WELLS, Maine — Wells Beach is typically a popular spot for locals to take walks and get exercise before the peak summer tourism season. As if watching the waves or strolling along the shore wasn't appealing enough, hundreds of Mainers from York County and beyond made sure to take some photos of a buoy that recently washed ashore.
The buoy was separated from its chain during the powerful Nor'easter earlier this month. The Coast Guard began removing it from the beach Monday morning as dozens of people watched on.
The removal is being aided by Coast Guard Cutter Marcus Hanna, which is a 175-foot buoy tender, according to a Town of Wells Facebook post. The ship's primary missions are navigation-related, and her area of responsibility spans from Boston to St. John's Bay, according to the Cost Guard.
The Wells Police Department has a live stream of the removal that you can watch here.
According to town officials in Wells, the Coast Guard originally planned on removing the buoy from the beach and decommissioning the navigation tool from the harbor. However, several mariners and residents wrote to Coast Guard officials urging them to put the buoy back in the harbor.
“I’m very, very happy that the Coast Guard is taking the initiative in replacing it. It will help many mariners," Daniel Durgin, co-owner of Sea-Gar Charters, said.
Once the buoy is removed, Wells officials said the Coast Guard would examine any damage it suffered during its time at sea before placing the buoy back in the water as soon as possible.
In Durgin's 42 years spending time in Wells, with the last 25 as a boat captain running fishing charters, he's never seen a buoy break off at the beach. He said it captured the town's attention.
Durgin said while many boats in the harbor have radar and other navigational tools, there are a number of smaller recreational vessels or kayak charters that do not. He said last season he logged 18 days when the harbor was "totally fogged in."
"The fog rolls in fast, and the only thing [that] saves you is the bell bouncing off the waves and you know you’re right outside the harbor," Durgin added.
Sandra Smith, another resident, said she went to the beach Sunday to get a look at the buoy before it was removed. Like a lot of people, she was surprised to see how big it was and was shocked at how many people came to see it.
Another sign that we're getting closer to summer, Wells began selling 2024 beach parking passes Monday. You can find more information here.