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Sailing from this magical home port is an important part of what we have to offer. We hope you spend some extra time before or after your cruise to enjoy the area. Our storybook village has much to offer residents and visitors alike.
Maine Windjammer Cruises®
Although “windjammer” could easily pass as a slang term used only by serious boaters, the word has a technical meaning that belies its casual first impression. Our week at sea on a small schooner was one of the most unique trips I’ve done. Check to make sure you have reviewed the activities included. For example, active travelers may want to have options for exercise, while other travelers may want more passive pursuits. I'm here because I love New England, and I bet that's why you're here, too! You want to explore more of this amazing region, or want to explore it for the first time!
Your Shipmates Become a Bit Like Family
They are both aided by a crew of young, energetic people who were such fun and kind souls. Whether you join us for a three-night cruise or a week, we promise you a total escape from the ordinary. With only guests on our ships, you’ll experience the kind of honest, heartfelt hospitality that keeps our guests coming back year after year. Brides and grooms and those renewing their vows aren’t the only ones who look to a New England sailing vacation for a special event. Loved ones will never forget a birthday, anniversary, family reunion, graduation, or surprise party celebrated on a Maine windjammer. Our cruises are also popular for college and high school alumni reunions and sorority, fraternity, and professional society gatherings.
Our Sailing Cruise on a Maine Windjammer, The Lewis R French
On a few occasions, a cider was offered instead of a beer. For our first tasting, we tried Salad Days, a pale, dry lager by Bunker Brewing Company, and a darker Bar Harbor Real Ale by Atlantic Brewing Company. He introduced me to Captain Jocelyn Schmidt, his wife and the J & E Riggin co-owner. Captain Justin carried my luggage down the dock, and I boarded my first windjammer cruise in Maine. As sailing gave way to more efficient means of powering cargo vessels, the J & E Riggin was rebuilt to accommodate overnight guests. However, the 120-foot-long, 61-ton J & E Riggin still has no inboard engine and continues to rely on wind power, as originally intended.
Vacation Info
No shopping, no WIFI; just you getting to know the pristine nature preserve. Savor Creole cuisine with the locals, in a picturesque fishing village where colorful gingerbread houses dot the seashore. Eclectic island boutiques and open-air markets feature Caribbean madras, one-of-a-kind jewelry, French perfumes and locally distilled rhum. Take an afternoon swim in the shadow of the majestic Pitons. You might happen upon an abandoned plantation, or a smoldering volcano that serves to remind you that the hearts of these islands beat to the rhythm of nature.
With a comfortable bed, a warm light to keep you company while you read under the covers, and the sound of the sea outside your window, you sleep like a baby. Two frequently asked questions are "When is the best time to sail?" and "When should I reserve my cabin?" We like to say that any time is a good time to sail! The weather in the Caribbean is warm and balmy year-round. Winter months are busier, because folks are trying to escape the cold back home.
1 dead, 3 injured after schooner’s mainmast breaks during cruise off Maine coast - Boston.com
1 dead, 3 injured after schooner’s mainmast breaks during cruise off Maine coast.
Posted: Mon, 09 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Slowly, the schooner comes to life as passengers are tempted from their cabins by the aroma of a hearty Maine breakfast wafting from the galley. I also really enjoyed interacting with the crew, and most of all with Captains Jon & Annie. These two are the owners of the vessel and the creators of the wonderful schooner experience aboard the Riggin. Jon is the ship’s captain while his wife Annie prepares the gourmet meals down in the galley.
Maine Magazine spent 3 days aboard in September of 2019. Read about their experiences.
Board Sunday or Wednesday evening, meet your new shipmates and have dinner on your own in Camden. You will sleep aboard, and after a hearty breakfast the following morning, you’ll be underway for your adventure exploring the islands of Maine. This cruise can be a grand change of pace and certainly the highlight of a longer Maine vacation.
5 New Cruise Itineraries You Have to Try in 2024 - Cruise Critic
5 New Cruise Itineraries You Have to Try in 2024.
Posted: Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
A ferry from Rockland offers regular service to the island. Captain Justin began ferrying us to North Haven Island using the yawl boat. It was only a minute's walk from the dock to Calderwood Hall, a community center home to North Haven Brewing Co. At 6 p.m., there was a Captain's Call after all the guests loaded their luggage on the schooner. The toilet paper is thin since these sailboat toilets are a bit sensitive.
As previously hinted, travelers who enjoy the great outdoors and don’t mind “roughing it” are perfectly suited for the sailing vacations New England has to offer. Nights were spent anchored somewhere conducive to swimming, paddle boarding, row boating, or sailing on the Iolaire, an adorable baby schooner that travels with the Riggin. From an activities perspective (more on that later), the sailing vacations Maine offers and traditional backpacking trips are very similar. 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.
Your adventure begins in Kos, an island paradise located in the southeastern Aegean Sea. From here, you will island-hop to ports of call rich in history and culture. You’ll swim with sea turtles in the protected waters of marine preserves, and snorkel above colorful reefs that come alive with waving sea fans and electric blue damselfish. Tasty Guavaberry Coladas and other passion-inspiring frosty concoctions tempt your tastebuds. Beach bars are plentiful but don’t miss a day of basking in the sun on a postcard- perfect blinding white crescent beach. You get to paddleboard, snorkel, and hike trails that lead to majestic views.
When offered the opportunity to sail around the tiny coves and into Penobscot Bay for four idyllic days, I jumped at the chance. 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.
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