Getting about
Sailing
Schooners
Lighthouses
Food
MaineSail Gear
Weather
Maine Statistics

Downeast
> Bar Harbor
> Blue Hill
> Castine
> Deer Isle
> Eggemoggin Reach
> Southwest Harbor
> Mt. Desert Island

Midcoast
> Camden
> Cushing
> Damariscotta
> Friendship
> Port Clyde
> Rockland
> Rockport
> Tenants Harbor
> Wiscasset

Islands
> Islesboro
> Matinicus
> Monhegan
> North Haven
> Swan's Island
> Vinalhaven

Southcoast
> Bath
> Boothbay Harbor
> Freeport
> Portland
> Wiscasset
> Yarmouth

Day sailing, a great excursion
We've sailed aboard Penobscot Bay schooners —the beloved windjammers — several times and always for a week at a time. But we've also sailed on and have great affection for the short-term boats because they are just as exciting, and calming, as the long-term sails, Plus, the short sails are more affordable and you can decide to go at the last minute.

Five schooners offer day- or partial-day sail adventures out of Camden and Rockport .

While each home port has its own distinct emotion, once you are on Penobscot Bay the sailing experiences are much the same. Personally, however, we prefer the serenity of tiny Rockport Harbor, where the Schooner Heron is moored.

Crowded Camden Harbor is lined with day-sail ticket vendors cheek-by-jowl competing for your attention. You almost feel guilty stopping at one and not another. Rockport Harbor is much less crowded, and home for only one commercial sailing vessel, Schooner Heron.

The lineup of boats and Website links follows.

Camden
.....Schooner Appledore, 65 feet, 49 passengers
.....Schooner Lazy Jack II, 45 feet, 21 passengers
.....Schooner Olad, 48 feet, 21 passengers
.....Schooner Surprise, 44 feet, 18 passengers

Rockport
.....Schooner Heron, 65 feet, 36 passengers

If you decide, after a day sail, that a multi-day voyage is for you, read about all of the Penobscot Bay schooners on our overview page, or about one of our several experiences sailing for a week on a three-masted schooner.

Camden Windjammer Festival
Sept. 3 - 5 — Many of Maine's midcoast fleet of 21 "tall ship" schooners will sail into Camden Harbor for the annual Labor Day weekend Windjammer Festival. A variety of events and antics are scheduled for kids of all ages, but the most important attraction is being able to see and photograph the graceful sailing vessels at close range. Indeed, the owners and captains would be delighted to take you on an excursion for a couple of hours or several days — for a price, of course. Viewing at the festival, however, is without charge. We describe and picture many of the vessels on our Schooners page.


On the road again — The Maine coast is a grand experienced form the land, but from aboard a boat it is spectacular. Even if you don't own your own boat — defined as "a hole in a body of water into which one continuously pours money" — schooner sailing and ferry travel are suitable alternatives. This Vinalhaven ferry shows bikers, campers and kayakers, among others, as the boat wends its way through the narrow passages near Vinalhaven Harbor.

Special events, self directed
August - September — Summer's list of special events is almost exhausted, but the best is yet to come. Late August, when the rest of the country is sweltering, and September are Maine's best months because they offer nearly perfect weather. Plus, after Labor Day, the towns and roads are less crowded because many of those people "from away" have gone back to away. So, what's a body to do?

First, really relax and take your time. And take yourself to places unreachable by car, using the Maine State Ferry Service.

Being a state dominated by waters and with more than 3000 miles of coastline, Maine's public ferries are a necessity. They provide visitors with a way to see the real Maine, the one slightly less frequented by tourists, as well as being a lifeline for commerce and the goods of daily life.

The Ferry Service provides six opportunities to visit Maine's island life. See our Island page for more information on these waterborne destinations. General ferry information follows, and the daily ferry schedules are available here from the State of Maine.

1. Vinalhaven from Rockland, 15 miles, 75 minutes, $17.50 round trip adult fare
2. North Haven from Rockland, 12 miles, 70 minutes, $17.50
3. Islesboro from Lincolnville, 3 miles, 20 minutes, $10
4. Swan's Island from Bass Harbor, 6 miles, 40 minutes, $17.50
5. Frenchboro from Bass Harbor, 8 miles, 50 minutes, $11.25
6. Matinicus from Rockland, 23 minles135 minutes, $33

Children's rates apply. Those who are under five ridge free, and over 12 are considered adults.

If you plan to stay on the island — it is a good idea to be sure you have confirmed lodging reservations — the round trip fare for vehicles 20 feet and under ranges from $26.50 to $86 depending on destination. Bicycle rates range from $8.50 to $20.


Maine sails and seals — Sailing out of Rockport harbor toward Islesboro, lie The Ledges. This dangerous outcropping of granite is home to Penobscot Bay seals, and provides ample testimony to why one always sails on Penbay with a navigational chart close at hand.

MaineSail offering Amazon gear
Responding to that perceived need, MaineSail has joined with Amazon.com to create MaineSail Gear, a selection of quality products -- from baby gear to the top guide books -- that can make travelers' Maine vacations more enjoyable [PS: Amazon has a Columbia "Cathedral Peak" — whatever that is! — vest on sale that we rally like and think is idea for Maine!]. Full Story.

Getting about in Maine demands patience
Locals say Maine has two seasons: Winter and Road Repair. They’re not kidding, and this makes travel on Maine's roads problematic. Full story

Time to set sail on the Maine coast
For a true Maine experience, there's hardly anything more exciting -- and relaxing -- than a multi-day sail onboard a wind-powered schooner. And the Penobscot Bay has a full dozen of these historic boats that offer trip durations ranging form a couple days to a full week.

The boats range from 46 to 132 feet in length on deck with cabin accommodations for six to 40 passengers. Smaller boats, such as the Mistress, don't necessarily have tighter accommodations than the larger vessels.

Mistress is the smallest in the multi-day fleet and takes only six passengers. By contrast, some of the boats in the 60-foot range take 20-or-so passengers. Read Schooners. MaineSail offers a narrative of a week's sail on Penobscot Bay so that you can learn from those who've been aboard a sailing schooner. Read Sailing.

First light, highest tide
Maine is the northern-most and eastern-most state in America. As such, it receives the nation's first -- and some say its best light. Through the years, artists (and tourists) seem to have agreed. See for yourself!

Frommer's dozen
Portland, Maine, squeaked into the top 12 in last year's [2007's] Top Travel Destinations. "Fantastic mix of culture and education" with several Gourmet hit restaurants." "Extreme weather," though,can make Maine travel challenging. Full story