Maine is the shorthanded epicenter

by Ronnie Simpson, SAIL magazine
“There are some heavy hitters here,” said Ed McCoy, my friend and frequent sailing partner.

“Agreed,” I replied. Since arriving about 30 minutes earlier at the backyard barbecue in Falmouth, Maine, just north of Portland, I had reconnected with an old friend and two-time Vendée Globe veteran, discussed emergency composite repair with a Class40 round-the-world racer, and listened in on a discussion about rounding Cape Horn in heavy weather. “I think only in Portland, Maine, and somewhere in France does a house party like this even exist,” I added.

My first arrival in Portland had been a year ago to pick up an old Open 50 called Sparrow and begin preparing for the Global Solo Challenge—a solo, nonstop, around-the-world race. I’d known about Maine’s reputation for unparalleled sailing and cruising; with more than 4,000 islands and a coastline longer than California’s, Maine is profoundly connected to the water. Whether heading offshore, hauling lobster traps, or commuting to a neighboring island, living in Maine and spending time on a boat tend to go hand in hand. – Full report