC is for people of all ages. On Merchants, we all built our own boats and manned the committee boats for a quick competition before dinner. Like the America's Cup of old, only indigenous materials are allowed in the construction of these racers. Class rules are open.
Music on the rocks Music-man Bill Larkin spend half the cruise with us. We wouldn't let him go without a few ditties on the squeezebox. In this case, at a Merchant's Island impromptu cookout.	The Commodore's Cocktail Party at Camden Commodore Bill and Irene Conly's CYC party at the Camden Yacht Club is the annual sailing get-together off the club ground. All are welcome, and both cruisers and vacationing CYC members join in.	Breaking the Pinata Brenda Miccio and Linda LeClair alway conjure up a program for kids. Here they are at the Commodore's Cocktail Party after exploding the Pinata.
In port at Camden Camden is always a welcome port of call for the CYC cruise. Here we are, packed three deep at the dock. The skippers test engines and rum supplies, while the rest of the crew explore the town and restaurants.	Touring the Rockefeller Gardens An expeditionary force invaded the Rockefeller Gardens on the one day that week when it is open for tours.	Feasting on Wreck The Wreck Island Lobster Bake caps the first week at sea. Just about everyone was there to feats on 75 lobsters, a bushell of steamers, 150 ears of corn, 100 pounds of potatoes, and enough S'mores to sink a dinghy.
Wreck on the rocks Wreck Island, in Merchant's Row, south of Stonington is an open nature preserve. There was a treehouse hidden in the depths of the island, and a natural landing spot. Our cruise fills the anchorage, and this year the weather was perfect (and the food wasn't bad either…)	Castaways recovered! While exploring Maine, we discovered these stowaways who had been lost on an island since 1968. The were looking for a shortcut to Woodstock, but we took them to Camden.	Safety at sea lessons Mike LeClaire rappels off the hull of BIg Bad Wolf on a transit leg. Bosun's chairs are our closest approximation to bungee jumping, and they can even be called into service for a masthead repair as needed, but more often for this kind of fun.
Dix Island solitude The CYC cruise always encourages people to break off and explore new anchorages. While some of us ate fresh rhubarb pie in Tenant's Harbor, three boats rested at anchor off Dix Island in relative seclusion.	Sinking John Cabot On the way back south, twelve boats unloaded their crew on Rear Commodore Martin and Jennie Ray's John Cabot for a quick cocktail before dinner. The dinghies are standing by in case we tip the boat over.