Sailing Vacations
A Maine Windjammer

Good morning everyone. Yesterday was a day of extremes. We left Camden in a thick of fog only to find things cleared right off as soon as we reached Mark I. From there we caught a very light southerly breeze that carried us up towards Egg Rock. For about an hour we drifted lazily in the heat and humidity. At last I just could not take it any more with the temperature hovering around 80 in the hot sun. The pool was opened and half of us jumped in for swim. The water was the warmest I have felt in years. The precision hardware store thermometer indicated the water temperature was 70 degrees, at least the top 12 inches. The swim call ended when the wind came onshore and we caught a nice breeze for the rest of the afternoon. The breeze brought 65 degree temperature air in off the ocean and with it came the fog again. So we received a second chance to cool off reaching for wind breakers and sweaters. We had a great sail and beat our way in to anchor here in Carvers C...

Good morning everyone. The final exam occurred yesterday and the grades are in. The class has passed with flying colors. We had our challenges and those we overcame. The wind was light onshore in the morning and came stronger with the turn of the tide in the afternoon. There were moments when obtaining a fix was very difficult. The importance of the bow watch, the eyes and ears of the ship, was reinforced. Ditty bags were finished with some fancy knot work. The ground rules were simple. Keep a constant DR plot with 6, 12, & 18 minute projections. Keep a minimum of 2 people on bow watch at all times, keep Mary, our beloved cook happy, and make certain that everyone gets to "taste a slice of the pie." In other words, get everyone involved so that they feel good about their participation in the team. There is no question that everyone has learned something this week. Everyone will take something different away with them. Some one asked me why no one...

Good morning everyone. The past few days have been fog-free. We had a great sail yesterday with WSW winds piping right up. We spent the morning touring the Wooden Boat School. We sailed off the anchor at 1100 and beat our way out of Jericho Bay with some help from the tide. A few tacks carried us through the Merchant Row past all the islands we missed in Tuesday's fog. Once again the southerly breeze under Isle Au Haut was humming as we plowed along at 9+ knots, upwind! We reeled off 10+ knots as we scampered down the bay on a broad reach to our anchorage here in Holbrook Harbor. Watch groups have continued to focus on the basics. Steering a schooner in a straight line is not as easy as it may appear. Steering by compass is really hard. The bow watch has explored sail theory as well as anchor theory. Navigators worked on position fixing to confirm DR plots and our favorite 6 minute rule. Hand crafted ditty bags and fancy knots were started in the marlinspike ...

Good morning everyone. Our dear friend the Major called this place the Foggy Kingdom. Yesterday proved him right, again. But at least we had some wind. We enjoyed some clearing in the afternoon and a walk ashore here in Mackerel Cove at Swan's Island. This morning we have clear blue skies and no fog in Blue Hill Bay though there looks to be a little hanging on offshore. Yesterday I was hoping the helm watch would have another day of steering by line of sight but given the fog we were forced to steer by compass. The navigators were thrown headlong into dead reckoning and the bow watch sounded the foghorn at 2 minute intervals. The marlinspike station had the crew learning the ropes, ticking them off as they walked about the vessel. Gybing several times as we sailed down wind was our tacking drill for the day. >A few bald eagles graced us with their hunting displays to the dismay of the gull colonies on Southern Mark Island. But the real thrill of the day was bei...

Good morning everyone. Another quiet morning here in Maine. I can here the distant rumble of a lobster boat but the veil of fog surrounding us hides their work from view. On deck a half dozen participants are busy washing down the schooner, chamoixing away yesterday's elbow grease and shining the brass. We are start our days with honest, simple work that makes our home feel well cared for and makes those who chose to do it shine a little inside. I know pride is suppose to be a two edged sword but polishing brass puts pride in perspective. Imagine polishing brass that makes the boat look so beautiful when you know you the elements will laugh and tarnish your hard work and you are just going to have to polish again the next day. Now the "smart" person would lacquer the polished brass, right? The experienced person knows that lacquer chips eventually and once applied is a bear to remove. We have been criticized by some for putting too much energy in to things t...

Good morning everyone. We were working down at the boat on Saturday with the usual gaggle of visitors checking out the boat. One young woman in particular was lingering and looking at the boats extra carefully. I asked her if she was interested in them and she informed me she worked on a similar vessel from the Chesapeake. She was on a short break before having to return to meet the schooner in Gloucester. We talked about the windjammers and all the Maine coast and she commented that almost every captain she had sailed with had cut their teeth here in the Maine windjammer fleet. That is an amazing commentary. As owners hiring crew we never know where our young charges will go with what skills we teach them. This week is our annual Wooden Boat School week. We are giving a whole group of people from all over the US and Canada the chance to play deckhand and learn the ropes. In conjunction with the Wooden Boat School we will be offering folks the chance to learn the soup to nuts of ...

Good afternoon everyone. Another great week of weather, wildlife and people.There just isn't enough time to spend with each and everyone and we're grateful for those who keep coming back to be able to share yet another laugh, tear, or a photo from a far away destination recently traveled. We love it, can't get enough, actually look forward to it as we see those names on the boarding list. As you all know people are a huge part of this business. We wouldn't be here without you. Our Mary Day family just keeps growing and growing and still we are saddened with those we loose as well. Several family members have called this year to postpone their reservations due to illnesses. We are deeply saddened to hear this and keep their spirits with us aboard as we know they'll be back, to share those peaceful sunsets and spray of the ocean breezes. We'll be here with the eagles and osprey waiting for them. Crew become our "Mary Day Family" as well as passengers. O...