April i8, 1903.]; 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
813 
ing place — save at Brave Boat harbor. The country is 
fairly flat while in the distance Agamenticus Mountain 
rises sheer out of the plain. _ It resembles a large 
sugar loaf and is quite a prominent land mark. Soon 
after passing Stone's Rock we reached York River 
and ran up it on the last of the flood. We anchored 
at the first turn in the river, well in toward the apex 
of the angle and out of the current which sweeps with 
great force around the bend. All the other boats 
that we sa.Av at York Harbor swung to the tide, but 
the Armorel kept her nose to the wind throughout 
our stay. 
The owner and his friend left us soon after the main- 
sail was furled — giving us final directions as to the 
rendezvous at Portland. 
July 28. — Up at six o'clock and had breakfast half 
an hour later. The morning was beautifully clear and 
crisp with a strong S.S.W. wind. We dallied over 
grub and the subsequent cleaning up so that it was 
7:40 when we got our anchor. We had taken down a 
single reef in the mainsail as the wind came oflf the 
shore in fierce gusts. When reefing I always roll up 
the slack of the sail instead of merely knotting the 
points around the bunt. This gives a neater look to 
the reef and makes the sail set better over it. I also 
take pains to pass a gasket through the reef cringle 
and around the boom, tying it tigut so that if the 
pennant stretches the last reef points will not tear the 
sail. The reef was a needless precaution and under re- 
duced canvas we were rather slow about getting out 
of the river. I soon ached to shake it out and did so 
the minute that we were well out of the ebb from the 
river, and then, after getting the mainsail well sway- 
ed up, made the course N.E. E. for Cape Porpoise. 
The wind offshore was rather light and as our 
course was so nearly dead to leeward we felt almost 
becalmed. Should have set the spinnaker at once, but 
the breeze looked as though it might shift aiiy min- 
ute so I waited until it should give indications of 
steadiness. 
We passed Cape Neddick Light at 8:43. The Hght- 
house is on a small "nubble" just ofif the mainland. 
The wind had backed by this time a full point and had 
hardened a bit so I dove below and got the spinnaker 
out of its bag. I sent the "fairy fabric" aloft in stops, 
swung the boom out to port, ran aft with the sheet 
and made it fast, and then broke her out by hauling 
down on the tack. I found this the easiest and quick- 
est way to set such a large spinnaker when doing it 
alone. It drew nicely for half an hour, but then the 
wind dropped and became so variable that the spin- 
naker had to be dowsed. 
The breeze continued very light and shifty for some 
time, amounting to little more than a series of cats- 
paws, which varied in direction all the way from S. 
by W. to N.W. We did not lose steerage way, but 
were engaged in a series of ladylike jibes for the best 
part of an hour. Finally at 10:30 we caught a nice 
W.N.W. air. 
At eleven o'clock we met a tug with a barge in tow 
liound to the westward. The next incident occurred a 
half hour later when we set the Kay taffrail long. 
This was a pretty toy and a valuable one as well. 
(The day before we had towed it for several hours 
during which time it overran a fourth of one knot — 
or an error of less than one per cent.) Soon after 
setting the log we met the schooner yacht Redskin 
III. beating to the westward. She is about as home- 
ly a sled as ever I saw. Her owners came out this 
summer in an open letter to a Boston paper and re- 
sentfull}^ bewailed the fact that she is commonly con- 
sidered a freak. As they strenuously objected to her 
being called by such a name I won't call her anything, 
but I know a chap who had the misfortune to be 
anchored near her one night and he could not sleep 
a wink, she made so much noice pounding the small 
sea with her long flat bow. 
We came up with Goat Island Light (Cape Por- 
poise) just before noon. There the wind came straight 
offshore with some weight so that Armorel took a 
comfortable list and did some pretty sailing. But as 
we drew away from the shore the breeze lightened 
again. However, when we looked at the log it had 
registered 5VI miles for nn hour's run. 
As we drew up to Wood Island there seemed to be 
less and less air so that we felt that the light- 
house would never be abeam. In i^t~i the prospects of 
having wind enough to carry us to Portland, seventeen 
miles away, before late that night, seemed so remote 
that we debated whether or not we should run in be- 
hind Wood Island and anchor. But as it was then 
only 1:37 P.M. we decided to keep on and trust to 
luck for more wind. 
The run across to Richmond Island in the liot sun 
Was very tedious. We had again set the spinnaker 
to port and made better time than we realized for 
we had the Red Whistler, south of Cape Elizabeth, 
abeam at 3:26. We passed halfway inside of Taylor's 
Reef can buoy and took in the spinnaker as we 
brought the Cape Elizabeth lights abeam. The day 
boat down from Boston passed us at this point. 
The wind now came off the land in wholesai] quant- 
ities so that the Armorel put her lee rail awash and 
walked up the harbor right cleverly. We cut the 
can on Trundy's Reef and passed in by Portland head 
and the new fortifications at 4:31. Then reaching 
between Cushing and House Islands we arrived at the 
Peakes Island anchorage (Portland Harbor) at 4:55, 
took a look around for a good berth and anchored ten 
minutes later. 
We took our breaker ashore to be refilled and found 
a place where any quantity of ice water could be had 
for the drawing — talk about luxury. 
Peakes Island is a popular but rather cheap sum- 
mer resort. I'll say this for it though — we would get 
the best of everything at the shops for very moderate 
prices. For supper Ave indulged in fresh raspberries 
and thick cream, 
During the night I heard a hail and turning out in 
my pajamas foimd that tbc tide had turned and that 
as we swung to it we were in altogether too close 
proximity to the bowsprit of the famous old 40ft. 
(L.W.I*) cutter Gorillai The weight of her chain had 
Kept her froni swinging far fron^ her anchor, but tji? 
tide took us pretty well out to the end of our manila 
warp. Then too it was pretty near low water, so that 
we had an extra two fathoms of rode to deal with. I 
shortened up as much as I cared to, but soon saw that 
that would not get us out of the impending pickle, so 
roused in the warp smartly and, as the anchor broke 
out easily, got way enough on her to forge ahead and 
sheer enough to starboard to get a better berth. 
Tuesday, July 29. — ^The morning was as "hot as the 
hinges" without a breath of air to temper the sun's 
rays. The thermometer registered 84° in the cabin at 
10:30 and on deck the temperature was, of course, 
much higher. I was, however, grateful for the heat as 
the sutnmer had been stupidly cold, rainy and dis- 
agreeable. Sent the boy ashore for some provisions 
and while he Avas gone nearly broke my backbone try- 
ing to go below without opening the companionway 
slide. Just as I was crouching on the companionAvay 
ladder preparatory to ducking under the slide a steatn- 
cr Aveirt by and by her swell gave Armorel such a 
lurch that I was thrown off my feet. In my fall I 
struck my spine, at the base of my neck, against the 
slide, which felled me like a log. Well, it taught me not 
to be too laizy to push the slide back. 
Just before half after eleven o'clock a light E. by S. 
breeze sprang up. We were soon underway and stood 
out between Peakes and the Diamond islands. The 
channel is narrow, on a slight curve and we had a head 
tide. Could not lay our course through but made it 
in two long starboard tacks and one little port hitch 
across the channel. 
Ahead of us was the knockabout Thistle, a boat of our 
class, but newer and more of a racer. We determined 
to trim her if we could, so worked our sheets for all 
we were worth. We managed to keep the jib full and 
drawing well and still gave it considerable sheet so 
that it had quite a lift to it. I find this takes a boat up 
the wind faster than docs flattening the sheets and try- 
ing to point too high, Albert could not be persuaded 
to see it in the true light, so I had to take the iib 
sheet into my own hand. We soon began to pull the 
Thistle back. 
As we crossed Hussey's Sound the wind came more 
S.E. so that we were able to ease our sheets a good 
bit. As Ave drew up on the Thistle she held well to 
Aveather of her course and inside of black buoy number 
eleven, north of Long Island. I suppose the idea was 
to drive us off and make us attempt to force a lee 
passage, but it was no go. We forged up on her wea- 
ther quarter, hung there a moment and then by rous- 
ing in our mainsheet jumped into her wind and walked 
ahead. After that we drew steadily away from her. 
Our course was about N.E. by E. along the norther- 
ly or inner side of Long Island for two miles, leav- 
ing the buoys on the Channel Rocks to port. This 
brought us to Chandler's Cove, a pretty bight formed 
by Little and Great Chebeag and Long islands. 
There are ten fathoms in the coA'e and as it is nearly 
landlocked it makes a fine young harbor — three quar- 
ters of a mile in diameter. Entering the cove we 
pinned in our sheets and fetched through on the star- 
board tack, leaving Deer Point buoy iust to port. 
Then eased aAvay again and ran along E.N.E. up be- 
tween the Great Chebeag and Hope Island. This 
passage is less than three-eighths of a mile wide. We 
had a slight head tide and the Avind was extremely 
dainty, but by hugging the Hope Island side Ave got 
over the bottom at a decent gait. We invariably found 
more air close to the lee shore of those islands than 
there was two hundred yards out. 
Just beyond Hope Avas a smaller island which we knew 
from its look must be Sandy Island before we even 
looked up its name. It is rather an oddity for that region 
as it has no trees or rocks upon it. To N.E. of this 
island is a black spar buoy which Ave left to starboard and 
hauling to E. y2 N. left Little Bang's I. to port and ran 
for the spar off Stave I. ledge. This reads like a chron- 
icle of islands — well so must any record of a trip in 
Casco Bay. They are so thick that you find it hard not 
to butt into one Avhile dodging another. 
Stave I. ledge runs off N.E. from the island of that 
name and typifies the striking geologic formation of the 
region — the islands are all comparatively long and narrow 
and extend in a N.E. and S.W. direction as regularly as 
if laid off with parallel rulers. When up with the spar 
buoy we hauled our Avind a bit and reached across Broad 
Sound for the end of Haskell Island — two and one-quar- 
ter miles away, S.E. by E. This reach Avas rather sIoav 
Avork, the breeze being in very delicate health. On our 
Avay over we passed inside of Eagle I., which is small, 
high, rocky and thickly Avooded and is owned by the 
Arctic enthusiast, Lieut. Peary, U. S. N. 
On reaching Haskell Island Ave found quite a gut be- 
tAveen it and Haddock Rock on the southwest and Little 
Mark I. on the southeast. The latter is treeless and is 
made prominent by a white-washed stone monument 
about thirty feet high. The gut Avas well buoyed, but we 
had to fight to get through against the current. After 
rounding the end of Haskell Ave started to cross the 
mouth of Merriconeag Sound, but the wind failed utterly, 
leaving us to slat gently on a very quiet sea. This was 
all very Avell for a while, but as it threatened to become 
monotonous I jumped into the dinghy at 2.15 and started 
a Avhite ash breeze. Once I got the Armorel started she 
towed nicely for half a mile when we picked up a light 
air, Avhich made off of Haskell's so ran up the sound 
to the easterly entrance to Pott's Harbor. This entrance 
is very crooked and is more or less of a tide race, but 
with a fair current and light breeze we worked through 
it nicely and anchored off the steamer landing, in four 
fathoms, at 3.20 P. M. Soon after we had laced the 
cover on the mainsail the breeze quit work for the day — 
Ave could see the Thistle becalmed out in Broad Sound 
all the rest of the afternoon. 
Pott's Harbor lies between Potts and Basin points 
Avhich extend hke arms from the shoulders of Harps- 
well Neck. It is protected from the open sea by Has- 
kell I., several ledges, the ThrUmb Cap, Upper Flag, 
Little Birch, and Horse islands. 
Went ashore with Albert to the Merriconeag House 
for dinner and found some southern acquaintances there, 
so took them aboard in the evening and showed thein 
the ship. 
Wednesday, July 30— A beautifully cl^^r, 900I day. 
Had a fine plunge before breakfast— the water was icy. 
After giving our friends a spin in the early forenoon 
we cleared at 10.30 with a rattling east wind. It: came 
along with some wicked puffs so that wholesail was 
perhaps a bit too much, but she lugged it, so we did not 
reef. She steered easily, even in the worst puffs, with 
just enough weather helm to make her handle well. We 
beat out the east way, with fair tide, in several short 
hitches— were thankful she was so quick in stays and 
so speedy in gathering way— in fact she never seemed to 
slow down, but shot around from one tack to the other 
as if eager to show her ability. 
ARMOREL. 
Reached down Merriconeag Sound to the red spar on 
Turnip I. ledge and theii flattening in gave her a good 
full for the climb to windward. Here the_ Armorel 
shoAved us Avhat a grand sea boat she is. The Avind across 
the current had kicked up a nasty, short, criss-cross sea; 
and as we had, as I have said, a bit too much sail she 
had her lee rail under. But she bucketed her way up 
the wind in fine shape, keeping her feet well, and going 
over the seas handsomely. Now and then she threw 
some spray aft to the cock-pit — not much — just enough 
to make it exhilarating. 
While we were working along I went forAvard to see 
that the anchor lashings were secure. We carried the 
hook always with stock in place and flat on deck, one 
arm erect and the other down over the bow— it fitted the 
curve of the stem quite well. A strop around the crown 
and stemhead held the anchor securely in place and 
the rode Avas led direct from the ring to the bitts and be- 
layed with two half hitches. Armorel Avas jumping con- 
siderable, so that while making sure that the strop was 
rroperly knotted I crouched on all fours, of course she 
could not resist the temptation to stick her nose through 
I ne green sea and wet me down. She did it and gaA'e me 
"fisherman's luck," but I was used to that. 
After a hitch out to sea Ave stood in towards Jaquish I. 
and then turned to Aveather in short hitches in to the 
Pond I. ledges, over to Saddleback, in to the Middle 
Ground, which was just awash, then over to Ragged 
Island. We Avere Avorking across the chart diagonally 
and somehow or other the islands were hard to place — 
it seemed as if we must be further to the S.E. than we 
really were — but by taking cross bearings we located 
oursehres aright. When Ragged 1. bore east, distant one- 
quarter of a mile, we tacked to port and starting our 
sheets laid her head N.E. by N. to run up betAveen Cedar 
Ledge and Blacksnake Ledge. The' name of the latter 
i.s particularly appropriate. Two Bush Ledge (really an 
island) and the Elm islands were left to starboard — this 
Avas the only proper course. 
We were now entering Quohog Bay — a sort of fjord, 
four and a half miles long and less than a half mile wide. 
Its head opens out into a most beautiful sheet of water 
with scA'eral little gems of islands and innumerable en- 
chanting little coves. Midway, and for about half its 
length, the bay is split into two passages by Pole Island 
and the north and south ledges. This island is narrow, 
thickly wooded, Avith very steep sides and is about sixty 
feet high. The passages on either side of it have an 
average breadth each of less than 250 yards. As the 
sides of the bay, like those of Pole I., are high the wind 
generally abandons its true direction and draws up or 
down the bay; it did so this time and Ave had to beat in. 
We A\'ent up the east channel and got a glimpse back of 
Yarmouth Island into Ridley's Cove, Avhich furnishes 
another entrance to the bay from the sea. 
After passing the north (Pole I.) ledge we left Centre 
and Snow's islands to port (turning sharp to starboard) 
and sloAvly Avorked up into a bight among some half 
dozen tiny islands, finally anchoring at 1.38 P. M. at a 
spot where the chart shows thirteen feet at mean low 
Avater. 
I had long heard the beauties of this place sung by my 
friends, but scarcely credited their poetic accounts of it. 
I had been a doubting Thomas until I saw the reality 
when I Qowld only sit and gape wonderstruck at the lan4' 
