The Eggemoggin Reach, which we affectionately call the “Egg McMuffin Reach”, is a narrow 10-mile stretch of water protected by the mainland on one side, and Deer Isle on the other. With its calm water, few lobster traps, and less fog than elsewhere, it’s a very popular place for sailing. The predominant wind offers a beam reach on most days when you can see vessels of all sorts, from traditional wood schooners to modern hi-tech catamarans transitting the Reach.
We left Camden for a liesurely 3.5 hour sail to Brooklin, passing under the 85 foot Deer Isle Bridge. Despite its 10 feet of clearance above the top of our mast, the optics from the deck always make it appear as if a demasting is imminent. No matter how many times you check navigational charts and other sources of information, it comes as a relief when you pass under this or any bridge with your mast still upright.
Brooklin is home to the Wooden Boat School and the Brooklin Boat Yard.
This was the last official stop of the Salty Dawgs Down East Rally. Since it’s our first cruise with them, I guess that makes us Salty Puppies. 7 boats anchored behind Torrey Island, just across the Reach from the town of Brooklin where we had a tour of the Brooklin Boat Yard. This employee-owned business counts approximately 30 team members specialized in naval architecture, mechanical engineering, carpentry, electronics, and many other skills enabling them to produce incredible, custom-built vessels for fishermen and cruisers alike. Eric Blake, vice president of new construction, walked us through the campus, showing us various ongoing projects, and introduced us to the team. It was fascinating to talk to chief designer, Will Sturdy, Don’t you think there’s something reassuring about having your boat designed by someone named “Sturdy”? This young man manipulates a combination of 3D computer-aided design tools, which he uses to iterate with clients multiple times to agree on every detail of a vessel, and traditional hand drawings, which are than used by the various shops to build the vessel.
The yard also offers hands-on experience to local youth, who can build wooden skiffs. Those skiffs, with names such as “Skiffy”, are docked at the yard and available for the public to take out for a row around the harbor.
The buildings in the yard are largely left open day and night, and a pickup truck is made available to visitors needing to run to the general store. No paperwork required!
The Salty Dawgs were invited to use the facility for a potluck dinner. Sandy made a delicious jumbalaya that was very popular. The Dawgs bid farewell after dinner, although those of us continuing to cruise in Maine greated a WhatsApp group and plan to stay in touch over the next weeks.
As new Mainers, we were delighted to hear how enchanted the Dawgs, mostly from the South or Mid-Atlantic, were with our adopted home state, many promising to return “every yeasr.” We hope to stay in touch with this nice group.
