In the past, I've always dragged the family along on
cruises aboard chartered boats in the San Juans
and Gulf Islands. It's getting harder to talk them
into that as various interests diverge. I'm considering
a 4 or 7 day Maine windjammer cruise in September to
get my sailing fix after the kids get back into school.
This would be a side trip from a business trip from
Oregon back to New England (which makes for tax deductible
travel, since I'm self employed---the air travel would
be deductible, but not the windjammer cruise.)

Does anyone have any experience with these cruises? Will
I enjoy the sailing, or will it be just a bouncy motel room
with a really small window?

Is mid September a good time for sailing in the area
around Mt. Desert Island?

Secondary question: Does anyone have any recent experience
with the Mystic Seaport museum in Connecticut? A few days
there are a second choice if the windjammer cruise doesn't
work out.

Mark Borgerson

I have not done a Windjammer cruise but have non-sailing friends who
have done Caribbean Windjammer trips and loved it. Can't be to bouncy as
these folks tale a Dramamine to lay on a pool float. It seems more like
a regular cruise ship but with the option of pulling on ropes. I think
it would be really frustrating for an experienced sailor used to gunk
holing in his own boat.

There are a few smaller reproduction and restored boats in maine that
carry small guest crews. I think you would get a lot more participation
in the actual sailing but some of them are strict traditionalist programs.

If you are into boatbuilding or sailing history, Mystic Museum is
definitely worth a good day of exploration. Maybe two.

Mark Borgerson wrote:

In the past, I've always dragged the family along on
cruises aboard chartered boats in the San Juans
and Gulf Islands. It's getting harder to talk them
into that as various interests diverge. I'm considering
a 4 or 7 day Maine windjammer cruise in September to
get my sailing fix after the kids get back into school.
This would be a side trip from a business trip from
Oregon back to New England (which makes for tax deductible
travel, since I'm self employed---the air travel would
be deductible, but not the windjammer cruise.)

Does anyone have any experience with these cruises? Will
I enjoy the sailing, or will it be just a bouncy motel room
with a really small window?

Is mid September a good time for sailing in the area
around Mt. Desert Island?

Secondary question: Does anyone have any recent experience
with the Mystic Seaport museum in Connecticut? A few days
there are a second choice if the windjammer cruise doesn't
work out.

Mark Borgerson


--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

Mid-September is a glorious time to cruise the Maine coast, and the region from
Camden to Mt. Desert is the best. September should be after the fog, but there
is a chance of blustery weather - I've had a few post-Labor Day nor'easters, and
there is the possibility of a hurricane remnant. However, the waters are pretty
protected there and there's a great refuge every 5 miles. One huge advantage -
it will be post tourist season so everything will be a lot less crowded.

Mystic is a good day's time - more if you like to do everything and chat with
the craftsmen. Also, there's a aquarium nearby, Foxwood's Casino, and plenty of
antique shops.

"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
news:AlW7c.228$pM.99@lakeread04...
I have not done a Windjammer cruise but have non-sailing friends who
have done Caribbean Windjammer trips and loved it. Can't be to bouncy as
these folks tale a Dramamine to lay on a pool float. It seems more like
a regular cruise ship but with the option of pulling on ropes. I think
it would be really frustrating for an experienced sailor used to gunk
holing in his own boat.

There are a few smaller reproduction and restored boats in maine that
carry small guest crews. I think you would get a lot more participation
in the actual sailing but some of them are strict traditionalist programs.

If you are into boatbuilding or sailing history, Mystic Museum is
definitely worth a good day of exploration. Maybe two.

Mark Borgerson wrote:

In the past, I've always dragged the family along on
cruises aboard chartered boats in the San Juans
and Gulf Islands. It's getting harder to talk them
into that as various interests diverge. I'm considering
a 4 or 7 day Maine windjammer cruise in September to
get my sailing fix after the kids get back into school.
This would be a side trip from a business trip from
Oregon back to New England (which makes for tax deductible
travel, since I'm self employed---the air travel would
be deductible, but not the windjammer cruise.)

Does anyone have any experience with these cruises? Will
I enjoy the sailing, or will it be just a bouncy motel room
with a really small window?

Is mid September a good time for sailing in the area
around Mt. Desert Island?

Secondary question: Does anyone have any recent experience
with the Mystic Seaport museum in Connecticut? A few days
there are a second choice if the windjammer cruise doesn't
work out.

Mark Borgerson


--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Mark Borgerson" wrote in message
Does anyone have any experience with these cruises? Will
I enjoy the sailing, or will it be just a bouncy motel room
with a really small window?

Is mid September a good time for sailing in the area
around Mt. Desert Island?

Secondary question: Does anyone have any recent experience
with the Mystic Seaport museum in Connecticut? A few days
there are a second choice if the windjammer cruise doesn't
work out.

Windjammers may or may not be the thing for you, depending on the experience
you're looking for.

Sailing an 80-foot schooner is nothing like sailing a 40-foot sloop and many
sailors find they can learn a lot on a schooner and enjoy the experience. By
and large, schooner crews get excited by passengers who are actually
interested in learning something and will go out of their way to teach you
things if you ask.

The downside for some people is that you are not in charge. The boat has an
itinerary and they tend to stick to it. If getting to make your own
decisions about where to go and when is a big part of the sailing experience
for you, you might not like the windjammers. However, if you're willing to
surrender to the program, the places they go are all pretty cool.

Accommodations on these boats probably more closely resemble your experience
on a charter boat than a motel room. Don't worry about bouncy; the boats
sail in mostly sheltered waters and anchor every night.

September can be a little chilly in Maine, but otherwise may be the best
time of the year. The summer cruising crowd has gone home, there's less
chance of fog, and the sailing is great. You may also find that time of year
that the boats aren't booked full, making it less crowded and more enjoyable
onboard.


Mystic Seaport is unquestionably the nation's top maritime museum, and the
town of Mystic is a wonderful place. Anyone with even a slight interest in
sailing and the sea should get there at least once. However, unless you are
a maritime academic doing research or taking classes there, it's unlikely
you'll find enough to fill much more than a day at the museum. Mind you, if
you toured EVERYTHING that's on public display, read every single placard,
attended every demonstration and saw every performance, you could easily
spend three days. But unless your family is equally fanatical, they'll
probably kill you before you finish.


Carl

My wife and I did a windjammer cruise in the Caribbean. I agree that
the sailing isn't what it is all about. I'm pretty sure that we
motorsailed all the time. We did get to pull on ropes but it was mostly
for show 'cause when we were not topside, the sails went up and down
without our help. 8). It was a fun cruise, but sailing it wasn't. I
noticed the captain would not let anyone other than himself and the crew
near the helm. The accomodations as someone else mentioned were
sparse. A couple of bunks, sink and a shower. There wasn't even a
porthole to look out of. No bouncy. It was a very stable platform. The
food was good. Lots of liquid refreshments. Sometimes we would anchor
during the day and sail to the next island at night and sometimes we
would sail a bit in the day. In each port they had arranged for us to
partake of various activities. Mostly for an additional charge, of
course. We had hermit crab races one night with lots of wagering going
on. I don't know if there is enough to do in Maine n September to
justify a 7 day cruise, but I would say the windjammer line is an
enjoyable one overall.

Jim.

Mark Borgerson wrote:

In the past, I've always dragged the family along on
cruises aboard chartered boats in the San Juans
and Gulf Islands. It's getting harder to talk them
into that as various interests diverge. I'm considering
a 4 or 7 day Maine windjammer cruise in September to
get my sailing fix after the kids get back into school.
This would be a side trip from a business trip from
Oregon back to New England (which makes for tax deductible
travel, since I'm self employed---the air travel would
be deductible, but not the windjammer cruise.)

Does anyone have any experience with these cruises? Will
I enjoy the sailing, or will it be just a bouncy motel room
with a really small window?

Is mid September a good time for sailing in the area
around Mt. Desert Island?

Secondary question: Does anyone have any recent experience
with the Mystic Seaport museum in Connecticut? A few days
there are a second choice if the windjammer cruise doesn't
work out.

Mark Borgerson

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 04:18:26 GMT, Mark Borgerson
wrote:

In the past, I've always dragged the family along on
cruises aboard chartered boats in the San Juans
and Gulf Islands. It's getting harder to talk them
into that as various interests diverge. I'm considering
a 4 or 7 day Maine windjammer cruise in September to
get my sailing fix after the kids get back into school.
This would be a side trip from a business trip from
Oregon back to New England (which makes for tax deductible
travel, since I'm self employed---the air travel would
be deductible, but not the windjammer cruise.)

Does anyone have any experience with these cruises? Will
I enjoy the sailing, or will it be just a bouncy motel room
with a really small window?

My wife and I took two week-long windjammer cruises in 1976 and 1980.
The first was on Shenandoah, which sails out of Vineyard Haven, on
Marthas Vineyard in MA. The second was on Nathaniel Bowditch, which
sails from Rockland, ME.

We enjoyed both, but like cruising our own boat better (or a bareboat,
for that matter).

One very big difference for me is that Shenandoah has square sails,
top and t'gallant, on the foremast. At least in 1976, passengers were
allowed ot climb aloft. Very few chose to do so.

I found sitting on the topsail yard a great experience, with an
unusual perspective.

AFIK no Maine windjammer permits this. Of course none of them have a
reason for the crew to climb, as Shenendoah does.

Motel room with a small window no. Accommodations are spartan in the
two mentioned. No windows at all IIRC.

I have heard that the Victory Chimes has running water in the cabins,
but I haven't seen that for myself.

The Bowditch started life as an Alden schooner-yacht in the 1920s. She
had a marconi main then. Now she has gaff rig on both to look more
like a workboat, but she still has an internal auxiliary, unususal in
a windjammer. Most have pushboats ("yawlboats").

The Maine windjammers usually land for a clambake on an uninhabited
island once during a cruise. Two or three vessels will arrange to join
up so you will meet people from other boats. A "clambake" includes
lobsters and corn on the cob steamed under seaweed by an open fire. If
you want wine with it you had better bring your own.

Is mid September a good time for sailing in the area
around Mt. Desert Island?

September is the best time for Maine. There is likely to be little
fog. The windjammers sail mostly a little west from MDI, in the area
centered on Penobscot Bay. Once in a while they get to MDI.


Secondary question: Does anyone have any recent experience
with the Mystic Seaport museum in Connecticut? A few days
there are a second choice if the windjammer cruise doesn't
work out.

Mark Borgerson


Rodney Myrvaagnes J36 Gjo/a


"We have achieved the inversion of the single note."
__ Peter Ustinov as Karlheinz Stckhausen