This year's Cruise Guide is a bit of departure from the past — a reflection of how technology has greatly affected the art of sailing, cruising, and "going down east to Maine!" First there is gps geolocation, with digital electronic navigation charts and the many types of devices (chart plotters, tablet computers, smart phones) that put the most current and accurate data at the captain's fingertips. Add in digital quantum radar overlays on the navigation charts and it is really a whole new world — from even a decade ago. Add in Starlink and it is truly a wealth of knowledge and power at one's command that enables greater safety, ability to explore, and be the modern Magellan, Columbus, Cook, etc. on ones own ship.
Gone is the magic that occurred when navigating by dead reckoning in the dark or with limited visibility and the critical mark sought suddenly appears — sometimes almost exactly where it should have been.
Reduced but not gone is the mystery and adventure of exploring a new passage, coastline or harbor by following the visual cues (when the fog allowed you to see them). Wonder, magic, beauty combined with occasional heart-stopping surprises.
Today's captain has no excuse for not being in the know and navigating and exploring from the vast array of accurate information that can be called to one's view and fingertips.
All this means the long descriptive narratives from past guides have been overcome by ENC (electronic navigation charts) and communications technology. Thus as the Annual Cruise Fleet wends its way across the Penobscot and back, the general pathway is provided. Then it is up to the Captain and crew to exploit the navigation technology that should be aboard.
Another aspect is that much of the narrative description of logistics, meals, drinks, vessel management have been replaced with a series of information tables on the various topics. These can be searched, sorted, printed as is the reader's won't.
Cheers, Joe Rocchio
Dogsbody and FUGAMA
General Information
Registration Registration will be on Thursday, July 31, at the Boat House in Belfast. Navigation and Safety Navigational advice has been provided in the Cruise Book for Ports of Call for general purposes only. However, navigation shall remain in all cases the ultimate and individual responsibility of the skipper. The safety of each vessel at sea or in port is the sole and full-time responsibility of the skipper. At no time shall the skipper assume that anyone else has done or will do the navigation for him or her. Skipper’s Meeting A Skipper’s Meeting will be held at ???? on Thursday, July 31, just prior to the opening dinner. Skipper’s only, please. Name Tags Cruise Name Tags with magnetic strip attachments will be provided to participants at Registration. Remember, it is always a good practice for Corinthian Members to bring their name tags Event Tickets At Registration, Swans Island Sweet Chariot Music Festival and Camden Shakespeare Festival tickets will be handed out to full Cruise participants.
Fleet Communications All VHF announcements by the Cruise and Race Committees shall be made on VHF Ch. 68. Individual boats should also monitor and use this channel for contact with other fleet boats, but please switch to another channel after making contact. See cruise attendee list for cell phone and MMSI numbers for alternative communication. Daily radio announcements shall be made by the Cruise and Race Committees beginning at 0815 on Ch. 68 after morning colors. Emergency Services The U.S. Coast Guard monitors VHF Ch. 16 for emergencies. Skippers are encouraged to monitor VHF Ch. 16 while underway. Our Cruise Medical Officer is Richard Young (cell: 401-439-1082) aboard Tango Daily Routine 0800: Colors 0815: Radio announcements and Racing Results. All times for planned activities are subject to change at the discretion of the Cruise Chair, in conjunction with the Port Captains and Race Committee, and may be announced at any time of VHF Ch. 68 while in port. Please share news of announcements with your fellow Corinthians. See Cruise Order of the Day for more details. Harbor Starts The Corinthian’s tradition has been to leave a Port of Call in parade fashion, led by either the Master, Past Master or the Cruise Committee Chairman whose boat will be flying a large Corinthian flag, in which is referred to as a Harbor Start. Harbor Starts and times will be announced during morning radio announcements. Rafting Rafting is permitted wherever allowed by local authorities. When rafting, the boat approaching traditionally provides the lines and fenders. The boat to which one rafts must make an offer to raft to the rafting vessel. Do not assume. Flag Etiquette Colors are at 0800 at which time the Ensign will be displayed. Colors are to be struck at sunset each evening. Etiquette is to fly the Corinthians flag from the truck or starboard spreader of the foremost mast of sailing vessels, and from either the truck or bow staff of power boats. Do not fly the flag beneath a radar reflector as that can be mistaken for a distress signal. Flag police have been known to attend Corinthian cruises, and any penalty shall be appropriately strict. For the Cruise, it is permitted to fly your Ensign while racing. Dress Ship Dress Ship shall occur, weather permitting, in Swans Island. The traditional sequence of alternating letter flags and number pennants is as follow: Starting from forward, AB2, UJ1, KE3, GH6, IV5, FL4, DM7, PO Third Repeater, RN First Repeater, ST Zero, C X 9, WQ8, ZYZ Second Repeater. Ensigns, burgees, private signals and flag officer flags shall not be included among the hoist of code flags and pennants, but shall be flown as provided by etiquette. First Timers and Guests The Corinthians have a time-honored tradition of welcoming new cruisers. Please do not hesitate to introduce yourselves, join a raft or ask a question. First Timer’s reception will be held in Billings Cove. Dress attire for Onshore Activities
Opening Dinner: Smart Cruising Casual
Wooden Boat School: Cruising Attire
Castine: Cruising Attire
Tenant’s Harbor: Cruising Attire
Final Dinner: Sport Coat and Tie/Cocktail Attire
No Discharge Zones Rockland and Boothbay Harbor are No Discharge Areas (NDA). In an NDA, treated and untreated discharges from marine toilets are prohibited. To ensure compliance, boaters must modify their heads to prevent discharge. Boaters with a Type I or II marine sanitation device (MSD) must disable same:
Close the seacock (or Y-valve) and remove the handle.
Fix the seacock in a closed position with a padlock on non-releasable wire tie.
Boaters with a Type III MSD (holding tank) must:
Direct all sewage to the holding tank for later disposal at a pump out station or by a pump out boat.
Close and lock each valve leading to an overboard discharge with a padlock or non-releasable wire tie.
Trash Please follow appropriate trash disposal requirements and utilize trash containers onshore. Thank you for keeping Maine and its waters clean! The Nothing Award At the closing dinner of The Corinthians’ annual cruise, the Nothing Award is bestowed upon the skipper who has, while on the cruise, performed some observable and notable malfeasance of seamanship or navigation about which it is best to remember nothing. The award itself is a large, ungainly and heavy broken-down ship’s searchlight. The Something Award or Annual Cruise Award of Merit This award is not to forget those who reached out and helped their fellow sailors in times of need. The award, first given in 2022, was conceived to balance recognition of malfeasance with acknowledging those who offered aid, kindness and altruism. The award is a shadowbox displaying a piece of driftwood etched with The Corinthians iconic “Old Salt” sitting on a piling. The Race Cruise Dinghy Race Trophy The Race Cruise Dinghy Race Trophy is a mahogany sailboard rudder suitably finished and emblazoned with the Corinthian flag. First awarded in 1996, it is presented to the overall winner of the dinghy races held during the annual Corinthian cruise. Listen to morning announcements for rules. ?????? is our planned venue for the Dinghy Race Trophy. The Salty Pot Award The Salty Pot Award is a chef’s pot and is awarded for the best “offshore” recipe. A winning recipe is one which yields excellent results and is judged to be relatively easy to prepare in the galley while at sea in what could be described as adverse conditions. The contest is scheduled for the Abel’s Boatyard shed. Listen to the morning announcements for additional information.
