ROCKLAND — Boat owners of damaged vessels and salvage crews were on the south side of Rockland Harbor, Wednesday, Oct. 27, after a strong storm blowing winds and rain out of the north east continued to batter the Midcoast.

Taking advantage of the day’s high tide, around 2 p.m., Calligan Dive Service ventured into the waves while Charlies Marine and Fields Dive Service each drew lines, revved their own boat motors, and dragged grounded sailboats back into the tides. 

Still waiting to be redirected were a lobster boat that had rubbed up against a stone wall next to Archers Pier, and a third sailboat tucked into a corner of Snow Marine Park.

Nearby to the third sailboat, the hull of another vessel bobbed in the harbor. 

The strength of the storm peaked early this morning, Oct. 27, as it churned up the coast from Nantucket, into the Gulf of Maine. Rockland Harbor has suffered the brunt of it.

While winds were still gusting this afternoon, the National Weather Service said the storm would: “gradually shift south away from the southern New England coastline today. Periods of rain and gusty winds will continue through the day before gradually diminishing by this evening. Quieter weather is then expected for both Thursday and Friday before another storm system approaches from the south this weekend.”