Sailing Along by Dick Loehr 
photo courtesy of Richard Loehr
Schooner American Eagle Newsletter
October 2010
In This Issue
October Sailing
Cruise News
International Cruise
Crews News
Ralph's Food Shot
Postcard
Why do we go windjamming?

To provide a bit of adventure and a lot of fun.

To preserve perishable skills

To pass along what little we have learned of what our sailing predecessors forgot

 
To share the art and fabric of working sail in our small but beautiful corner of the oceans

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Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Days by Ralph Smith
Dress Ship for Windjammer Days in Boothbay Harbor by Ralph Smith

 

     We wrapped up our 25th season earlier this month, having covered the coast from Boothbay Harbor in June to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, in August. Once again I remember why we go sailing:  no phone calls from politicians, the whole busy world left behind us and the Maine coast before us.  Cruising we find time to focus on what's important at the moment: sunrises, sea birds, seals, islands, sunsets, stars.

 

    


AE Bow by Greg Gettens

Looking ahead, here's a link to our 2011 scheduleFares average the same or slightly less than last year.  A few cabins are already reserved on some of the cruises.  We'd love to have you join us.

American Eagle Bowsprit by Greg Gettens 
October Sailing
Here's a sailing photograph with a connection to the American Eagle.  This is the Columbia during the elimination race off Gloucester October 21, 1923, in which she bettered the schooner Henry Ford.  Capt. Pine shortly thereafter sailed to Halifax to race the Canadian opponent.  The Columbia made the 360 mile trip in thirty eight hours!

 

Columbia vs Henry Ford by Mrs. Ben Pine

photo taken by Mrs. Ben Pine

   

The competition was close: a collision and a man overboard (briefly) in the first race, won by Angus Walters and the Bluenose.  The Canadian was disqualified in the second race for missing a buoy on the race course and then refused to race a third.  Capt. Pine and the Columbia could have won the series on a technicality, but returned home to go back fishing.

 

     The photograph of this powerful schooner was taken by Mrs. Pine.  Her husband headed up a group to build a new vessel to race the Bluenose in 1930, the Gertrude L. Thebaud.  While she was fitting out at the United Sail Loft in Gloucester the American Eagle was being constructed on the wharf next to her.  Capt. Pine was the Eagle's managing owner 1938-45.  The American Eagle is the only survivor of Ben Pine's fishing fleet. Color footage of the 1938 races.

 

 

Virginia tailgating by Garrett Lovell
photo by Garrett Lovell 

     We've been in close races too. Here the schooner Virginia tailgated us in September, 2008, off Gloucester.  She won that race by 26 seconds: we bested her by 26 seconds in 2009. 

 

 
Cruise News: Offshore Maine Islands, boarding July 22 
 
An eight day adventure including an overnight sail:  islands from the southern coast of Maine to the Canadian border. Island visits may include Smuttynose at the Isles of Shoals, Monhegan, and Roque and Cross islands down east, all places we have visited on longer cruises in the past.

 

 

Roque Island 2010 by Ralph Smith

Photo courtesy of Ralph Smith

 
A white sand island beach in downeast Maine  

 
International Cruise  
 
Like the Columbia in 1923 the American Eagle this summer sailed to Nova Scotia.  We didn't set any speed records, spending a day in Shelburne waiting out some wet weather and we had typical periods of fog.  We didn't race, but we did have a short snowball fight attacking the schooner Bowdoin at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.  We enjoyed the folk harbour festival (the third time we have been there dockside) and the world heritage site Lunenburg.

 

 

Leaving Lunenburg by Tom Geisler

Leaving Lunenburg  

photo courtesy of Tom Geisler 

 
     After a lively overnight sail back across the Gulf of Maine we found ourselves in hot summer weather clearing customs in Bar Harbor.  A great 13 day adventure, one we have offered every eight years. 
 
Lunenburg Ships Company by Tom Geisler

Lunenburg Ship's Company

photo courtesy of Tom Geilser



 Crews News
 
     Everyone aboard on our cruises feels part of the crew; however these are the people who are paid: well, some. Missing are: Logan (our ringer and fiddler for long trips), Caleb (before law school), Heather (for a third year!) 


Early 2010 Season Crew by Ralph Smith


Left to right: Alec, mate - Nola, cook - Kelly, deckhand - Rachael, messcook - and Gerard, deckhand.
photo courtesy of Ralph Smith
 

     And I'd be remiss to not show you what fun a rainy day can be aboard:

 

Capt. Foss by Greg Gettens

Capt. Foss

photo courtesy of Greg Gettens 

   

     And what the crew does during the day:

Crew's Day by Hoogeboom and Gettens

Brunch photo courtesy of Sheila Hoogeboom and Watering the lobsters courtesy of Greg Gettens

 

And those lobsters have changed color when Kelly and I dump out the kettle:

Dumping the kettle by Greg Gettens
Lobster Time  photo courtesy of Greg Gettens

 

      And serve:

Gnomie having lobster by Kyle Niewald
Lobster gnome courtesy of Kyle Niewald

Ralph's Food Shot 

 
Roast Beef Dinner  photo by Ralph Smith
photo courtesy of Ralph Smith

Sail all day, we're ready for dinner on deck.  homemade bread, tossed salad,

pan roasted vegetables, garlic mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy, roast beef!


 

Postcard
 
The Pride of Baltimore II. She docked overnight here in Rockland in early October on her way back from the Great Lakes.  I took her crew a case of local beer.  An amazing vessel ably managed and sailed. 
 

Pride of Baltimore II post card


Hope to see you aboard,
 John and the crew
Captain John Foss, Schooner American Eagle

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Schooner American Eagle
P O Box 482 
Rockland, ME  04841
(800) 648-4544