BEST ANCHORAGES IN PENOBSCOT BAY: Rockland, Hurricane, Vinalhaven, Pulpit, The Barreds

Penobscot Bay Maine best sailing anchorages exceeded our expectations! Maine boasts more than 4,600 islands, each with its own mystery, its own story. The question was which ones we’d have time to explore. With the help of the Cruising Club of America website and the Waterway Guide, we set our course. Rockland Hurricane Island Vinalhaven Pulpit Island The Barreds TIMELINE: 0:00 Introduction 0:30 Rockland Maine - Marina, Primo, Claws, Landings, Hamilton Marine 2:35 Hurricane Island Maine - Sea Scallop Research Farming, Granite Company Trails 6:47 Vinalhaven & Pulpit Island Maine - tranquility & lobsters! 10:10 Barred Islands Preserve Maine Rockland, called the biggest little city in Penobscot Bay, was a wonderful place to hide from the rain and fog. There were plenty of spots in the anchorage, but we took advantage of the marina slip we could get to wash the boat and make it easier to spend a little time ashore. https://guides.cruisingclub.org/harbor/rockland/ With twelve-foot tides pulling the shoreline back and forth, even stepping ashore felt like an adventure. For dinner we had quite the 5 star experience at Primo, a farm to table restaurant where they grow all the food and livestock with their staff of 60. Their 5 acre compound includes the restaurant, 2 greenhouses, over 200 laying chickens, 150 broiler chickens, 5 ducks, 15 pigs and 3 acres of vegetables. https://www.primorestaurant.com/ The next night, Landings offered laid-back dining with waves lapping just below us. " http://www.thelandingsrestaurant.com/ Last but not least, And finally — Claws. The holy grail of lobster & seafood shacks. Fresh. Locally sourced. Pure Maine Fun. https://clawsrocklandmaine.com/ Strolling through town was alive with energy. And of course, we made several trips to the Hamilton Marine store, for a cornucopia of boating supplies. https://hamiltonmarine.com/ Next up: Hurricane Island, where we toured the scallop experimental research facility, and hiked the islands historic trails. Hurricane Island was formerly the site of a Granite Company supporting hundreds of residents, then in the 1960s, an Outward Bound School, and now home to Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership, who conduct marine and island ecology summer courses and research. The breathtaking island trails led to rock ledges, granite cliffs, old settlement housing and panoramic views - even in the fog. Pick up a Maine Island Trail Association guide at the island’s north end facility. https://mita.org/trail/ https://guides.cruisingclub.org/harbor/hurricane-island/ On Vinalhaven and Pulpit Islands, we enjoyed wonderful Maine scenery, tranquility and of course lobsters. Long Cove is the safest anchorage, but you can use the day anchorages to explore these large islands. The Barred Islands Preserve were next, sandwiched in between Butter Island and Great Spruce Island. These gorgeous tiny islands were interesting to explore by dinghy, only occasionally seeing a summer house now and then - often at the highest point on the island for the most expansive views. “Pristine, private with a gentle sea breeze wafting through the anchorage, these islands are co-managed with the Nature Conservancy” https://guides.cruisingclub.org/harbor/barred-islands/ Although many people continue “down east” up to Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island, we did not. With the extensive fog and rain in 2023, the upcoming September wedding of my son, and plenty of places still to see on our journey south, we decided to head back. Our Next stops were Matinicus and Monhegan Islands. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCssGSdO6MiHtsHl7qdKlvmA https://www.youtube.com/channel/waterwayguide3670 https://www.youtube.com/channel/hurricane_island https://www.youtube.com/channel/maineislandtrail Audiio - KapKapMoode - Whispers-of-Change Audiio - James Spaite - Riverside - LadiesTobacco Audiio - Tambala - Extra Mild Cheddar Audiio - Daniel Jorgensen - On Sounded Sea - Above Us LINKS: SUBSCRIBE TO CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfh_pM48xnJ7dr4jTvt8cw?sub_confirmation=1 SUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL NEWSLETTER: https://bluedotvoyages.com/contact-us/ READ SAILING LOGS ON OUR WEB SITE: https://bluedotvoyages.com FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/bluedotvoyages.sailingpilar INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/bluedotvoyages.sailingpilar COMPLETE PLAYLIST: SAILING & CRUISING VIDEOS https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz8Z8h1MloaPq2o05r6wnJqaqyeABUKiu CATAMARAN MAINTENANCE VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz8Z8h1MloaOcpGajnaH0DPm1U0otTJtc Blue Dot Voyages is a Sailing Adventure Company. We are traveling the world our Leopard48 Sailing Catamaran PILAR. We produce travel videos and blogs and offer charter sailing experience trips in exotic places! Watch our videos and live vicariously through us! Then, schedule your adventure with us! Master Captain: Stephen Bell First Officer: Dawn Bell #catamaransailing #leopard48catamaran #sailing