Cozy Harbor in Southport is only a mile across the Sheepscot River. We decided to leave the big boat, and instead set up the sailing rig and sail the dinghy over to explore. Good thing as the harbor is indeed cozy, much smaller boats that we are used to normally.

We walked up to the main village, which consisted of a fire department, post office, gift store and general store. Not that we really needed anything, but the general store was pretty well provisioned so we grabbed a few things to take back with us. One thing I have to point out: you can be in the middle of nowhere Maine (and we’ve been to a few of these places now), come across a small general store, and find an amazing selection of wine. It keeps surprising me everywhere we go but I obviously have no complaints!

We hiked out to the beach, and would have loved to spend more time as we discovered trails that led over to Ebencock Harbor on the north side, but realized we were running out of time and the winds were starting to pipe up. We debated having a drink and appetizer at the main restaurant on the docks, but when Trip pointed out that it would be an exhilarating sail back (white caps starting to form), I realized alcohol and greasy food might not be a good way to start a sail.

It took us quite a long time to tack our way out of the harbor but once we hit the river I think we were across in 20 minutes – a cold and wet ride, but a lot of fun.

We got back to the boat to discover that the blessing of the fleet was going on in Five Islands that day and caught the tail end of the live band that they had performing on the docks. The boats that had been rafted to the docks began heading back out to their moorings. Except one, which crept up the docks. Next thing we knew a truck was being backed down to the dock, and tuna lifted by crane off the boat onto the truck, oohed and aahed by the crowds (and us from the boat), and whisked away. Judging by my professional opinion (multiple hours watching Wicked Tuna) it had to have been a $10,000 catch – so cool to see it brought in like that!