Several times a year we need to pass through the swing bridge that joins Southport Island and West Boothbay in our Friendship sloop. The water the bridge spans is narrow and is characterized by strong tidal currents at all times other than slack at absolute low and absolute high. The bridge opens on the half hour by request via VHF on channel 09. If you time your passage poorly you can have an interesting time trying to hold your position while maneuvering to stay clear of the many lobster-pot-buoys. Passing through is always a little nerve-racking, mostly because the timing can be even further complicated by other boat traffic in confined waters.
On two occasions we have passed through the bridge in our Iain Oughtred designed Penny Fee tender, once last spring, and once this fall. Last spring when we passed through we rowed under the bridge while it was closed and with a favorable tide so that we could avoid most of the problems listed above, this fall our passage was a bit more dramatic.
The yard where we launch and haul out our Friendship is on one side of the bridge, our summer mooring and the ramp we use to haul out the Penny Fee is on the other.
In the third week of September we went though the bridge one way in the Friendship towing the Penny Fee, we put the Friendship on a mooring at the yard where she was to be hauled later in the week, we then stepped the mast and set the sail on the Penny Fee to sail back to the bridge where we planned to un-step the mast and row under it.
We had a fantastic sail passing near a 1926 Herreshoff racing machine as she set sail, we entered the Townsend Gut just as the tide started to turn in our favor and with a following wind fairly flew down the channel.
As we drew near the bridge we started to look for an empty mooring we could grab to make striking the sail and unstepping the mast easier. There was an empty mooring quite near the bridge and we headed for it, as we were about to pick up the mooring, I looked at my watch and noticed that the bridge was due to open any minute. It was only at this point that we realized that the two nearby powerboats were holding their position so that they could pass through on the opening.
In a snap decision, we did not pick up the mooring but tacked instead and made our way across the current to where the first powerboat waited, crossing their stern we asked if they minded us sailing through the bridge, and they graciously and enthusiastically urged us on.
Once again we turned downwind towards the bridge, which had begun to swing, but was not yet open. The current is quite strong just under the bridge and despite spilling wind from the sail we raced through the channel towards the place where, we hoped, the bridge would open momentarily. The sense of possible mishap was heightened by the fact that we had sailed out of the sunlight and into the dark shadow of the bridge. The gap appeared when we were only a few boat-lengths away and we squeaked through at a pretty good clip accompanied by a loud cheering compliment from the bridge keeper. The moment was euphoric, and fun, a momentary window had opened and an opportunity appeared with no warning and with no time for worry or second-guessing and we both saw that opportunity and seized on it. Luck certainly contributed much to our timing, the thrill and the unexpected nature of the adventure counteracted the sadness that we might have normally felt since this was technically the last day for us on the water.
We relived that passage over and over again on the drive home, a great way to end the season.
Dovetails 
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