Maine Windjammers | MORAL COMPASS: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

A raft-up of the historic Maine Windjammers. Two of the ships, the Angelique and the American Eagle, will being making a historic voyage to participate in America 250^th events in New York City and Boston © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

This year’s schedules of the member historic sailing vessels of the Maine Windjammer Association include two historic voyages on two of the windjammers to New York City and Boston to participate in celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.

Among the international fleet of tall ships gathering for NYC’s Sail4th 250 and Boston’s SailBoston 2026 festivities will be two members of the Maine Windjammer Association fleet: Windjammer ANGELIQUE and the Schooner AMERICAN EAGLE. Both plan to participate in the Parades of Sail with tall ships from around the globe.

*The American Eagle at sunrise, anchored in Rockland harbor, Maine events © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com*

ANGELIQUE and AMERICAN EAGLE are each offering two trips in conjunction with the event, one 10 or 11-day trip down culminating in NYC’s festivities and one 9 or 10-day trip back that includes SailBoston 2026 and ends in Maine. Guests aboard these special voyages will sail the East Coast the traditional way, anchoring in snug harbors along the way as the vessels make their way between Maine, New York, and Boston.

*The Angelique will be offering a voyage in conjunction with America 250^th events © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com*

It’s rare for the Windjammers to leave New England waters. Neither has been to NYC since the rededication of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. Nearly 40 years later, they’ll once again join a fleet of tall ships from around the world to celebrate this important milestone in the nation’s history. We’re delighted to have them there representing Maine’s sailing heritage on a national stage.

The Class B Parade of Sail in NYC is scheduled for July 3rd.

The Meet Boston Parade of Sail is scheduled for July 11th.

All member vessels are individually-owned and -operated. Cruises can be booked directly with the Windjammer via their website or by giving them a call.

Windjammer ANGELIQUE

Schooner AMERICAN EAGLE

Schooner GRACE BAILEY

Schooner HERITAGE

Schooner J. & E. RIGGIN

Schooner LADONA

Schooner LEWIS R. FRENCH

Schooner MARY DAY

Schooner STEPHEN TABER

Request a packet of brochures (https://www.mainewindjammerfleet.com/brochure-request/) that includes the sailing schedules of all nine vessels of the Maine Windjammer Association; meet the fleet, https://www.mainewindjammerfleet.com/fleet/.

Maine Windjammer Association, P.O. Box 1083, Rockland, Maine 04841, 1-800-807-9463, info@mainewindjammerfleet.com. Mainewindjammerfleet.com.

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*Coming down the home stretch: historic Maine windjammers make quite a sight as they dash for the Rockland Lighthouse at the end of the Great Schooner Race © 2016 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com*

Midcoast, Maine — With the addition of creative new specialty cruises, growth in the fleet and a special parade to celebrate Acadia National Park’s Centennial, the Maine Windjammer Association (MWA) has lots of new offerings for visitors in 2016.

This year, brand-new specialty cruises include bluegrass and beer aboard Ladona, a sail and kayaking cruise aboard Lewis R. French and a wellness cruise aboard Victory Chimesthat includes massage therapists, art therapists and yoga instructors.

2016 also welcomes a new member to the MWA fleet: the 82-foot schooner Ladona. Launched in 1922 as a private yacht, she spent her early years cruising the eastern seaboard and, in 1923, winning her class in the Bermuda Cup. Other adventures included a stint as a US Navy submarine patrol, a fishing dragger, a sail-training vessel, and now a Maine windjammer. After a nearly two-year restoration, Ladona will provide guests with the opportunity to experience vintage cruising once again.

For visitors looking to experience that once-in-a-century sailing opportunity, the MWA is hosting a parade through Somes Sound on August 2^nd as part of the Acadia Centennial Celebration. Guests can sign up to sail for the week, or just show up in the Park and enjoy spectacular views of the windjammers as they sail in company through the Northeast’s only fjard with its towering 600-foot cliffs.

“Every trip is different and every trip is a wellness cruise where you slow down, reconnect to nature and enjoy your fellow travelers,” says Captain Linda Lee of Schooner Heritage.

Captains know that some guests want to indulge their passions or dive deeper into their hobbies which is why they’ve created specialty cruises that include activities like wine tasting, photography, knitting, lighthouse tours, full moon cruises, and live music cruises. Children will enjoy pirate adventures while older kids may enjoy sharing a weekend away with Dad.

With nine windjammers sailing from mid-May to October, there are 227 trips to choose from, ranging from in length from 1-8 days. Average prices range from $188-$250 per day, everything included, depending on the length of trip, ship and season.

There are specialty themed cruises all season long and the various vessels have their own specialty, plus there are festivals and events throughout the season (favorite are the tie-ups, when all the vessels come together).

But my absolute favorite experience is the annual Great Schooner Race, hailed as the largest annual gathering of historic landmark sailing vessels and one of the oldest races of its type in the United States – this year, the 40^th, takes place on July 8. It is a spectacular event, and utterly thrilling to be aboard one of the 20 schooners. The race is usually a part of the cruise, so you don’t miss out on the other experiences that are hallmarks of a Maine Windjammer sailing.

For more information about the Great Schooner Race, visit www.greatschoonerrace.com. To learn more about visiting Penobscot Bay, visit www.mainedreamvacation.com.

The Maine Windjammer Association represents the largest fleet of traditional sailing vessels in North America. From May to October, the windjammers offer three- to six-day sailing adventures to vacationers seeking an authentic sailing experience that includes great scenery, wildlife, delicious meals and plenty of time to go ashore and explore.

For more information about the historic vessels of the Maine Windjammer Association, visit www.sailmainecoast.com.

A Schooner Gam on the American Eagle, historic Maine Windjammer

Sailing Maine’s Penobscot Bay on the Windjammer American Eagle

Windjamming on the Nathaniel Bowditch: Sailing a Historic Ship on Maine’s Penobscot Bay is a Voyage

Rockland, ME: Windjammers, Wyeths, Lighthouses & Wonder

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