Maine Windjammer Fleet – Gathering Together a Gam of 12

The largest gathering of large schooners in the United States, Maine’s windjammer fleet is impressive. You might want to consider including this as part of your vacation in Maine. Most are based in Rockland,  or Camden, Maine.    They gather a few times a year.     Operating a windjammer is a lifestyle job, the boats gather and work together for parades and festivals.   If you feel like you missed out on something being born into the wrong century, here is your chance to experience what it was like to be out at sea.   You won’t get the rough waters or problems with storms and such, as they sail in protected waters during bad weather.

Worried about your first time on a big sailing boat?  You can take one of the introductory adventures.   One  windjammer operates out of Bar Harbor,  the Margaret Todd.   She’s the ship on our banner picture.   The Margaret Todd and Schooner Olad out of Camden Harbor are the only ships going out on 2 hour  adventures.   If you have small kids, you might consider a friendship sailing sloop rental or other small boat for your own custom adventure or the Rachel B. Jackson, all out of Southwest Harbor on MDI’s quiet side.

The other large vessels require you to invest more of your vacation time, but spending a night on a schooner is what it’s all about anyway.   At their page you can spend hours investigating the various accommodations and differences between the ships. Here’s a link to some video’s about the experience

Imagine spending from 2 to 7 days at sea; but this is a gentle sea, with islands and calm harbors for sleeping, and the best food, all cooked for you.   Yes, there is a bit of work involved, if you want it.

You can pick a themed sail.   With various trips focused on topics like: lighthouses, nature or animal photography, visit a music festival, join a race or a parade of windjammers.    Other trips feature: birding, knitting, astronomy & geology or a pirate adventure.  Or maybe it’s your dream to have a family reunion aboard one of the vessels like this group.

Here is the windjammer fleet website

I couldn’t help but be drawn to one of the last gathering of the season in one of the most beautiful places along our coast….The Windjammer Fleet Rendezvous on   September 13-18th, where all the windjammers gather in Eggemoggin reach with photography workshops.   Imagine all those beautiful boats in a beautiful place and in the most beautiful month of the year..oh all the pictures you could take.

While you’re out around Rockland way, make a stop at a new museum.   It’s called the

Sail Power and Steam Museum.

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