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Penobscot Bay Schooners

The schooners sailing Maine's Penobscot Bay are an extraordinary sight, a rare glimpse into our American heritage. These windjammers provide the passenger-sailor with a unique opportunity to escape to a less cluttered world, to one where you can reconnect with fundamentals: sun, wind, sky, ocean.

Our experiences sailing Penobscot Bay are probably like those of others who have an affection for this region and her seductive body of water. From whisper calm mornings to hard-blowing afternoons, this bay is a unique American treasure of ever-changing beauty.

Few experiences can compare with Penobscot Bay at first light. Awakening here on a cool summer morning is discovering a pristine world where a thin fog hovers eerily above the surface of sea and shore, shrouding your mirror-still anchorage. Blue Herons stand in frozen silence while awkward Cormorants flap loudly trying to gain altitude. An eagles sits atop his spruce tower. The elegant image of a sloops at rest is broken by the angry snorting of a lobster boat snaking among the confetti of pot buoys.

Intermingling the green smell of the ocean at low tide are the warm fragrances of coffee beginning to brew in the galley below, perhaps sizzling bacon, the sweetness of blueberry muffins baking, a whiff of bayberry then spruce.

As the morning ticks by the mist and fog arise, too, and Penobscot Bay is all promise waiting to flow into reality.

American Eagle
American Eagle [right] was launched in June 2, 1930, as one of "the great ladies of the Gloucester's fishing fleet." After serving the trade for 53 years, her current owner brought the vessel to Maine from Massachusetts in 1984.

Having undergone a complete rebuild, the American Eagle was re-launched on April 26, 1986, from Rockland's North End Shipyard. Today, this solid yet sleek vessel continues to sail from the yard where she began her life in the Penobscot Bay passenger trade.

Specifications: The American Eagle is 92 feet on deck with a length overall of 122 feet. Her beam is 20 feet and she draws 11 feet of water. Photo: Ed Glaser

Angelique
The Angelique [left] is immediately recognizable by her tanbark sails. She boasts three heads and two hot, fresh-water showers below deck in 15 passenger cabins. Each carpeted cabin has its own fresh-water sink, reading lights and a fresh supply of towels, sheets and blankets.

The deck house is protected from the weather, with lots of windows and a small pot-bellied stove.

Specifications: Built in 1980, the Angelique is 95 feet on deck and accommodates 31 passengers. Photo: Mike McHenry.

Grace Bailey
Launched 1882, she was named for the daughter of lumberman and owner, Edwin Bailey. In 1906 she was renamed the Mattie for the owner's niece and the boat then began sailing the West Indies. She was relocated to Maine in 1910, where she carried general cargo and granite.

The Grace Bailey was restored 1990, this time with piano. She is listed as a National Landmark and became part of the Maine windjammer passenger trade in 1939. Most recently, she won the local "Great Schooner Race" of 1993 and 1994. Photo: The Grace Bailey

Specifications: The "bald head" two-masted, gaff-rigged schooner is 81 feet on deck and 123 feet overall. She draws six feet with her board up and carries 4,985 square feet of sail. She hosts 29 passengers with a crew of five; she uses a yawl boat instead of internal.

Heritage
Launched on April 16, 1983, the Heritage is a working schooner designed along the lines of a 19th century coaster. While she resembles her ancestors that were built to carry bulk cargoes such as bricks, lumber and granite, the Heritage was designed for the commercial passenger trade.

Captains Doug and Linda Lee designed and built the Heritage at Rockland's North End Shipyard, which is also the home for the American Eagle. The shipyard "specializes in repair, restoration and construction of wooden vessels." One third of Maine's windjammer fleet "has been rebuilt at the yard," and according to the Maine Maritime Museum. Photo: Ed Glaser

Specifications: The Heritage accommodates 30 passengers with 94 feet on deck and 140 feet over all. Her beam is 24 feet and she draws eight feet with her centerboard up and 18 feet with it down.

Isaac H. Evans
The Isaac H. Evans was build on the New Jersey shore in 1886 as a oyster dredging vessel. She spent many years working the Delaware Bay, then sailed to Maine and was rebuilt at the Bath Marine Museum. Today the Evans is like many of the other Penobscot Bay schooners inasmuch as she is listed as a National Historic Landmark.

The Evans' skipper, Brenda H. Walker, says that "We don’t claim to be the 'oldest,' the 'newest,' or the 'fastest' windjammer...but simply a very comfortable, homey schooner from the golden era of sail."

Specifications: With a centerboard-up draft of six feet [13 feet with it down], the Evans is considered a coaster, or a relatively shallow draft vessel capable of coming close to shore. The vessel is 65 feet on deck with a length overall of 99 feet. Her beam is 19 feet. The Evans is outfitted to carry 22 passengers plus crew.

J. & E. Riggin
A National Historic Monument since 1991, the Riggin was built as an oyster dredger in Dorchester, NJ. She was commissioned by Charles Riggin and named for his sons, Jacob and Edward.

The Riggin was rebuilt and re-rigged as a passenger vessel in1977, and has sailed Penobscot Bay since. Her current owners bought her in 1997. Sleek and fast, the Riggin has no inboard engine and is maneuvered in tight quarters by her 16-foot yawl boat.

Specifications: The 24-passenger Riggin is a two-masted, gaff-rigged schooner. She is 90 feet on deck and 120 feet from bowsprint to davits. Her beam is 23 feet and she draws seven feet of water with her centerboard up.

Lewis R. French
Launched into Christmas Cove, Maine, in 1871, the Lewis R. French [right] "is the sole survivor of thousands of coasting schooners" built in the state during the 19th century. She is a National Historic Landmark status in 1992. Native Mainer Captain Dan Pease took over the French in 1986.

The French has lived several lives. While launched in 1871, she was rebuilt in 1900, again in the 1920s when an engine was added, yet a third time without an engine in the 1980s and finally re-christened to her present status on April 28, 1996. Photo: Captain Dan Pease

Specifications: Considered a "pure sail vessel" with no internal power, the French has four single, two separate-bed doubles and seven double-bed cabins. To allow the full Maine experience, no radios, TVs or phones are allowed on board.

Mary Day
Launched in 1962, the Mary Day is the first windjammer built in the twentieth century for the passenger trade. As such, comfort and speed were built in; a sleek hulled craft, she is a regular winner of the annual Great Schooner Race on Penobscot Bay.

The main saloon is large and offers several sitting areas. The galley is forward. Cabins have easy access from the deck, opening skylights and windows providing fresh air and light. The deck is uncluttered. Photo: Mary Day

Specifications: The Mary Day accommodates 30 passengers. She is 90-feet on deck with a 23-foot beam. She carries a light-air fore topsail, main and jib topsails and can achieve more than 10 knots. She's a centerboard vessel with a shallow draft.

Mercantile
Built on Little Deer Isle, Maine, in 1916, the Mercantile's first passengers were salt fish, barrel staves and firewood. While that was an honorable calling, her current and more gregarious life as a passenger vessel began in 1942, placing the Mercantile among the earliest vessels plying the Penobscot Bay tourism trade.

Indeed, the Mercantile's skipper at the time of her conversion was Captain Frank Swift, who is considered as the "founder" of the Maine windjammer trade. Today the Mercantile is a National Historic Landmark.

The Mercantile [lefrt] was designed as a shoal-draft vessel, which allowed her to take on and discharge cargo in out-of-the-way places inaccessible to deeper-draft vessels. Today this feature allows passengers to explore secluded ports inaccessible to deeper-draft vessels. Photo: Ray Williamson

Specifications: At 123 feet from bow sprint to davits, the Mercantile is 81 feet on deck, and carries 4,985 square feet of sail. She draws six feet with her centerboard up, and 16 with it down. A pure sailing vessel, the Mercantile has no internal propulsion or rigging assistance. A 14 foot yawl boat provides close-quarters maneuvering. She is outfitted for 29 passengers; her crew is five.

Mistress
The owners call the Mistress [right] their "princess, this blend of a traditional schooner and private yacht. Built on Deer Isle with modern accommodations, she reflects traditional coastal schooners lines. The owners say the Mistress fills a niche in the industry for people who want to go windjamming, but require more privacy than the larger boats offer."

Specifications: Built in 1960 and restored in 1992, Mistress is 60 feet overall and 46 feet on deck. She accommodates for six passengers plus a crew of two. Mistress has two double-bed cabins; one two-bunk cabin, each cabin has a have private head and sink. Auxiliary power is from a 60 HP diesel engine.

Nathaniel Bowditch
Built in East Boothbay, Maine, in 1922, the Bowditch began life as a private racing yacht, which competed in the Bermuda races and won in 1927. The vessel's next role was that of a US Navy coastal patrol boat. Later the boat was rebuilt for the passenger trade. Captain Gib Philbrick and wife Terry took command of the vessel in 1975.

The Bowditch accommodates 24 passengers in 11 cabins. Three cabins have double-bed berths plus two single Pullman berths. The vessel has running water, electric lights and full standing headroom. Heads are below deck and offer running water and flush toilets. A hot, fresh-water shower is on deck. Photo: Gib Philbrick

Specifications: Built of Maine timber, the Bowditch is a two-masted, gaff- rigged, topsail schooner with 82 elegant feet on deck and 108 feet overall. The vessel has an inboard diesel engine that provides power for docking and tight maneuvering

Roseway
Despite her beauty under sail, Roseway [right] came on hard times in recent years, and was taken out of active windjammer service. New owners are refurbishing the grand tanbark lady, and we hope to see her in service again in a coming season.

She was built in 1925 as a private fishing yacht in the Essex, Massachusetts, James Shipyard. She is one of about 4,000 Grand Banks fishing vessels constructed. Of that number, only the Roseway and one other survive.

In 1941, the Roseway was sold to the Boston Pilots Association, where she served for 32 years. She holds the distinction of being the last US pilot schooner.

While the Roseway was refitted in 1975 for the passenger trade and sailed successfully in that business for a number of years, in 2000-2001 her fortunes changed and she was boarded by the Coast Guard and her lending banks. The net effect was removal of the great tanbark lady form the commercial schooner trade. As of the fall of 2002, the Roseway is pending use as an educational vessel. Photo: Roseway.

Specifications: With 112 feet on deck, the Roseway is 137 feet overall. She displaces 250 tons and can hoist 5,600 square feet of distinctive tanbark sail. With 14 cabins, her guest capacity is 36 in Maine and 30 in the Caribbean. The vessel has two auxiliary diesel engines, a 110-volt generator and a crew of seven.

Stephen Taber
The Stephen Taber is "the oldest documented sailing vessel in continuous service in the United States." The boat also is a National Historic Landmark vessel.

Known as "the good luck vessel" of the Penobscot Bay schooner fleet, the Taber has been in the passenger sailing trade for the past 16 years. In addition to ample deck pace, the Taber boasts a large galley and dining area, complete with fireplace and library. Photo: Ken and Ellen Barnes

Specifications: The Stephen Taber is 115 feet long from bow sprint to davits, with 68 feet on deck. The boat has a 22.6 foot beam.

Formerly, the Kathryn B

The KB sailed Penobscot Bay for only a few years, from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, but she is fondly remembered. She now sails the Caribbean, from St. Thomas, under the name Alliance. [And her new owners have the poor taste to force feed you "island music" over their new Website.]

Launched in 1995, Kathryn B is a steel-hulled, ocean-going, three-masted, gaff-rigged topsail schooner outfitted with an engine.

The KB accommodates 10 passengers in five cabin with queen-size bunks, writing desks and private heads with showers. Skylights and dorades in cabins provide light and air. The KB has 110-volt outlets and hot water in cabins. Photo: Kip Brundage

Specifications: The KB's length overall is 105 feet, 80 feet on deck. Her beam is 19.1 feet and draft is 7.6 feet. With 63-foot masts, KB carries 3,000 square feet of sail. She can achieve 12 knots under sail and 8-10 under power.

High Speed on
The Gulf of Maine

The CAT is a high speed passenger and car ferry operating on two Maine routes: Portland - Yarmouth, NS, and Bar Harbor - Yarmouth,

Carrying up to 775 passengers and 240 cars across the Gulf of Maine, the ship operates from May to October.

In our opinion, The CAT is the best way between Maine and Nova Scotia, and the most fun.