Solo Sailing - Nova Scotia to Portland, Maine | Fog, 35-Knot Squalls & 190 NM of Fast Sailing

Solo sailing from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, to Portland, Maine—approximately 190 nautical miles across the Gulf of Maine. I departed Yarmouth in the cold and fog, planning a relatively peaceful overnight passage. Mirage initially sailed comfortably at around six knots, but as the wind increased, she accelerated to eight and sometimes nine knots. The fog came and went throughout the passage, and during the night, the wind briefly eased enough for me to bring out the Code 0. By morning, everything had changed. Thick fog returned, the wind climbed above 30 knots, and a series of powerful squalls swept across the Gulf of Maine. With a reefed mainsail and staysail, Mirage continued sailing beautifully at nearly nine knots—even as the wind reached 35 knots and waves washed over the bow. Cold, wet, foggy, windy—and absolutely magnificent sailing! After approximately 190 nautical miles, I reached the rocky shores near Portland and anchored in sheltered Hussey Sound. From there, I moved to one of the nicest marinas I’ve ever visited, explored Portland, and celebrated the passage at a fantastic raw seafood bar. There was also one unwelcome surprise: Mirage’s bow-thruster motor seized and had to be replaced. Fortunately, a new motor was quickly found—and soon everything was working again. What an adventure. Portland, Maine, was the perfect ending to an unforgettable passage! Chapters: 00:00 Leaving Yarmouth, Nova Scotia 01:39 180 miles to Maine 02:03 Sailing through fog 03:47 The wind begins to build 06:01 Dinner aboard Mirage 07:55 Code 0 sailing at night 08:47 Five in the morning 09:25 Fog and approaching squalls 10:03 Reefed sails and 30-knot winds 10:46 Crossing the Gulf of Maine 12:52 Waves over the bow 13:32 Nearly nine knots 16:26 Wind reaches 35 knots 17:04 Halfway Rock lighthouse 18:14 Arriving near Portland 18:36 Passage completed—190 nautical miles 19:56 Bow-thruster failure 20:21 A beautiful Portland marina 21:34 The replacement bow thruster arrives #SoloSailing #Sailing #NovaScotia #PortlandMaine #GulfOfMaine #Amel50 #SailingMirage