Maine Windjammer Angelique

ANGELIQUE SPRING OUTFITTING

2008-04-28T05:07:00.000-07:00

Snow finally gave in and let our early spring temperatures melt the banks and piles left in the woods and on the north sides of any structure.
The floats are in, the crew with duffel bags in hand have climbed aboard eager to get Angelique ready for the season. Hours of sanding, painting and varnishing will occupy their time for the next few weeks. Those that step aboard Angelique when they finish will be rewarded with a shiny new coat of paint and varnish.
Soon, the crew will be in the rig, hanging blocks, running halyards, stepping topmasts and bending sails, all in preparation of heading “out there” where vessels belong. Our first trip will be to the shipyard in a couple of weeks to haul out, clean and paint the bottom and have our yearly Coast Guard inspection.
Last year, Rick and Scott who enjoy sailing with us during the season came up and gave us a hand in laying the new deck for a couple of days. We were quite delighted when they wanted to come up again this year and lend a hand with spring outfitting. We let them loose on the windless which was showing signs of ware, what better project for two engineers? A few sketches later they came up with a solution to fix our wandering hydraulic motor that drives the 130 year old windless put to task to haul the anchor and chain. We are happy to report that their work was done in jig time and with outstanding results. I have said all along, one of the best things about the windjamming business is the people we get to meet. Thanks Scott and Rick for your efforts and enthusiasm!

Crew members, Andrew, Shelly, Chad, Chris, Rick and Scott getting Angelique ready for the 2008 season.

Tucked in for Winter!

2007-11-30T07:35:00.000-08:00

Angelique is all tucked in for the season. Moored at her berth in Camden at the head of the harbor. We are lucky we sail from such a beautiful and protected spot. Angelique’s cover is on, winter lines have been made fast, chains checked and chafe gear in place. It can be quite cold and lonely aboard during a winter blow, it is best to be prepared rather than caught by surprise in the middle of the night when the temperature is zero and the wind howling, not much fun.

The shrink wrap cover will,with luck, shoulder the winter and spring gales. Under the cover is a great place to carry out maintenance aboard. As soon as the cover is on, outfitting begins for the next season. We give it a good couple of weeks, before the crew departs for their winter professions. A fresh coat of varnish and paint on all the booms and gaffs. The rails and bright work were also tended to. All the work was finished off by a wash down before the water is turned off for the winter.

The floats that create the walkway to get to the vessel are also removed to prevent ice damage. The harbor does indeed freeze, making getting to Angelique sometimes challenging. The ice usually does not come in until late December at the earliest, until then a shoe box like skiff named “Livingston” will be our transportation to the vessel. Poor Livingston, he arrived at the head of the harbor after a summer blow, I think the blow was merely an excuse for the owner to get rid of such an ugly skiff. Livingston’s new career being dragged over the sea wall and on to the gravel beach and sledding across the ice will suit him fine; every boat should have a purpose.

After replacing the quarter deck the fall of ‘05 and the foredeck the fall of ‘06 and spring of ‘07 we have no major projects this fall. a welcome relief. It is not to say that we don’t have a lot of little ones.
Lets hope for some snow.

All the best!

SEASON'S END

2007-10-04T18:40:00.000-07:00

Hello to all, it's hard to believe that the sailing season is coming to an end and we will soon be placing the winter cover on Angelique and tucking her in for winter. Please excuse my negliance for not keeping up with our blog....... I will try again to post once a week.
This fall has been just beautiful for sailing, mother nature has given us a real mix of weather. We have seen beautiful warm days with gentle breezes to gusty winds for some very exciting sailing.
Sunsets, sea fog, harvest moon and rainbows have added to the majestic beauty of the Maine Coast.

Our 2008 schedule is now on our web site, please call if you have any questions.

July and August Memories

2007-08-30T04:53:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,
We are excited to begin this new adventure and are thrilled to be able to share photo's, quotes, poems from guests about their cruise. We will also add interesting facts and news about ANGELIQUE on a weekly basis.
Mike's favorite saying from a guest on a recent 4 day cruise was "It is so great to wake up to the sound of laughter"
Blazing sunsets, rainbows and even the beauty of fog constantly reminds us of the beauty of the Maine Coast!
Fall is gently approaching, cool brisk breezes will soon be with us along with the beautiful splash of color as foliage changes.
Windjammer Festival in Camden will keep us very busy this week end. Open house from 2-4 pm September 1st and 2nd
will allow visitors to tour each vessel and see what we are alll about.

SPECIAL 10% DISCOUNT
Space available September 10-15 and September 17-22. Reserve now and SAVE!

I'll end by sharing Haikus from guests who sailed in July.

Angelique, July 2007; Jonathan Kelly
Angelique sails on,
To ports in chartless waters....
Destinies unknown......

My Trip; Judy Kerrigan, July 2007 The Sea is Empty; James Richter, July 2007
Didn't hoist the sail... The sea is empty.......
Didn't do the dishes yet... I see no life anywhere....
Maybe tomorrow.... A seal shows its head...

The Slant of The Deck; Tom McElwain, July 2007
The Slant of the deck....
As we sail cross wind-swept sea,
Brings balance, once more.

Thanks for taking a look, have a great day!

New- Notes from a Maine Windjammer

2007-07-31T13:10:00.000-07:00

Greetings, friends! We're delighted to begin this new journey with you, as we post highlights, pictures and news from the voyages of the windjammer Angelique. Share the delight of cruising Maine's coastal waters under full sail. Join new shipmates, share the enthusiasm for the lore of Penobscot Bay, the fascinating history and legends of lighthouses, the small villages and rocky islands that dot the bay.

Today we will be found in lovely Swan's Island Harbor, enjoying the Sweet Chariot Music Festival on Swan's Island, Maine! This gem of a festival has some of New England's best folk music and performance - and you must arrive by boat! A fantastic night of music on a beautiful island at the foot of Blue Hill Bay, just a few miles southwest of Mt. Desert.

It's sunny and 76 today with clear skies, we hope to catch the start of the Perseids meteor showers- the peak will be Sunday August 12, but with our dark, clear clear skies we should be able to see the start of the show soon.

Watch (or subscribe to!) this blog for more updates from the Angelique, and warm wishes to all!