We're headin' to Maine...

[landlocked sailor]

...for a 6 day cruise on the Penobscot Bay aboard the 'Grace Bailey' (or the 'Mercantile', not sure which boat yet). Travel Sat/Sun, board Sunday evening and head out Monday. This ought to be fun. I'll have to figure out the photo-posting when we get back. Rick

[StevenBauer]

Have fun, I hope the weather holds. It looks good for the beginning of the week.

Steven

[rbgarr]

Hope you'll be able to see some clear evening skies and the approaching full moon from sometime nice anchorages.

[Hughman]

Have fun. email for beer.

[landlocked sailor]

Well, THAT was one interesting week. We sailed on the Grace Bailey: 82' LOD, 110' LOA. White oak planking on white oak frames, with white pine decks. She was launched in 1882 as a coasting cargo schooner and has been in the tour-charter trade since the late 1930's. She had a major rebuild in 1990 and it tight as a drum with dry bilges.
Our weather was really lousy. We had rain most days with back to back nor'easters on Thursday & Friday. We sailed on Thursday in driving rain and SLEET! Some passengers were sure it was snowing! None of that was able to dampen out enthusiasm though and we had a great time. We met some wonderful shipmates and laughed alot. Eleanor is 75, has been on 7 prior trips and would not miss a chance to haul on the halyards. She did opt to be a 'peak' hauler rather than a 'throat' hauler though. Lyle & Sharon are from New Orleans. They were not intimidated by the weather.
There is nothing easy about sailing these boats and there are few compromises with modernity. All the running rigging is manila or hemp, which swells mightily in the rain so does not run through the blocks freely. Ground tackle is massive fishermans' anchors (350 lbs. each) and all chain rode with 4" links. Four men on the anchor windlass really WORKED every morning to reclaim the hook.
The crew of 5 was terrific. Captain JR Braugh has spent the last 12 years on Maine coasters, working his way up from messmate with absolutely no experience. First mate Roy has over 20 years on board and as a shipwright in the US and Europe. Deck Hand Billy is a recent graduate from Rhode Island School of Design in furniture design who hopes to learn boat building. Cook Kate is a Downeaster on her first season with the crew; they didn't teach her how to cook on a woodstove in culinary school. Mess mate Aaron just graduated from Vassar in math and computer science; he's spending the month of June doing something completey different.
We had a wonderful experience and if the weather had been just a wee bit nicer it would have been one of our best vacations. I have to get my photos downloaded and bring them here. Rick

[wdnbt]

Our weather was really lousy. We had rain most days with back to back nor'easters on Thursday & Friday. We sailed on Thursday in driving rain and SLEET! Some passengers were sure it was snowing! None of that was able to dampen out enthusiasm though and we had a great time.


I must of been heading out on Friday evening when you were on your way into Camden Harbor. We heading out on the Angelique and I think recall that The Grace Bailey(originally named Mattie) was on her way back to the harbor. We were only sailing till Sunday morning(it was a weekend cruise with a Venture Scout group), and like you, we had waves of driving rain or mist and fog. BUT, you were so right when you say that none of that was able to dampen the great time that was had by all!
I'll be going again in July.............just hope the Sun will join us then.
Rick

[Sea Smoke]

There are some wonderful spots in that part of the water, where did you put in?

The picture above is me in Carvers Harbor, Vinalhaven, aboard Sea Smoke.

[landlocked sailor]

Night 1 at Swan Island in Burnt Coat Harbor. I was able to take a pull around the harbor in the ship's whitehall in the morning. Night 2 was at Eggemogin Reach right off of WoodenBoat. There was a lovely Haven 12 1/2 sailing before sunset. Night 3 was on a mooring in Rockport in anticipation of the first storm. I got a tour of Rockport Marine where they are building the Bermuda Schooner. Night 4 was at Rockland among the schooner fleet. Night 5 was in Gilkey Harbor off Isleboro for the Captain's Barbecue. We came back into Camden about 0930 on Saturday. Rick

[Ocean Spray]

Rick, I always wanted to do one of those cruises and your reveiw, even with the Lousy weather you had, has convinced me to try one. What's the cost per person? What were the accomodations like? How many passengers on board? Can you tell me more?

[johngsandusky]

Sailed On Grace Bailey last summer, couldn't stop smiling the whole time. But I think those anchors are way more than 350. :)

[landlocked sailor]

They sure FEEL like alot more than 350, but that's what the skipper told me. Ocean Spray: $750 per head. The cabins are cozy and dry. We had the 'family suite' on the port side of the middle cabin: 2 cabins each with a double bunk and 1 cabin with single over & under bunks (bunk beds) and a head or 'toilet room'. There is only one shower on board, operated with a foot pump that works poorly. She can take 29 passengers. We had 24 for the first half and 20 for the rest of the week. Since our cruise had two sets of passengers we got two lobster dinners; pretty cool. Rick

[landlocked sailor]

Here are the links:
http://mainewindjammercruises.com/index.html
http://sailmainecoast.com/
Rick

[davidagage]

There is a new boat in town too, not an old wooden one, but still an interesting cruise.

http://www.wanderbirdcruises.com/

[Dale R. Hamilton]

Hey Landlocked! You have given me an idea for SWMBO's annaversary present- 5 days on Mistress. Whats the food and drink Like?

[Old Sailor]

And if anyone happens to be in the NW check out the schooner Zodiax. Sailed on her for two summers. Fantastic food and a grand tour of the San Juan Islands.
Old Sailor

[landlocked sailor]

Dale, the Mistress has a propane stove, rather than a wood stove. Food on the Grace was very good and hearty in a down home sort of way: we had big egg & meat breakfasts, salads and chowders and caseroles for lunch. Suppers varied from lobster to steaks to fish; one night we had a roasted beef brisket that was awesome. Drinks are limited to coffee, tea, iced tea, lemonade, milk and water. Passengers supply their own sodas and alchohol. There is a big chest cooler on deck for these. Here is a word of advice: bring more booze than you think you want. As the captain warned at the outset, "do not anticipate the opportunity to reprovision". We all ran out on the last night which was a bit of a bummer considering the cold and damp, but the comraderie was a good compensation. You can always take home what you have left. Rick

[landlocked sailor]

Test photo from The Coast O' Maine
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid208/p4ea4dc869453fb7216cb92b4bcd3b8da/ee7d02dc.jpg

[landlocked sailor]

The Lovely Grace Bailey ready to weigh anchor in Burnt Coat Harbor, Swan Island as soon as I get back from a pull around the harbor in the whitehall
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid208/p54e64099d9e0d6e225042d8b8d1e8184/ee7d03d1.jpg

[landlocked sailor]

We spent the second night anchored in Eggemogin Reach off of the Mecca:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid208/p2740af9bd8ba817047cc23fed190e09b/ee7d0536.jpg

This lovely Haven sailed around us while we shot mutual pictures.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid208/p614693c0e29d28e733ee8365070c0d5c/ee7d04b3.jpg

The American Eagle was anchored next to us
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid208/pfdfa84c1398a2cf95b6e80ba6c469e1d/ee7d047e.jpg
More to come. Rick

[landlocked sailor]

Sunset over Eggemoggin Reach
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid208/p43df9c00dac74549c5aa9b9ca0378e71/ee7d03a8.jpg

Rainy day fun in the galley. The girl in red is my middle daughter Laurea 16
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid208/p08993e1015a053f09dd5cd3a936c2985/ee7d0207.jpg

The girl in blue is my youngest Brigid. She turned 12 on board.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid208/p169b8fa4c83bd4afe57bc96c03f9ff95/ee7d038d.jpg

My first mate pulling in the whitehall
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid208/p363236497dfba7b0e270214f3ff90aa0/ee7d0448.jpg

On deck looking aft
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid208/pd9db551b7a7569b36ce6bf124fd48739/ee7d010f.jpg
My eldest, Maggie, 18, at the helm. That smile is really a grimace; She enjoyed the whole experience the least.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid208/pfa07f3d0ece08d71072b445e888d3668/ee7d00ae.jpg
The skipper and deck hand do KP while Brigid hams it up. She did do dishes at every meal, helped cook and even swabbed the deck daily.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid208/pb6eaeaa44ca55ab912542f71f8350907/ee7cfff2.jpg
I dig up more later. Rick

[landlocked sailor]

I am bumping this thread to show the photos I have added and will add. Rick

[landlocked sailor]

*bump*