Keep your eyes open for the TV coverage or YouTube livestream. Not sure which will be available. https://www.americascup.com/

25. Dominican Republic 24. Culebra

1) Harpswell is built like an archipelago (because it is) Harpswell isn’t one town on one shoreline — it’s a neck + islands (Orr’s, Bailey, and a constellation of smaller ledges/isles) sitting right in the Casco Bay ecosystem. That geography is the culture: short hops, careful piloting, and a lot of “know your water.” 2) Cribstone Bridge: a bridge that thinks like a tideway Between Orr’s Island and Bailey Island is the famous Cribstone Bridge — built from granite “cribs” that let water push through instead of fighting it. It’s not just an engineering curiosity — it’s a reminder that in Maine you often design with water, not against it. 3) Halfway Rock Light: a lighthouse that tells the truth in its name Out in Casco Bay sits Halfway Rock Light — basically a lighthouse that says: “Yep… you’re out in it now. Time to navigate like you mean it.” For anyone who runs in and out of Portland / Casco Bay waters, it’s one of those aids that becomes a mental checkpoint more than just a light. 4) Giant’s Stairs: the sea’s stone staircase (and a seamanship metaphor) On Bailey Island, Giant’s Stairs is the classic Maine scene: granite “steps” carved by wave energy over time. It’s also a perfect metaphor for seamanship: the ocean doesn’t negotiate — it shapes the rules slowly, then enforces them instantly. 🧭 At The Helm challenge (Harpswell edition) Reply with ONE of these: What’s your rule for piloting island channels when tide/current and traffic get busy? What’s your “no-drama” approach to fog in Casco Bay—paper chart mindset, electronics discipline, speed, lookout? If you were bringing a friend through Harpswell for the first time, what do you point at and say: “This is where you learn judgment.” (Bridge? Light? Ledges? Tide?) Short answers welcome. Real answers preferred. Cribstone Bridge (Orr’s ↔ Bailey): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cribstone_Bridge Halfway Rock Light: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halfway_Rock_Lighthouse

If you’ve ever slipped into the Cataumet / Pocasset corner of Buzzards Bay, you know the feeling: sheltered water, quick access to open bay, and “quiet competence” everywhere you look. A few standout pieces of local nautical history worth knowing (and trading stories about): 1) The name tells you what it is Cataumet shows up in Wampanoag place-name references as meaning “at the ocean” / “landing place.” That’s not poetic fluff—this place has always been about arriving by water. 2) A lighthouse that gained importance overnight Wings Neck Light was first constructed in 1849 to warn and guide heavy marine traffic in Buzzards Bay. When the Cape Cod Canal opened in 1914, Wings Neck assumed an even more valuable role helping vessels line up and move safely through the bay toward the canal approaches. It was discontinued in 1945—and that “why was it expendable?” question is a great rabbit hole for lighthouse nerds. 3) A “before the Canal” artifact you can read like a mariner There’s a c.1901 Eldridge harbor chart that covers Cataumet / Wenaumet / Monument Beach / Onset—a snapshot of local navigation before the canal era reshaped routes and traffic patterns. 4) The strange-and-wonderful micro-harbor tale: Amrita Island In Squeteague Harbor, Amrita Island was purchased and developed in 1893 as a summer estate—complete with a stone bridge and an unusual history that later connects to animal welfare work. It’s classic Cape: tucked-away water + eccentric story + decades of layered use. 🧭 At The Helm challenge (quick + fun) If you know this area, answer one of these: What’s your “no-drama seamanship rule” when entering/working in small harbors like Cataumet/Squeteague? If Wings Neck Light could talk, what’s the one lesson it would teach about Buzzards Bay traffic and judgment? “Before the canal” thinking: what would you do differently navigating this region pre-1914 vs today? Drop your answer below—short is fine. Real stories > perfect stories. Wings Neck Light history: https://wingsnecklighthouse.org/history

The passagemaking bible updated to help you live your long-distance voyaging dreams First published in 1975, Robert Beebe's Voyaging Under Power revolutionized long-distance cruising, encouraging powerboaters to enjoy what was once exclusive to sailboats and their crews: crossing oceans to exotic, interesting, and beautiful places in comfort with a minimum of problems and expense. Now power-cruising couple Denis and Mary Umstot, whose interest in power voyaging was ignited by Beebe’s work, have updated Voyaging Under Power for the twenty-first century. The much anticipated Voyaging Under Power, Fourth Edition, includes Beebe's original wisdom and philosophy of passagemaking, as well as his groundbreaking thoughts on vessel stability and fuel monitoring. Fourteen new chapters provide insights into a range of additional topics vital for ocean passages and passagemakers, including: - Seaworthiness, stability, and other design concepts - Options for stabilizing passagemakers including paravanes, active and passive fins, and antiroll tanks - Selecting and understanding the critical systems for long-distance voyaging - A decision process for choosing a new boat or analyzing the suitability of a used boat - An examination of passagemaking models from Nordhavn, Kadey-Krogen, Seahorse, and Dashew, as well as the designs of Stephen Seaton, Michael Kasten, George Buehler, Dave Gerr, and others - Highlights of successful and proven passagemakers of the past, including examples from eleven builders and designers - First-hand accounts from passagemakers around the globe, including the Mediterranean, Black Sea, South America, South Pacific, Madagascar, and beyond - Tips on understanding and predicting weather and waves and what to do in a storm - Understanding offshore safety issues, including how to avoid trouble and cross oceans in comfort - Choosing and training crew as well as communication tips for a better cruising experience