used to be marked with a spindle, but it’s been makes a 90-degree turn to the left (east) into Goose knocked down. When the current is strong, this section Rock Passage. But first you have to make Nun #4 can get your adrenaline running. Some of the buoys (leave to port going east), which marks a long, nasty here have flotation collars around them to prevent ledge that covers over at high water. them from being sucked comThe other end of Goose Rock pletely under. Passage puts you into the A few hundred yards farther, Sheepscot River, where rocks, the river opens up into Hockoledges, and other dangers are mock Bay, a scenic part of the numerous but well-marked. estuary. This is where it really Once across the river, we made shoals at low tide, and you need for Townsend Gut, the second to follow the marks and stay in leg of the Inside Passage. There the channel. At the eastern side are several ways to enter, but I of the bay you can go north up always go straight across and the Back River, which takes you split nuns #10 and #12 at Hardup to Wiscasset. But it’s ing Ledge, then turn northward Photo by Joel Gleason marked only with unreliable for a few hundred yards beprivate buoys, and you need to After topping off at the Carousel Marina fuel tween Spectacle Island and Isle watch your depthfinder and dock, Muscobe slipped across the harbor to the of Springs. From there, we make plotter to remain afloat. We Boothbay Harbor Yacht to relax in her cockpit. a turn south into the Gut, a couturned south at this point, ple of hundred yards beyond. which brought us to Lower Hell Gate. There’s plenty Here again, you must slip in between a green day of water if you stay away from the shore, but ledges mark, and a nun, which marks yet another treacherextend outward just under the surface, which create ous ledge. whirlpools and foam. There are so many delightful and scenic parts of After this, things widen up, but the current is still Maine, but this is definitely one of my favorites. strong, and many lobster buoys are dragged below the Townsend Gut isn’t very long, but it’s beautiful, with surface. At the southern end of Knubble Bay, the river granite ledges topped with spruce and pines lining the
Winter storage, repair & refit Rumery's wants to store your boat (inside or outside) next winter. Let us help you upgrade your engine, systems or electronics. Is it time to replace outdated safety equipment or renew your sanitation systems? Maybe you should install LED lighting and improve your charging system. Rumery's is located within sight of the Amtrak DOWNEASTER station so you can get your crew back to Boston or New York with ease. Call us to reserve space for the fall, and discuss your projects.
RUMERY’S BOAT YARD Biddeford, Maine 04005 • (207) 282-0408 www.rumerys.com CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION, RESTORATION & STORAGE 32 Points East August 2012
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