Windjammer Cruises in Maine

Cruising Maine's Water the Old Fashioned Way
Windjammer Cruises
by Rita Cook

I wake up to the smell of blueberry pancakes wafting into my cabin from the
galley.

I don't even need my alarm clock because I wake up “with the chickens” or
in this case, the fishes. Sure, it's early morning, but time has somehow
managed to stand still out here off the coast of Maine.

When I alight on deck for my early morning cup of coffee the salt air hits me
and I not only feel, but literally taste what it means to be a passenger aboard
one of the 14 tall ships belonging to the Maine Windjammer Association.

These ships range in size from 46 to 132 feet and their ages are every bit as
diverse as their dimensions. In fact, it was with real consternation that I
made my decision as to which ship I would spend my long weekend.

I had already sailed on the Victory Chimes, one of the largest ships in the
fleet at 132 feet, so this time I decided to go for the next to the smallest one.
The Lewis R. French, a national landmark, lived up to my expectations. The
oldest windjammer of the fleet and even in the United States, the Lewis R.
French was built in 1871 and is 64 feet long. Everything is tucked and stored
on the ship in the most convenient little places and overall the 22
passengers on board don’t get in one another’s way.

While the French is the oldest ship, it seems only appropriate that her
captain, Garth Wells, is the youngest windjammer captain in the fleet. He
will quickly find his way into your heart. Wells knows his business too,
since he has been a sailor since a little boy growing up on Cape Cod.

Maine has always been known for her tall ships, and to this day it is Maine
that you will visit should you get a notion to relive a bygone era. As for the
Lewis R. French, she once delivered fish, coal and bricks, much like the
other schooners in the area. However, merchant sailing ships also
epitomize a time still fond in America’s memory. It was the 1930’s that
these ships were in their glory, when jazz and swing ruled, Charlie Chaplin
was all the rage and life as we know it today was rapidly becoming a reality
with trans-Atlantic flight and the popularity of steam engines and railroads
becoming the norm.

The good news is that even today, windjamming in Maine can still take you
back to a bygone era.

Every morning as I awoke in my uber-tiny cabin I marveled at the clean,
fresh ocean air, the islands beckoning in the distance and the sun baking
down. Since I cruised the Maine coast in June it was still cold. June's
weather is known to be uncertain in Maine and the average temperate
hovers around the low 60s. In spite of the cold however, it was part of the
experience.

I became quite friendly with the ship's cook one day because the breeze on
deck was just too much to endure. Mainers are hearty folks though and the
attitude you must take aboard a windjammer cruise is one of adventure.
You won't be disappointed. After all, the windjammer experience is one
about roughing it while also relaxing. You might bring a book, but you
probably won't even have time to read it. You might bring a watch, but
after a couple of days you won't care what time it is anymore.

As for the sport of windjamming, it is an activity that relies on the wind and
tide to get you where you want to go. Or, I should say, to get you to where
you end up going. The captain was never quite sure where we would find
ourselves, just somewhere near one of Maine’s 3000 islands.

For breakfast and lunch the cook creates family-style meals, traditionally
Maine. If it's not too cold meals are served on deck. On rainy days there are
cozy little tables in the galley and it's a great time to really get to know your
fellow passengers.

One evening we went ashore and enjoyed a lobster bake on a deserted
island. By moon rise we were back on the ship ready for singing, looking at
the stars or even just getting to bed early.

While on board the Lewis R. French we were
allowed to enjoy as much or as little of
the experience as we wanted. From hoisting
sails, to taking the wheel (under Well’s
supervision of course), to navigating
or helping out in the galley (I got a real
lesson the day I spent in the galley
as the attitude was if you come down
here you have to work), the experience
is yours for the taking.

When you think of cruising, a Maine
Windjammer ship is probably not
the first thing that comes to mind.
Don't let that stop you. I found it to be an excellent way to connect with
nature and also make a difference with the environment. The Windjammer
Association believes in keeping the ecosystem healthy and encourages
guests to participate. While waiting for our lobster dinner we scoured the
deserted island helping to clean up trash and debris. In that same spirit, the
Lewis R. French used a wood-burning stove, served only the freshest fruits
and vegetables and one schooner in the fleet has even decided to only use
biodiesel fuel.

The windjammers of yesteryear rely on
the future to keep the fleet strong. It is
a unique American adventure and I found
the experience enlightening. I know
I would not have made a good sailor
100 years ago, however I did find that
living in the moment really is all
it’s cracked up to be.

Know Before You Go:
Each windjammer has a different passenger load so decide which one you
prefer from six to 40 guests and then choose the ship accordingly.

Getting There:
You will either set sail from Camden, Rockland or Rockport. You can drive
from a major airport such as Boston or Portland or fly on Colgan Air,
affiliated with US Air, into Rockland.

When to Go:
Maine windjammer cruises sail from May to mid-October.

For more information contact the Maine Windjammer Association at 888-807-
Wind or www.sailmainecoast.com.

About the author:

Rita Cook is the editorial director of Premier Bride Magazine and travel
editor for Valley Scene Magazine in Los Angeles. While also working in the
world of publishing she also teaches a travel writing course for a college in
New York and has a romance novel coming out in the fall called “Angel’s
Destiny.”

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