From Portland, Maine to New York and back

New York - Hudson River

End of February is the time and we use the first weather window with plus degrees and upwind to half wind for our sailing start in 2025 with our friend Anke. Early in the morning we leave Portland. Fortunately, it gets light early and we can see the buoys of the lobster baskets clearly. This first leg is 74 NM long and we set sail defensively in the forecast wind. We reach Gloucester in Massachusetts after 12.5 hours and drop anchor.

Gloucester Old Port

There is an unforgettable experience awaiting us the next day: during our shore leave, we are invited to take part in a get-together with music. Instead of a bar, we find ourselves in a boat workshop - ‘Dory's Shop’, with tools, pictures, flags, sailing ship models and a wooden hull, reminiscent of many sailing stories. On the ceiling hangs the film poster from ‘The Perfect Storm’ and we learn that the film was filmed in Gloucester, among other places, and that Dory's Shop was also part of the set. On Saturday evenings, people meet here and play music together. Great conversations - some even in German - take place in a unique atmosphere and there are always musical interludes with guitars, a concertina and singing.

Geno`s Dory Workshop

It's going to be a very cold sailing day. The freezing spray brings some ice on deck, covering our deckhouse windows to windward and the anchor. It remains easy to sail and with sufficient wind we reach the Cape Cod Canal at the right depth. We drop anchor in Onset Bay after 10 hours. It is wonderfully warm below deck thanks to our diesel stove.

Long Island Sound

Once again, the next day we motor on to Newport in very cold weather. We are offered one of his jetties free of charge by the harbour master, as a strong south-westerly wind is forecast for the next few days. It's great to stay here for a few days. Given the moorings, buoy fields, restaurants, shops and summer houses that are still empty at the moment, we can only guess at the atmosphere here in summer. A wonderful cliff walk takes us past numerous magnificent villas. They are reminiscent of the Gilded Age.

Marble House, Newport, Rhode Island

Marble House

In the short summers on the east coast, the houses came alive with many guests and lively parties. We round off our stay with a visit to the sailing museum and a traditional sailing bar. The journey continues with a lot of wind and current (unfortunately also against us) to New London. Anchored without going ashore, the ferries pass us peacefully in the harbour. From Newport, we enjoy the industrial contrast with the honking of the Amtrak trains. The sound we only know from films. The next stages to New York are planned according to the current. Despite this, the wind continues to blow from the front. As there is no sign of the wind changing direction, we sail on anyway.

Liberty Anchorage

Another two anchorages are added and we reach the Statue of Liberty via the East River. There we anchor in marvellous conditions and are overwhelmed. In beautiful sunshine and at sunset we enjoy the scenery with a view over to Manhattan.

Hudson River on a sunny day

The following day we move to Hudson Point Marina in Jersey City. This is where we stay for the next three weeks. We first explore New York with Anke, then Gregor alone and finally with Traudi - Christine's mum. In New York there is a change of crew. Christine flies to Germany with Anke and picks up her mum, who will spend three weeks with us on the Aegir.

World Trade Center - Oculus

With the various means of transport in and around New York, we are able to take in many different impressions of this huge city and are always happy to return to quieter New Jersey in the evening. On the return journey to Portland, we set our sights on Port Washington, Port Jefferson, Mystic, Newport, Onset Bay and Gloucester. The exit from Port Jefferson in the morning is very bumpy with wind/wave against current. A short, heavy wave slows us down considerably and the waves crash violently onto the bow of the Aegir. Again, we are grateful for our rather large and solid ship.

Mystic Seaport Museum

Upon entering Mystic, we are pleased that the season has not yet started. In the narrow channel, we feel quite comfortable on our own. Two bridges open for us and we are the first sailors of the season to moor at the jetty in the Seaport Museum. What a great feeling to be moored in the middle of an open-air museum and to be there all alone in the evening. After Mystic, we continue on to Newport for a marvellous day of sailing. On arrival we really enjoy the unique 19 degrees and sunshine. Gregor takes part in the OCC annual event. Members note with appreciation that we are the only ones who have travelled by sailing boat. An excellent opportunity to network in real life.

Mystic Railway Bridge

Traudi and Christine explore Newport on the trolley bus and, of course, visit a Vanderbilt mansion. Following Newport, Onset Bay is again on the programme as an anchorage and Christine finally goes into the water again. Outside temperature 5 degrees and water 8.6 degrees. Not quite as hardened as before, it remains a short pleasure. A long trip follows, into the night, to Gloucester. Now, in contrast to our visit in March, there are lots of fishing boats out and about at all times of the day and night. In the sleet, we turn on the stove again and make ourselves comfortable on board.

Harbor Anchorage in Gloucester, Massachusetts

There we meet Steve and Sarah from SY Snowbear again in the Rumbline Bar and enjoy an evening of live music. Unfortunately, we miss the dolphins that strayed into Gloucester harbour that very day. Afterwards, we only read about it in the media. In calm conditions, we motor sail to Maine. The lobster spots were almost missed - ha, ha. There are plenty of them and luckily they are clearly visible, initially even on the radar in calm seas.

Portland, Maine - Diamond Island

Anchoring off Long Island in Portland before heading back into the city to a city harbour. Snowfall on arrival - April, April! With so many lobster spots, we also have a lobster on the table. Traudi's trip is slowly coming to an end. Once again we move to the Portland Yachtservice boatyard. While Gregor flies back to Germany with Traudi, Christine stays on board. Some boat work is on the programme until mid-May. Then we will meet our next visitor in Boston and continue our journey with a new crew to Halifax, Canada.