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Sailing the Coast of Maine on a Historic Windjammer - AFAR Media
Sailing the Coast of Maine on a Historic Windjammer.
Posted: Wed, 17 Aug 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The Grenadines is considered to be one of the most exclusive sailing areas in the world. Our tall ship sailing cruises include an amazing selection of the most desired ports of call, including locations unreachable by the masses on larger ships. Welcome to the Maine Windjammer Association – the largest fleet of traditional tall ships in the Americas.
Guests Help Sail The Schooners
Our iconic windjammers offer multi-day, all-inclusive, sailing adventure cruises in one of the most acclaimed cruising grounds in the world. Offered exclusively in the Pre-Season, these trips have it all. They are the best value with long days to sail and explore, a shore-side lobster bake, and lots of time to relax and unwind. And for fans of real sailing (and not just motoring), Vela also fits the bill. In June, crew and passengers are anxious to get started on a new season, and the windjammers are often the only vessels on the bay. We will offer three and six-night trips, boarding either on Sundays or Wednesdays.
BOARDING TIME
It was originally constructed in 1927 as a New Jersey oyster schooner, converted for passenger sailing in 1977, and then designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1991. Like with most cruises, you pay an initial deposit to secure your spot and then pay the remaining balance 6-8 weeks before setting sail. Many schooners offer an “early bird” promotion that discounts the ticket price (usually by 5%) if you book early, usually by February 1 or March 1. The first “day” begins in the late afternoon and typically involves dropping off your belongings, attending a brief on-deck introductory meeting, and spending the night in the harbor. The most common Maine schooner tours last 3, 4, or 6 days.
Then we sailed to Hell’s Half Acre Island and anchored. Captain Justin used the yawl boat to transport us to the campground for a generous spread of lobster, corn, potatoes, paella, and a traditional dessert of s’mores roasted over the fire. For the entire voyage, we were treated to family-style, made-from-scratch meals crafted by Chef Mark Godfrey and Sous Chef Kat Highley. Everything is prepared on the Crawford Cottage wood-burning cookstove in a tiny kitchen.
The final “day” normally begins with eating breakfast at sea, continues with exchanging contact information among your new friends, and ends with docking the windjammer in the harbor by lunchtime. Most surviving windjammers are schooners, which are defined by the presence of multiple masts, the aft-most (furthest rear) of which is the tallest. It was two summers ago, and we spent about a week on a traditional windjammer, letting the wind dictate our search for lobsters and lighthouses. I think one of the most special things about a schooner cruise is the people you meet. There were passengers from all over the US, and it was a joy to chat with each of them. Wildlife can appear at any time, and it’s usually when you least expect it.
Consider a Maine Windjammer Trip for a Change of Pace - AARP
Consider a Maine Windjammer Trip for a Change of Pace.
Posted: Thu, 01 Aug 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]
I'm up to 78 countries and 110+ cruises worldwide, and it's the small ship journeys that I love writing about most. And so QuirkyCruise.com was born, an excellent research tool for planning your own unforgettable small ship trip. Use our cruise finder below to explore sailing options that fit your schedule.
DO THE SHIPS HAVE WIFI?
And I've learned some things along the way; what to pack and what to... Biking River Cruise With Backroads & AmaWaterways By John Roberts You can have it all as a cycling enthusiast who wants to explore Europe on a highly curated, hassle-free vacation. In fact, I took a river cruise bike tour that combines the best elements of sailing...
10 of 154 Island Windjammers Cruise Reviews
During the day, we sailed routes through Penobscot Bay and its litany of lighthouses, expensive homes, and gorgeous pine. Most cabins feature bunked or overlapping beds, a small sink, a few towel hooks, and some helpful (if minimal) shelf space. And when I say the cabins are more alike than different, what I mean is they are all extremely small. When we sailed, it was owned by Captains (and husband-and-wife duo extraordinaire) Jon Finger and Anne Mahle but as of 2020, they’ve sold the J&E Riggin to new ownership. You don’t pick your cabin (at least not on the schooner we were on). As we swayed in the falling darkness, the light of the lanterns gently illuminating our faces, we listened to the clear sounds of their voices bringing us traditional seafaring tunes.
Small as you’d expect on sailing ships, but charming, wood-paneled and the perfect cozy nests to catch up your beauty rest; otherwise, life is lived up on deck or on shore. There are a handful of shore excursions offered on most itineraries, but many passengers are content to find a good beach or wander around on their own. Sometimes lunch is served on a quiet beach somewhere, otherwise meals on are on board. Island Windjammers has started offering yacht charters in Europe; they did Croatia in 2023 and in 2024, it’s the Greek Isles aboard the 8-pax Lyra doing 10-night itineraries.
Enjoying great food (I promise, I’m almost there!) and savoring the breathtaking views of water, pine, and sails were the undisputed highlights of my journey. The highlight was definitely the first night, when we ferried to nearby Warren Island State Park for a traditional lobster bake. If you’ve been cruising before, you’re probably familiar with most of these policies. BUT there was one big difference when it came to sailing on a windjammer.
I read that hoisting the sails and sailing the historic schooner is part of the experience on Maine windjammer cruises. The first mate gave us a lesson on how to help raise the sails and split guests into two groups. One group helped raise the throat on one side, and one group helped raise the peak on the other. Our crew yelled out, “Heave,” and we called back, “Ho,” and as the sails were raised, the Riggin was underway. Other passengers volunteered to hoist the anchor (a demanding job). Some of the youngest passengers watered the anchor chain or raised the American flag.
Ingredients are farm-to-table, including Captain Jocelyn’s garden. Maine’s blueberries were a highlight on our trip, as well as bespoke oysters from Adam Campbell’s North Haven Oyster Company. Adam came aboard to teach us how to shuck and slurp the fresh, briny oysters he cultivates in the salt ponds in North Haven, Maine. The food was delicious, plentiful, and there were always extra snacks if needed.
Often, people who take the first half pre-season 3-day cruise have such a good time, they ask to stay on for the second half. IF SPACE ALLOWS, you can stay for the second half of the cruise, at an additional discounted fee. You can’t help but bond with one another through the experience. But I can also surmise that all cruises offered are likely vastly different. No two journeys are the same, and that’s part of what makes this so amazing.
After all, it’s a place with a long maritime history. Schooners from Maine carried cargo along the Eastern seaboard and as far away as Asia in the 1800s. Riggin, a historic schooner departing from Rockport, Maine, was an experience I couldn’t pass up. If you love historic ships and want to experience the romance of sailing along coastal Maine, here are some things to know before embarking on a Maine Windjammer Cruise. The best Maine windjammer cruises involve sailing on a traditional schooner out of Rockland, Maine. I had little idea what to expect; I only knew I was anxious to spend a few days “at sea” on a totally different kind of journey.
It was beautiful and sort of haunting, but I could see that every passenger relished the moment. On the last night, Annie, Jon, and their daughter Ella, who was a crew member, entertained us with music and singing. Maine is a great place to spot some of God’s most amazing creatures (moose, to name just one), and the coast is no different.
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