Conference unifix::sailing

See the Coast Pilot. There are monthly weather tables tucked in the 
back. 

Having managed to sail in Maine at least briefly each of the last eleven 
summers ..... I far prefer sailing in Maine in September. The days are 
still warm, though the nights can be cool. The winds are much better, 
and the fog much less. You can easily get an entire week of fog and calm 
in July. In September the fogs are much briefer. Even better, there are 
far, far fewer yachts on the coast in September and the anchorages are 
uncrowded. 

Sailing back west from Maine can be a bit tiresome if you daysail back. 
It is three or four long daysails from Camden to Marblehead. Far better 
to make an overnight passage of 24 to 30 hours. Yes, the winds tend to 
be southwest, but they're often enough westerly that much beating isn't 
required. The really brisk winds tend to be northwest. Last September we
raised the sails on starboard tack at the entrance to New Harbor, set
the windvane, and relaxed. As we cleared Seguin Island the wind began to
veer west to northwest. By the time the wind finally died just off Cape
Ann we hadn't tacked once nor reset the windvane. Unusual, yes, but
nice. 

    I've kept a boat in the greater Portland, Me. area (Handy Boat in
    Casco Bay lately) and spend as much time between May and November
    there as possible. The weather is variable at best. The coast pilot
    may have statistics but it's a little like the guy with his head
    in the oven and his feet in the freezer - on the average he's quite
    comfortable. 
    
    I've taken cruises downeast in July and had two glorious weeks with
    no dense fog and I've spent a week in an anchorage unable to see
    10 yards! Personally, I think crusing Maine is worth the risk. The
    weather does tend to be a bit cooler and more foggy than the south
    Ma. coast but it's not down to zero very often. From Late June to
    late August you will frequently find a sea breeze from the south/south
    east developing inshore. Off shore the prevailing is south west.
    
    I wouldn't try daysailing back down south, it's not a very wise
    or safe thing to do unless you commit to using the iron spinnaker
    and maintaining a schedule, you don't want to enter most harbors
    between Portland and Cape Ann after dark especially if it's foggy!
    Much better to do an over nighter from the Portland area (Portland
    LNB is a good departure point) to Marblehead or so.
    
    I agree with Alan that September is a great month in Maine although
    it can be cold (not cool) at night. The weather systems tend to
    move faster at that time of year, the water is at its warmest and
    most of the tourists are gone but there are still no promises on
    the weather!
    
    I only know that once you cruise the Maine coast you'll be back.
    If you get into Handy Boat at Falmouth Foreside stop by the Sea
    Walker (a Sabre 30) and say hello!

Here's a third vote for September, if you like brisker sailing and aren't 
put off by a chill in the air perhaps.

There's a big summer fog bank built up offshore by warm moist air cooled
over the Labrador Current.  When the winds blow onshore, as they tend to
in summer months as the land heats up, the fog rolls in.  From some of the
coastal mountaintops I've watched it actually move right in, from NE
horizon to SW horizon, and envelop the shore and coastal waters.  Back and 
forth it can go, day after day, as the daily onshore-offshore cycle repeats
itself. 

Sometimes, if you're up in the bays or rivers, it evaporates somewhat
passing over warmer offshore and bay islands.  If conditions seemed likely
to produce fog that day (or week -- this kind of phenomenon could last for
many days in a row), I might prefer to do the Way Inshore Passage, or some 
of the many rivers.  For solitude and navigating fun (seriously!), shoot
the mouths of the bays.  

J.

    
    According to "The Yachtsman's Weather Manual":
    
    (All data for the vicinity of Bar Harbor)
    
    Month Water Calm %Fog   Wind Direction and Velocity (Force)
    			   N     NE    E     SE    S     SW    W     NW
    June  55F   6%   ~20%  7%/3  6%/3  7%/3  8%/2  18%/3 25%/3 17%/3 8%/3
    July  63F   6%   ~22%  8 /3  6 /3  4 /2  8 /2  18 /3 30 /3 13 /3 7/ 3  
    Aug   ~62F  9%   ~12%  11/3  13/3  6 /2  7 /2  12 /3 21 /3 10 /3 11/3
    Sep   ~62F  5%   ~10%  16/4  13/3  9 /3  7 /3  11 /3 13 /3 11 /4 15/4 
    Oct   48F   4%   ~11%  12/4  10/4  7 /3  10/3  10 /3 16 /3 17 /4 16/4
                                              
    
    Also, Gale force winds occur with the following frequency:
    
    June  2%
    July  1%
    Aug   2%
    Sep   3%
    Oct   5%
    
    In all months the not-too-offshore current follows the coast in
    a South-Southwesterly direction, although the drawings that this
    information is taken from is rather coarse and doesn't indicate
    current velocities.
    
       - Jim
    

re .4:

The probability of gale force winds is understated. NOAA covers the 
entire Maine coast with a single forecast. The actual winds can vary 
quite significantly -- both much higher and much lower -- over small 
distances and short time periods. Some of this is due to local 
topography, of course, but it does make for interesting sailing. One 
needs to be ready for shifts and gusts.

An example: Last September we sailed across East Penobscot Bay in 25 to 
35 knot winds. In the Fox Island Thorofare the wind was 5 to 10 knots 
with the odd 15 to 20 knot gust as we sailed through. On West Penobscot
Bay the wind was blowing straight down the bay. In the center of the bay
the wind was 30 to 40 knots gusting 50 to 55 knots. At the same time
Rockland was reporting 15 to 20 knot winds. At least it wasn't all that 
rough due to the short fetch. (For those of you unfamiliar with Maine:
the distance from Rockland to the western entrance to the Fox Island
Thorofare between North Haven and Vinalhaven Islands is about 8 miles.) 

    It's looking like the last week of August and first week of
    September is about optimal.
    
    My only experience is 25 years of the York Beach area, on the
    beach. My memories of July seem to be born out in the stastics.
    I recall day after day of fog, watching sails hang limp, and
    even on clear days, a haze that obscured Boon Island light and the 
    horizon.
    
    Don