This story was originally published in August 2023.

A paddling trip to Islesboro begins with a 3-mile open water crossing of West Penobscot Bay. During a prior outing, I was part of a group that encountered gusty winds and rough seas when we returned from the island. So planning a cruise there entails careful advance analysis of the weather, particularly winds.

After watching the weather for several days, I identified an early August day with light winds predicted throughout. Warm temperatures and sunny skies made the forecast particularly appealing.

I had a glowing forecast but still needed to recruit some paddling companions. An email announcement with my outdoor club, Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society, resulted in three interested boaters.

Two of the prospective participants, Bud G

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