September 8, 2025 Exploring a few areas around Mt. Desert Island

Monday Sept. 8, 2025 Northeast Harbor to the Wooden Boat School 34 miles and 3.5 hours

Sort of a slow start and short day. Time for the required pumpout but had to wait for the employees to arrive. Just started their new fall hours today... 9am instead of 7am. Once that was done, we decided to take a detour up Somes Sound. This is referred to as America's Fjord. I guess after seeing the Saguenay Fjord in Canada we were a bit underwhelmed.

Started the day with boats swinging in all directions
and us close quarters stern to stern again

The view up Somes Sound and the fjord

Deep 260' water lined with granite cliffs

What continues to overwhelm us are the sheer number of lobster traps and lobstermen. Couple that with the still active sailing clubs and the open waters suddenly become a maze to work through. We had opted to run from the flybridge thinking it would give us the best unobstructed view of the fjord. The viewing was better, but it sure got cold up there with a little breeze and low 60's temperatures.

Fleet of sailboats headed out across our path - or perhaps us across their path

Typical Downeast lobster boats around Penobscot Bay working their traps

Made our way across Blue Hill Bay and around to the Wooden Boat School. Grabbed a mooring ball, dropped the dingy and went exploring at the school. Was told it's a school for retired guys with too much time on their hands who like small old wood boats. And that's pretty much the demographics we saw. Currently working on two new wood boats and refurbishing several others. Nice fleet of small wooden sailboats out in the moorings. Anchorage is a bit exposed but light and variable winds made it a fine stopover for a night.