MY FAVORITE HARBOR:  INNER SEAL BAY, VINALHAVEN ISLAND, MAINE

Written by Michael Benjamin, Exodus.  Photo credits:  Ronna Benjamin

Ronna and I have been cruising Maine aboard SV Exodus for well over a dozen seasons and in our view, it is one of the world’s best places to cruise - once you embrace the ever-present lobster pots and fog as a charming part of the experience!  What is truly amazing about this area is that despite all the time we have been exploring its wonderful anchorages, we still find new places to explore.  The coastline is only 230 miles long, but if one accounts for all its bays, inlets, and offshore islands, Maine has approximately 3,500 miles of coastline! 

Our absolute favorite place to anchor (so far) is Inner Seal Bay on the eastern coast of Vinalhaven Island.  The route into the anchorage, past outer Seal Bay, is narrow in parts but there is deep water all the way and the charts are clearly marked.   Once you make it all the way in, our special spot is located just east of one of the small inner islands at 44 5.193N 68 48.728W in about 19 feet of water, with excellent holding (see the above chart marked with the anchor icon.)  It can get crowded, but we have visited many times mid-week when we had the place to ourselves.

Once inside, you will likely see lots of seals (especially at low tide when they sun their bodies on the rocks) and if you are fortunate, an osprey or two.  Inner Seal Bay is the best of Maine, a quintessential anchorage with calm protected water, seaweed covered rocks, exposed granite, ubiquitous pine and spruce trees, and amazingly, very few lobster pots!

What's your favorite harbor?  Email [email protected]