The anchorage itself is on the northeast side, between the arms of the H. It is bisected by a ledge. The western side features plenty of room and depth to anchor with good holding in mud. The eastern side is mainly filled with private moorings. Transient visitors often pick up these destination moorings but if you do, be ready to vacate should the owner arrive (don’t leave your boat unattended!). The anchorage is pretty and a Casco Bay favorite for many – but beware: at high tide, the ledge is covered, and for a couple of hours on either side, the western side can be uncomfortably rolly. The eastern side also experiences a roll, especially at the deeper, outermost moorings. Fishermen’s Cove, at 43.41.68 N/070.06.18W, is used by local fishing boats and is full of moorings, with little or no room to anchor. Southwest Cove, at 43.41.58 N/070.05.77W, is completely exposed to the southwest and ranges from inadvisable to untenable in most circumstances. While it can be a good option in northerlies, note that the bottom is kelp.
Cliff is also an alternative to anchoring at often-overcrowded Jewell Island, providing access to Jewell’s hiking trails if you’re up for a long-ish dinghy ride.
