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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 | | 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.
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Looking ahead, here's a link to our 2011 schedule. Fares 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!
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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.
 | | 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.
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Photo courtesy of Ralph Smith |
A white sand island beach in downeast Maine
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| 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.
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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.
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Lunenburg Ship's Company
photo courtesy of Tom Geilser |
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| | 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!)
Left to right: Alec, mate - Nola, cook - Kelly, deckhand - Rachael, messcook - and Gerard, deckhand.
photo courtesy of Ralph Smith |
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And I'd be remiss to not show you what fun a rainy day can be aboard:
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Capt. Foss
photo courtesy of Greg Gettens |
And what the crew does during the day:
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Brunch photo courtesy of Sheila Hoogeboom and Watering the lobsters courtesy of Greg Gettens
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And those lobsters have changed color when Kelly and I dump out the kettle:
 | | Lobster Time photo courtesy of Greg Gettens |
And serve:
 | | Lobster gnome courtesy of Kyle Niewald |
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Ralph's Food Shot |
 | | 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!
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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.
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Hope to see you aboard,
Captain John Foss, Schooner American Eagle |
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