The Republican journal., 1892-01-28
Off Cape Elizabeth.
BY DIR. W. II. WINSLOW.
From Forest and Stream. |

small yacht to get in by a run up OF down
the coast than Cape Elizabeth. The larg-
er craft generally give it the go by and
sail from the Shoals or New Castle to
Booth Bay, or in the reverse order, in a
! days run; but little fellows like to keep
near the shore, it is too long run for one
day. and Portland is made for a nights
rest and good harbor, and it is often
made then with difficulty and danger. |
have myself sailed past it in small yacht
seven times, picking the kindest and most
| favorable weather in the morning and get
ting into a peck of trouble before night.
| | charged members of the crew so often
| that, being myself the only one not charg-
ed, | concluded | must be the Jonah, but
| lsked being swallowed by a whale in
stead of going ashore, and therefore,
| have something to write about.
| We were bound east and ran up along
the coast as far as Richmond Island with
a moderate Southwestern, but, as sunset
drew near the wind hauled around more
and more to the north until we had to
trim in sheets fiat, off the Cape. The sun
set in wicked sky and the wind increas-
ed rapidly and, abreast of the lights, we
struck an ugly sea caused by the tide
. against lllc Will dlltl WENT p'NSl'Ill ti'tSl
at every jump. 1t was an awful strain up
on the gear and, with only jib and main
sail set | expected to carry away some
thing soon. With every plunge there was
a roll to leeward and the sea swept along
the lee rail a foot deep. My poor boys
were all sick and wretched. One lay
along the weather side, one aft on the
cockpit one below, all heads down and
stomachs in their throats. Jack asked if
we would live through it; Bert lifted his
eyes aloft occasionally and shuddered, my
man toward clung to the mast and jump
ed over the seas, and | closed my teeth
and worked the tiller painfully. 1t blew
harder and harder, a reef onght to have
been put in, but two of us were not able
to do it, and it was imperative to carry
the sail to get to windward and to get in
out of the gale. or be driven off to sea and
perhaps lost. So we plunged on until we
ran under Cushing's Island, into easier
water, then beat up the channel past Port
land Head, running great risk OF getting
ashore in the darkness, and anchored at 8
p NJ.
A hard gale blew all night, and over the
supper we cooked, we congratulated each
other and filled our empty stomachs. On
ly my man and | knew the great risk we
had run and the narrow escape we had
made from going to Davy Jones' locker.
/ Another time in company with some
smart yachts we sailed out OF Portland and
| away for Portsmouth. The sea was heavy
from a diving gale. the wind was light and
tide running into the halbor We all
worked out under the land putls and got
outside OF Trundy's Reef and abreast Of
tie lights. when it fell calm. the main
boom took charge. the vessels became un-
manageable and current and swell set us
all shoreward Kites We're set and boats
taken ahead with little effect. there SEEM
ed a magnetic attraction between the shore
and the Yacht and we rolled and drfted
steadily toward the breakers. Fortunate
lv we had stood off pretty we'll and We're
outside all the other craft and got the first
zephyrs of a southeast breeze which help
ed us off and finally down the coast to
Wood island at dark. So great was the
peril. that several large and elegant
schooner yachts were obliged to anchor
and pay out most of their cables to hold
themselves from slipwreck.
On another occasion We ran past the
cape. bound in the breeze wds moderate
from the southwest and a heavy sea rlin-
ming After passing Trundy Reef, we
had to jibe but. considering that too
| dangerous, | brought the Yacht to the wind,
tackled and payed off sheets. The plung
ing was severe and when the mainsail was
nearly out a terrific plunge and rise threw
the mast forward SO heavily that one back
STAY pulled a long bolt out of the rail and
both mast and runners broke their Ian
yards like ropeyarns. A tritie more strain
and the mast Noul,l have gone over the
bow.
Again we started south in September
and found a Southwestern outside when it
was northeast in the halbor. The sea was
rather heavy but we plunged on until past
Richmond Island and we'll into the light OF
Old Orchard. when the wind and sea in
creased and it became such hard strain
upon the yacht to Get to NinttWald that
we up helm and ran back before dark.
The next morning We lad the same
kind of work, GOT mad over the constant
opposition to our cruise south. and kept
at it until we reached Wood Island. The
sea was long, deep and heavy, indicating
a hard blow to the southeast. or else the
approach of one. and we wished to get as
far in as possible. We beat through quite
Il fleet of fishermen and coasters lying Just
inside Negro Island and anchored between
the monument and spindle. The jib was
down and we We're about lowering the
mainsail. when a breaker arose four feet
high and few feet from us and went
laundering in upon the beach. AS the
yacht settled down the heel just touched
bottom, and there was yet another hour S
ebb. The chart showed IL it, we drew
7-l-2ft, and it made us shiver to feel the
jar. Three of us, experienced sailors,
looked pale and frightened.
1--WE can never float hera, and shall be
swamped,' | shouted.
NO, let us get out while we can,' re-
piled Arey.
.'Heavens! look at that breaker starting
almost under our bilge,' said johnson.
''Stand by the jib halliards; run up the
anchor. Quick out with it, men, The
anchor was up in a minute, the iib hois-
ted, sheets to windward. ''Heavens. She
is on bottom now. No, she swings; she
moves, she is pointed outward, and is
safe!
We ran thro ugh the fleet, watched the
heavy breakers along shore, saw the sea
break upon Negro Island ledge, fathoms
below low tide, scanned the threatening
southeast SKY and started back for Port
land with free sheets. We passed through
tn, lmerous reefs off the Cape, having
made the bell bouy, We're almost upon Bul-
wark Shoal which broke in a mountain OF
foam under the faint light of the stars,
and ran into Portland about l0 p. NJ.
The next morning the wind was light