The second guest blog

The voyage of Tomia from Boston to Boothbay (without the Captain!)
After an invitation to join Tomia we packed our shorts and flew into Boston only to see Celia briefly at Logan International airport on her way back to the UK for a week. For the first time for 2 years without the boss onboard, Tomia set sail north and really did behave very well and we soon realised that the 1st mate was quite competent and all would be well.
There is a lovely harbour at Marblehead where there are more moorings than cars on the M25 and If there is no mooring there are some lobster pots. But we had our contacts and on arrival the club launch met Tomia and guided us to our evening stop. Ashore we met Arthur who was to be the 4th member of the crew for the week and dinner with the Burns family overlooking the harbour at The Landing was a great treat, Patty and their daughters, Genevieve and Elizabeth’s company made for a real fun evening with Shepheards pie made with lamb, now there is a surprise! However, it was by now 2am (next day) UK time for us having left home the previous 6am.
A still night and soon after a mornings guided tour of this exquisite New England village and sailing centre, lunch at the yacht club, Tomia was rearing to move onto Gloucester Harbour where it rained.
A still night before we entered Annisquam river (where Tomia very carefully negotiated under a bridge with 6 inches clearance –(it may have been 6 feet but who knows) Emerging after an hour, despite Arthurs real expectation that we would be hard aground by now, into Ipswich Bay which was shrouded in a classic Maine fog. As we sailed away from the coast the fog cleared, sailing close to whales (that is the large sea going type rather than the west coast of Great Britain – a long debate on board about the size ranging from 12 feet to 60!) was an experience and we were now off to Kittery for a rendezvous with John & Els, a charming couple who not only invited us all to dinner but had purchased some bread and milk for us to take onboard. All these contacts along the coast, lots of eating out and with his constant craving for biscuits, why is Anthony not overweight you might ask?
A still night and we were off towards Biddeford Pool, And Arthur still had not introduced us to his rum punches - yet. Ashore we surveyed the real estate and purchased our first lobster tails for the evening’s aperitif, Arthur also secreted a bottle of Moet from the local store. It was the only bottle.
A still night and then we were off again, life was getting into a routine, Arthur and Suzanne were chief ‘Pot Watchers’, this may not seem too onerous but when you hear that Maine harvests some 75.6 million pounds (circa 34 thousand tonnes) of lobster annually there are a heck of a lot of pots out there, miles out to sea, in the approaches to harbours, in the anchorages, everywhere like little bobbing fishing floats always exactly in your path. Luckily by now we were proficient pot watchers and Tomia glided into Boothbay Harbour having averaged 6 knots today with gusts of force 7, but only after we took the ghoster down Celia.
A still night. Now why do I keep referring to these, well because most unusually at anchor the nights have been so quiet and peaceful, not a lap to be heard, no halyards tapping, no wind and absolute calm. Suzanne who is not the most enthusiastic sailor thought it is always like this and for our stay it was, every night. As we were at our destination (boothbayharbour.com) it was time for more lobster and a bit of whale watching the next day before Arthur finally delved into a well stocked alcohol cabinet and proceeded to mix the rum punches..… supper, oh, did we eat as well!
The coast line varies and is wonderfully dramatic, you need to be very aware, these rocks are unforgiving. Anthony and Tomia steered us through some interesting waters, under bridges, past many lighthouses and around the islands with confidence. Tomia is just the ticket, most comfortable as R&S were afforded the luxury of the captain’s cabin. Arthur was up front with his own escape hatch for midnight deck walkabouts and Ant seemed very happy in the forward side bunks, at least he seemed to sleep well. We all enjoyed every minute with just one sadness that Celia was not with us. But we so enjoyed Arthurs company and feel we now have new friends across the pond, like minded and great company. Apart from the Gloucester shower a fine breeze and sunshine accompanied us every day with Anthony so welcoming we could all see the pleasure and excitement which has been had on this journey beginning on the Deben in July 2008 and finishing when, well who knows, don’t think quite yet somehow.
Thank you for allowing us all to share a short section of your adventure and bon voyage.
Richard, Suzanne, hairdryer – Tomia team members and we have the t shirts to prove it.
p.s. Hilton Hotel, Boston eat your heart out, give us Tomia any day and much quieter.