Judy and I are happy to report that Bluewater arrived safely in Portland, ME, at 0030 Thursday, June 22. After taking a mooring for the night, we cleared U.S. Customs and Immigration at 0700 at a berth at the Maine State Pier, moved a few hundred yard away to take on fuel ($2.25/gal. including tax) at Vessel Services, and we're now berthed on the face dock at Portland Yacht Services just a few feet from Lion's Whelp, a custom schooner built in this yard for yacht owner Phineas Sprague. Lion's Whelp was our neighbor at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and the owner is a fellow CCA member. It's great to be back in the USA after an absence of seven months in the Caribbean and Bermuda. We plan to spend a few days here then move on towards Southwest Harbor. Box score on the trip is as follows: Miles from Bermuda: 745 NM Time underway: 111 hrs. Average RPMs: 1800 Average speed: 6.71 kts Main engine fuel burn: 555 gals. Genset fuel burn: 22 gals. Main engine mileage: 1.3 NMPG Total mileage: 1.2 NMPG Taking a look at the larger trip, from departure from Beaufort, North Carolina, in November, Bluewater has covered 5,300 nautical miles or an average of about 750 NM a month. That's certainly been enough to give the yacht and her systems a good workout, and we're returning with a lot more boat and system knowledge than we departed with. And we've had a really great time doing it! We're looking forward to summer in Maine--and to a lot more miles aboard this Nordhavn 47. Best regards, --Milt, Judy and Schipperke Katy -- Milt Baker Bluewater Nordhavn 47 #32 http://www.bluewaternav.com