Where did we end up Saturday night?

Before I went to bed Friday night, I studied every weather report I could find, and none had anything good to say about the weekend.

And the Sunday wind gust forecast on WindPredict looked particularly daunting.

I texted Mitchell – the Dockmaster at Marina Bay, and asked him if we could ride out the storm there. He said, “Absolutely,” and I went to bed, knowing I had a great option.

We had a reservation in Portsmouth, NH, and a request for Kennebunkport, ME. Hence, I had no idea where we’d end up.

I woke up to fresh new Small Craft Warnings that began at 3:44 AM and extended through 4:00 PM on Sunday. Then I stuck my head outside, and there was very little wind.

Mrs. Horne woke up unusually early, around 6:00, and asked for the plan. I told her about the weather and the options, and she said, “Wake up, Peter, and let’s go now.”

Knowing we could always return to Marina Bay if the 75-mile run proved uncomfortable, we departed around 7:00 AM.

The wind was blowing out the south, and Massachusetts Bay was actually decent.

At this point, I really wanted to get to Kennebunkport “while the getting was good” and avoid the 40-knot gales predicted for Sunday. As we rounded Rockport, we all started calling Kennebunkport, trying to confirm a slip for the night.

Portsmouth and Kennebunkport were both Northwest of Rockport but 25 miles apart. After running along at 30 MPH for fifteen minutes, I had to decide which heading to follow. I chose Portsmouth, and about ten minutes later, Mrs. Horne got through to Kennebunkport and confirmed that the only slip big enough for Amazing Grace was already taken.

We passed the breakwater at Wentworth-By-The-Sea at 9:45 AM and entered our port for the night.

We were just settling in when I noticed two men in a RIB circling Amazing Grace and taking photos. I went out and introduced myself.

It turns out they have a Maritimo M55 on order for 2025 delivery. I’m also aware of someone in Onset ordering a Maritimo. They are moving up from a 50’ Riviera, which makes perfect sense.

The enclosed flybridge is ideal for cruising New England; it’s just a matter of time before we see Maritimos everywhere.

SIDEBAR: Safe Harbor Marinas

We never planned to join Safe Harbor, but once we realized Amazing Grace was too big for Mattapoisett Boatyard, we’re so happy we did.

Our slip in Onset does cost 60% more than Brandt Cove, but with all the cruising we do, I anticipate saving more than the cost of the slip in free nights at Safe Harbor Marinas and $3/gallon diesel.

On top of that, Safe Harbor Marinas are usually the best-run marinas in any given port. Wentworth-By-The-Sea is one of dockwa’s “Elite Fleet“ marinas and it shows.

Wentworth-By-The-Sea is set in a beautiful little Cove, and it has three seaside eateries, but it’s a bit of a haul to downtown Portsmouth. As we were tying up, the dockhand mentioned to Mrs. Horne that they had loaner cars we coukd use.

After signing their forms, they gave Mrs. Horne the keys to a brand-new Chevy Traverse.

This feature alone will bring us back to Wentworth-By-The-Sea again soon!

Portsmouth New Hampshire

With the 7:00 departure, we’d skipped breakfast, and thus, we were on the verge of becoming Hangry when we parked downtown. I had scoped out The Wilder Gastropub as a good spot for lunch.

Unfortunately, like many restaurants lately, they only offer brunch on Saturdays. After a quick review of the menu, we asked the bartender to recommend another restaurant with a bigger menu, and she said, “Surf.”

Surf was down by the waterfront and a short walk, so off we went.

The Surf Restaurant

Surf was a great suggestion with an iconic vibe, great food, and bartenders who love their jobs.

The menu at the Surf is an extensive offering that includes seaside classics and dishes you won’t find anywhere else.

Mrs. Horne ordered the Scallops.

The menu doesn’t accurately describe this fabulous dish. The scallops were nicely seared, not sauteed. Four large scallops for $19 is quite a bargain, but the flavor profile and toasted ciabatta made this dish a home run.

So many enticing dishes were on the menu that it took me a while to select a very shareable combo. I went with the Crispy Dragon Shrimp.

This could easily be called Boom Boom Shrimp: superb spicy Asian flavors, good-sized crispy shrimp, and all for $15.

I also ordered Crispy Green Beans.

The dip was great, but the breading was a little heavy. Everyone shared and emptied the plate.

Peter opted for another unique dish – the Pastrami Smoked Salmon BLT.

Pastrami Smoked Salmon is one of the House Specialties. It tastes exactly as you’d expect. I’d love to try just the salmon with some charred bread.

After lunch, we visited my favorite shop in Portsmouth – Attezzi. I wrote about it the last time we were here in 2022.

It has excellent shopping for kitchen accessories, but the food-sampling displays are beyond belief.

Here’s a brief video I shot Saturday illustrating some of the sampling stations.

NOTE TO SELF: Visit Attrezzi before lunch next time!

The forecast was originally for a decent day on Saturday and severe storms on Sunday, but by 2:00, the weather was already deteriorating to cold and rain.

Thus movie time…

Maritimo included an exterior black shade with the boat, but taking off, cleaning, and storing was a pain. It also let a lot of sunlight in on a sunny day.

Lauren, at Safe Harbor Plymouth, found a great guy named Marco who fabricated five blackout panels that effectively convert the salon to a media room. If you’re interested and boat around New England, write me for Marco’s contact information.

Latitudes at Wentworth-By-The-Sea

Around 6:30, the movie ended, and it was time to forage for dinner. The weather was just miserable enough to discourage a walk to pick up the courtesy car or even a walk up the hill to Salt.

We’ve walked by Latitudes many times, and Saturday night was a perfect time to try it out.

It’s primarily an alfresco umbrella-style eatery but actually has enough inside seating to justify operating on a lousy night.

We sat at the bar (obviously) and were served by a great bartender who turned to be friends with our lunch bartender at Surf.

Considering the short walk back to the boat, the food was above average and perfect.

Tomorrow – Running Downeast