Maine Windjammer Angelique

Help Wanted

2012-01-27T07:55:00.000-08:00

We are looking for experienced deckhands and a chef/cook to work aboard this season.

Long hours, hard work. If interested, please contact us.

Neal Parent

2012-01-20T12:57:00.000-08:00

In 2012, Neal Parent is celebrating teaching on windjammers for 30 years. That is a long time! He’s been a professional photographer for over 35 years, and the focus of his work has been Maine, its water, its landscape, its boats and people, all wonderfully coming to life through his lens.

He has published several books, and received praise from Ansel Adams who told him he knows “how very difficult it is to capture the very special essence of Maine.” Neal Parent started his photojournalist career on a small midcoast Maine newspaper, and has gone on to become one of Maine’s renowned photographers.
Since 1983, he has been teaching aboard Maine Windjammers, and has taught on Angelique for many of those years. While cruising aboard Angelique, students find lots of majestic Maine coastlines, picturesque boats and harbors, and lots of seals, whales, and birds within the range of their camera lens. His fun style of teaching, delightful sense of humor and a love of photography make every one of these cruises on Angelique a very special one! He also conducts private classes out of his Belfast, Maine darkroom, and has taught at the Maine Media Workshops in Rockport, Maine. You can find out lots more about Neal Parent at nealparent.com.
Neal Parent will be doing a Photography Workshop-Naturalist Cruise June 17 - 23 on Angelique.

Early Booking Discounts!

2011-11-22T05:52:00.000-08:00

Save 10%: Make your cruise reservation before February 1, 2012
Save 5%: Book after February 1 and before April 1, 2012
Confirm your reservation with deposit and pay in full prior to February 1 for 10%
or April 1 for 5% to qualify. We hope you can join us!
Space is limited, please call 1-800-282-9989 for more information.

2012 Sailing Schedule

Special Vacation Packages

Reservation Form

October Sun and Snow

2011-11-03T05:29:00.000-07:00

October has been a crazy month. October 10th we were sailing with a warm breeze.... Oct 30th I was skiing on Ragged Mountain, strange indeed. Since we covered up the vessel the crew has varnished and painted the spars to be ready for next season. We have also completed some work on the sides of the deckhouse that needed some attention to make maintenance a little easier in the future. Systems have been drained and winter mooring prepared. The vessel just isn't the same this time of year... it's too quiet.
I have been able to sneak in a couple of afternoons fishing with the pooch; no luck, but will keep trying to land an elusive trout. Sunday the 30th bought 6-8" of snow at our house and over a foot at the summit of Ragged Mountain. I couldn't resist a fall ski tour. The snow was heavy, wet and fun. Good to be back on the skis. Halloween was also a chance for a sunny ski tour under bluebird sky, all treat, no trick. Looking out onto the bay from the Camden Hills is a spectacular sight!
The weather has warmed up a bit since our winter event... back to some painting and maybe a little fishing.

New wainscoting on deckhouse sides

My fishing companion

First turns of the season

Wrap-Up for Fall

2011-10-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

A great ending to a great season! Our last two cruises were keepers, from cool to hot, blustery to calm; we had a little of everything. Fall came roaring in on the heels of a Canadian cold front with gale force winds. We had a beautiful reach down the bay with staysail, reefed main and mizzen making a very comfortable 9-10 knots (eating salad for lunch was tough though). The Columbus Weekend cruise brought warm, westerly breezes with temperatures in the 80's, swimmers in the water and endless sunsets....unbelievable!

With bittersweet emotions we arrived Monday in Angelique's berth, where she will stay for the winter. We started down-rigging after our guests departed. Topmasts were lowered to the deck Tuesday at coffee time, and the winter cover frame was started soon after. Angelique was covered by Wednesday afternoon, what a ride.... We pushed it a bit due to the forecast of the weather shutting in for multiple days. Some of the crew has taken off; those that stay will work a few days getting the booms and gaffs varnished and painted for next season.

We put in a lot of miles this season, and had a lot of laughs. Thanks for joining us... If you haven't joined us I hope you do. It's fun!

Columbus Day Smiles

4:00 P.M. Columbus Day

It's a wrap...... Wednesday afternoon

A Bittersweet Time of Year

2011-09-26T05:19:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that the end of the season is approaching? Seems like just last week we were putting the sails on.

Sailing has been good, lots of miles under the keel. Many lobsters have been consumed. We have been having a wonderful Indian summer.

We are looking forward to great stargazing this week due to the lack of a moon; should be awesome! A couple of more cruises to go to finish out the season.

It is indeed a bittersweet time of year.

Charlie sporting Obie's new bow puddin'

Autumn Is A Great Time To Get away

2011-09-24T06:40:00.000-07:00

Join us for our Fall Foliage cruises, October 2-6 and October 6-10. The dazzling fall colors reflected on the bay is a spectacular sight!

Space is limited, please call 1-800-282-9989 for more information.

2011 Sailing Schedule

Special Vacation Packages

Reservation Form

Miles To Go...

2011-08-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

I have said many times that one of the best things about Windjamming is meeting people from all walks of life. It is one of the things that keeps life interesting. Once in a while you meet a person who classifies as a "character", someone who thinks outside the box from time to time, walks at a different pace.

My friend Roger is one of those people who classifies. Roger is raising money for a scholarship fund at University of Vermont by running to UVM. The idea of running from Bethel, Maine to Burlington, Vermont -- a distance of 140 miles sounds -- daunting to me. Throw in the fact that Rodger is 72 makes the payback run truly unique.

Please check out www.paybackrun.com!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-24T07:34:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-17T06:24:00.001-07:00

Whales, Meteors, and Lobsters!

2011-08-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

We had a good end to the Swans Island cruise. We were sailing offshore between Great Spoon Island and Little Spoon Island, near Isle Au Haut, when we were treated to the sight of five or six Minke Whales. It was totally unexpected. Then the next night we had a lobster bake on Wreck Island, and the lobsters were mighty yummy!

Following the Swans Island cruise, we had a 3-day sail featuring the Perseid meteor shower. What a sight! The cruise was good, the days were beautiful, and folks had a good time. Angelique took the opportunity to pack a lot into the three days. We sailed to Buck’s Harbor, then to Pond Island off Cape Rosier where we had our lobster bake, and we ended up in Gilkey Harbor to round it out. The meteor showers were fantastic; if you got up when the moon set about 2 a.m., it was even better.

Now Angelique goes out on another 3-night getaway, a Full-Moon cruise -- there’s nothing like the full moon on Penobscot Bay. It’s lovely! No annoying light pollution, no noise or TV or anything but a loon’s cry ... it’s the best way to see the full moon!

Swans Island Music Cruise

2011-08-05T13:56:00.000-07:00

Angelique is at the Swans Island Music Festival. We went Wednesday night to the festival; passengers walked up to see the first of three nights of musical acts. There’s a different collection of musicians each night! It was a lot of fun. We anchored about 3:30; three windjammers were there already. It is fun to experience this eclectic of music on a Maine island!

The Swans Island trip is also an impromptu knitting cruise put together by some favorite passengers, Meg and Kathy. There are about 15 knitters aboard! Meg and Kathy are there to help them out. Nothing like knitting to the beat!

Whale Watch Part 2!

2011-08-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

Angelique’s cruise offshore was really good! There was a beautiful sky, and we had calm seas; couldn’t ask for a better day. We made our trip out to Mt. Desert Rock to look for whales and marine life, as well as seabirds. Mt. Desert Rock is now the marine mammal research station for the College of the Atlantic.

We spotted 4 or 5 well-behaved Finback whales, an awesome sight! We also saw a couple schools of white-sided dolphins, a half-dozen mola-mola’s (ocean sunfish), a few grey seals, and a Minke whale, and to top it off, we saw some shearwaters. For a while, we didn’t know which way to look because there was so much action; what a great day!

We had a fantastic sail back to Bass Harbor from “The Rock”, and lobsters on the beach really rounded out the week. This week we head out to Swans Island for the music festival! The fun never stops on Angelique!

Mola-Mola

Mt. Desert Rock ... a lonely place

Angelique anchored off Wreck Island

Save on August Cruises!

2011-08-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

Join us to see Maine's Lighthouses, August 14-20 and save 10%. We are also offering 5% off on all 4 day cruises in August.

Space is limited, please call 1800-282-9989 for more information.

Whale & Seabird Cruise

2011-07-27T06:01:00.000-07:00

Angelique is on a Whale & Seabird cruise, currently in Burnt Cove off of Swans Island. We’re sailing around Long Island today, and we hope the weather will be good tomorrow for sailing out 20 miles off-shore to to see if we can find some whales!

We’re hoping to see Minke, Humpback and Finback whales. They are such amazing mammals! The smallest of the three, and most abundant whale, is the Minke. Minke whales have a characteristic white band on each flipper, contrasting with its very dark gray top color. Minke whales are about 25 - 30 feet long and weigh about 6 - 8 tons.

Humpback whales are the next biggest of the three, about 52 feet long and weighing about 30 to 50 tons. That’s a lot of whale! They are the acrobats of the ocean, and they sing amazing songs. They breach high out of the ocean and sometimes twirl as they come back down. Male humpback whales are the most imaginative, noisiest of whales; they have long, varied, complex, eerie, and beautiful songs.

Finback whales are very large, about 78 feet long and weighing around 50 to 70 tons. To put it in perspective, they eat about 2 tons of food per day. But its great size doesn’t slow it down: the Finback whale is called “the greyhound of the sea”, capable of bursts of speed of up to 23 mph!

Besides the whales, we hope to see white-sided dolphins, huge grey seals - twice the size of harbor seals - and gannets, puffins and shearwaters. Cross your fingers! We’ll let you know what we found right here on the Angelique blog!

Windjammer Parade

2011-07-19T10:19:00.000-07:00

The last four-day cruise was a keeper! It was the weekend they had the Windjammer Parade in Rockland, what a pretty sight! So great to see the many windjammers of Maine as they went by the Rockland Breakwater on Friday. They are all such pretty ships, especially Angelique!

We had a nice sail after the Windjammer Parade, back to Pulpit Harbor. There was an awesome sunset followed by a full moon rise. On Saturday evening we had a lobster bake on Wreck Island in Merchant's Row. Stephen set a new lobster consumption of 17!! Needless to say, he didn't have any pie for dessert.

We had some lively sailing on Sunday -- 9 knots to windward, not bad for the old girl! Monday's breeze was a surprise on our way home to Camden, 8 knots with only the lowers set; it was a warm northwest breeze. Lots of Happy Campers and smiles.

It's a lot cooler on the water than on the mainland!

Making Time to Windward

Maggie Checkin' It Out

Some of the vessels milling around Rockland Breakwater during the Windjammer Parade

Lighthouse Cruise

2011-07-15T06:08:00.000-07:00

Angelique had a wonderful lighthouse 4-day cruise last week! We had great weather for sailing and saw plenty of lighthouses! AND we ate all the lobster, which is saying a lot ... first time this season! Have to get more next trip! Here are some of the lighthouses we saw on the trip:

Curtis Island
At the entrance to Angelique's home, Camden harbor.

Rockland Harbor Light
Perched at the end of a half-mile breakwater made of big granite slabs, this light may look like it's floating on water!

Dice Head Light
We also stopped in Castine where folks walked to Dice Head Light get a closer look.

Mark Island Light
Built in 1858, it stands in Deer Island Thorofare, near Stonington.

Eagle Island Light
West of Deer Isle, this light was commissioned in 1838.

Pumpkin Island Light
In Eggemoggin Reach

Goose Rocks Light
"The Spark Plug" is located at the eastern entrance of the Fox Islands Thorofare.

Brown's Head Light
Located at the northwestern end of Vinalhaven Island, this light was established in 1832.

Owl's Head Light
At the entrance to Rockland Harbor, this station was established in 1825.

Indian Island Light
Built on Indian Island, just off the tip of Beauchamp Point in Rockport

The guests on this cruise were wonderful as usual! Everyone had a great time :)

Race Week!

2011-07-11T13:18:00.000-07:00

Last week was race week. We woke Tuesday to blue sky and light winds. It was a beautiful sight in Smith Cove as the early morning sun shed light on the windjammer fleet.

The race was off to a slow start due to light winds ... was there any wind at all?? The southerly breeze finally filled in after lunch (having salad often helps bring up the wind). The race course had to be shortened a bit due to light air at the start.

We duked it out in the leeward class with the Heritage and the Nathanial Bowditch. We were fortunate to cross the starting line with little wind against the tide. Crossing the finish line we were first in our class. We will hang on to the trophy for a while, we will see what next year brings us. Every boat has it's day....

Crew With Race Trophy

Angelique dockside at Bucks Harbor Marine

Celebrating!

Photography & Naturalist Cruise

2011-06-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

Angelique is having a wonderful sail! It's the Photogrophy and Naturalist cruise. Barbara Tomlinson is the naturalist on board, and she's helping with every sort of creature found as Angelique sails through Maine's wonderful waters, including osprey, eagles, porpoise, and seal pups. Neal Parent and his assistant George are busy helping photographers to get the best shots they can! They've been lucky to have all kinds of weather to photograph, including the elusive foggy mornings!

One of the most fun things to do, especially for photographers, is to go to Somes Sound, a body of water running deep into Mount Desert Island. It is often called "the only fjord on the East coast." Angelique made a stop at McGlathery Island for a luscious lobster bake! The island had a sandy beach, and it was a nice evening. Night found them in Somesville; it was a wonderful day.

Then they went to Stonington for a little shopping. Stonington was named for the granite quarries that were so famous in its history. It's a cute town and has lovely shops!

The sailing has been really good. In the narrows by Swan's Island is the Orono Island passage, a pretty spot to sail in. Usually Angeligue doesn't get a chance to sail through there, but this summer the tide and wind were right, and they got a pretty little sail from east to west right through! It was a fun time!

What a Great Trip!

2011-06-18T03:03:00.000-07:00

Angelique had a great 6-night sailing adventure last week! It was a Road Scholar trip, and they had a naturalist, Barbara Tomlinson, and maritime historian, Bud Warren aboard. The saw lots of wildlife, including eagles, ospreys, loons, and baby seals, and they saw the first harbor porpoises of the year. That was fun! Barbara is also a remarkable falconer, and she showed her red tailed hawk at the end of the trip. Bud regaled the passengers with history about the local fishing industry, and tales of early settlers in the Castine area, as well the Penobscot Expedition and shipbuilding. In addition, there was a sail training component, so everyone was very busy!

It was a nice trip, with good breezes. There were two days of really great sailing, and the rest of the trip was spent ghosting along. Sarah made a yummy pork tenderloin that was excellent, with just the right combination of garlic and herbs, and she made a very special sauteed carrot dish which may soon be shared on the blog! The whole crew is working hard and doing a good job. And next week's Photography and Naturalist cruise promises to be very fun as well!

Barbara with Red Tail Hawk (Photo credit Louis Levine)

Lobsters on the beach (Photo credit Louis Levin)

Wildlife Cruise!

2011-06-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

Angelique had such a great Wildlife Cruise last week! They saw some seal pups on the ledges as they sailed by, and they were very cute indeed. Then, the major sight of the cruise was at Holbrook Nature Sanctuary, when their eyes were greeted to the scene of a one-year old black bear! He was on a sand bar on the beach. How cool is that!! Holbrook Nature Sanctuary really is a little bit of Maine ... a lot of people in Maine never even get to see a black bear, but Angelique passengers did!

About a dozen bald eagles made an appearance over the four-night sail, as well as eider ducks and guillemots. It was really breezy. They didn't set the topsails for two days!

The food was excellent ... Sarah made a white bean chili with some Italian sausage in it that was to die for. And the strawberry-rhubarb pie, made with rhubarb that Lynne grew right at home in her garden, was lip-smackin' delicious! The wildlife cruise was a lot of fun, but it will be interesting to see what things the next trip brings. They have a special group on board, with a naturalist and a marine historian!

Sarah looks through the galley porthole!

This is really high up!!

Shot of the deck while under way.

Interesting sights you'll see on Angelique!

Angelique Sails Again!

2011-06-03T06:38:00.000-07:00

The last few days of fitting out went off without a hitch, as the crew finished up painting, and then they put the sails on. Angelique was ready to sail again!

The first trip was for a Boy Scout Troop from Londonderry, NH. It was a Memorial Day weekend trip for 3 nights, Friday through Monday. It was a lot of fun! The boys had a beach cookout with hot dogs and hamburgers on Saturday. Then on Sunday they went to Rockland to play frisbee in the park. They helped out a lot and it was a good shake down cruise!

Angelique is just finishing a 4 night Wildlife cruise, which should be awesome! Seal pups are born in May, so this is the perfect time to spot them learning to swim or fish. They are too cute!

Cruising is a pleasure on Angelique. This year made a seamless transition from last year, everything is running as smooth as silk, the sails went up smoothly and Sarah rang the breakfast bell at 8 o'clock, right on time. It's good to have so many returning crew members! The weather has been perfect, and it is going to be a great season to sail!

Painting

Andrew, Caleb and Maggie working on Main sail.

Maggie and Caleb

The Cover Is Off!

2011-05-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

Angelique has the cover off! Now we can get a lot more work done which we couldn’t do with the cover on. The crew has been busily prepping and painting the topsides green, and the waist and bowsprit cream; they’ve been varnishing the rails and other bright work on board! The spars (booms and gaffs) are now off the deck and hung in their proper place, and some other rigging was done.

Now that the cover is off, the crew and Angelique are truly more weather sensitive, they are both at the mercy of Mother Nature! On the rainy days, Sarah and Maggie worked at the shop painting Cappy, the seine boat, and they finished up other shop paint jobs like the ice chest and oars.

Stephen, Will and Andrew took to painting and varnishing below Angelique’s decks … they also went below the floorboards to paint and clean the bilges. They deserve a special treat for that!

Seasoned sailing guests and engineers Scott and Rick came up from New Hampshire to help out for a few days, a tradition for quite a few years now. What better place for a couple of engineers to come and tinker! Scott and Rick overhauled many of Angelique's blocks, and they cleaned and greased the pins and reattached copper plates for the keeper pin. They also fixed a couple of fresh water plumbing challenges that presented themselves at the end of the season. The fresh water system has been energized and there are no leaks! Thanks for all your help Rick and Scott!

And people ask what we do when we’re not sailing ...

Unwrapped for the season!

Andrew and Sarah removing the framing.

Scott and Rick checking the windlass.

Trivia Question!

2011-05-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

Question: In the above picture, Obie bears a plaque that says “T/T Angelique”. What does that mean?
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Answer: The T/T Angelique means “Tender To” Angelique. A “tender” is a type of small dingy or launch that is used to transfer equipment or personnel to and from a larger vessel. Now you know!

Almost Done Painting!

2011-04-22T09:24:00.000-07:00

This was the week the Angelique crew finish painting, putting enamel on all the exposed surfaces to protect them and to make them look pretty! The few rainy days we had this week, the crew worked in the shop painting the deck boxes -- any boxes on deck that can be removed, like the ice chest -- and also the swing spreaders on top of the mast that hold the guide wires.

Also, they worked on the seats of the row boat you all know and love. Did you know that this boat is named for “Cappy” Erwin Quinn of Eagle Island? He built it with Orville Young of Lincolville when he was living in Camden at the time, about 1975. Cappy’s Restaurant is named for him. Amazing what you learn in the Angelique blog!

Finishing touches were also completed "Obie", Angelique's small inboard launch. Obie is used to help handle lines and give Angelique a nudge out of Angelique's berth in Camden Harbor. Obie was built as a launch for a large schooner yacht in 1936. She is now powered by a 2 cylinder 15 hp Yanmar diesel. Obie is a very handy boat.

The painting on deck will be done by the end of the week. Angelique is getting ready for the season! Are you ready to sail yet??

Maggie prepping the Head doors

Stephen

Obie ready to be rolled out of the shop

The crew hard at work....

The Shop is a busy place on rainy days

Swing spreaders, deck boxes, doors and boats...everywhere!

Special Theme Cruises in June!

2011-04-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

Seal pups, birds, photography. Join us May 31-June 4 for seal pups! Too Cute! Pups are born in May making early summer a perfect time to observe youngsters learning to swim or fish.

Join us June 19-25 for Photography Workshop and Naturalist Cruise. Neal Parent (talented photographer from Maine) will be onboard offering a digital Photo Workshop. Naturalist Barbara Tomlinson will also be onboard. June is a great time to view coastal wildlife: osprey, eagles, porpoise, puffin and seal pups. Hope you can join us!

Please call 1-800-282-9989 for more information.

Summer 2011 Sailing Schedule -- Special Vacation Packages -- Reservation Form

It's a Messy Job But Somebody's Got To Do It!

2011-04-12T05:22:00.001-07:00

Ahhhh, spring outfitting. That time of the year when birds are chirping, peepers are peeping, and Angelique crew members are busy prepping every paintable surface to resist the effects of wear and damp weather! The wood surfaces on Angelique need to be sealed every spring to keep out the fresh water and prevent rot. It’s a huge job! All wood surfaces must be sanded, putty is applied where needed, then they are primed, and finally they are finished with several coats of marine enamel. This is done for every cabin side and top, the bowsprit, the deck house, the galley, basically everything that isn’t varnished.... which is another story.

Right now the crew is lucky to work under the cover, but on rainy days it’s possible to work on the boats in the shop.

The crew has also been busy maintaining the standing rigging. They tar the standing rigging with a mixture of boiled linseed oil and pine tar, which is slathered on. The shrouds (wires that support the mast) are "served " or covered in marlin, to protect them from the elements. The natural fibers of the marlin need to be tarred to insure waterproofness. The shrouds are tarred twice a year, in the spring and in the fall, to help preserve it. It’s definitely a messy job, but one that must be done! Once Angelique is ready for the season, you can bet her crew has her painted and tarred and ready to go!

Keep your eye open for more to follow!

Angelique Under Cover

Stephen Crossley

Sarah Swann

Maggie Whitman

Under the cover

Maggie And Sarah sanding the bulwarks.

Maggie and Sarah

Will Ginn sanding hatches.

Tarring the rig.

2011 Spring Newsletter Is Up!!

2011-04-11T03:19:00.000-07:00

The Angelique 2011 newsletter is back from the printer and it’s guaranteed to get you ready to sail! Along with a detailed overview of sails coming up for this season, there’s a recap of last season, letters, Captain’s Note, a schedule so you can place your reservations, and an article about sand dollars. At the end of reading it you can almost feel the sun on your back and smell the salt air. Call Angelique right away and place your reservation!

Go to http://sailangelique.com/Angelique_Spring11.pdf for The Angelique 2011 Newsletter!

Cold Maine Morning!

2009-01-12T10:01:00.000-08:00

Angelique is frozen in good. We have had quite a cold snap lately with more snow, and ice build up at the head of the harbor. It looks like winter around here!

Guests that sail aboard Angelique often ask “what do you do in the winter”? Well today....with the new snowfall of light dry powder.... I thought an early morning ski tour to catch the sunrise over the bay and Isle au Haut would be a good thing. Office work and chores can wait a bit. The Camden Hills are a beautiful sight in the summer as we sail the coast. In winter the hills take on another dimension, one seeped in ski history.

Mt. Megunticook, the 2nd tallest point on the east coast of the US, once had a world class ski trail from the summit, back in the day before ski lifts. Skiers sporting wool knickers, wooden skis, leather boots and bamboo poles raced from the summit. Nearby Camden Snowbowl in fact is one of the oldest ski areas in the country, 1936 was the year that the Snowbowl first opened. Local skiers wanted to develop an ski area with a rope tow (a new invention) and thought nearby Ragged Mt. was a good choice. Good ski touring can be found today throughout the Camden Hills on the many trails.

“Dawn patrol” this morning brought 5 degree temperatures and squeaky snow underfoot. The skiing was as good as the views. What a treat to see the sunrise over the bay! It won’t be long before Angelique and crew will be “out there” romping around. Hope you can join us!

AUTUMN, WINDS, COLORS, and PRESS RELEASES

2008-09-23T17:12:00.000-07:00

The smell of autumn is in the air, the wind has a bit more punch this time of year making for some good sailing and star filled nights. Angelique has been sailing better than ever!
We have had some press aboard this year. Ben from Downeast magazine, Laura & Dennis , from the New York Times. They sailed with us and shared their experiences with their readers. We have a good thing going here aboard Angelique, we are what we are, and proud of it.
Windjamming aboard Angelique is truly unique! Here are some of the links as to what other experienced aboard our vessel. Ben’s video of whale watching aboard captures the afternoon!.
Hope you can join us aboard!

Captain Mike McHenry
Chickadee Pine Camp, Maine.

Whales!

2008-08-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

Whale Watching

A few times every season we make the effort and head offshore in search whales, sea birds and other creatures that inhabit the briny blue. We woke to a brisk northerly and clear skies at Burnt Coat Harbor, Swans Island, a good chance for whale looking. We hove up the anchor and were under way at 0715, with the 4 lowers set we reached toward Mt.Desert Rock, 18 miles from Burnt Coat.
Gannets appeared shortly after breakfast, plunging from 30 to 50 feet in search of food, air sacks beneath their skin protect them from impact during their dives, Quite a sight watching the 25 -30 graceful flyers. An elusive finback whale was next on the docket, spouting in the distance then feeding nearby on the surface vanishing only moments later.
We arrived at “The Rock” around 1000, home of College of the Atlantic Whale Monitoring Station, we jogged around looking for spouts with no luck. A lighthouse and keepers house is on Mt. Desert Rock. I can only imagine the tough gardening for the lighthouse keepers of yore on this sometimes hostel place. During winter gales huge boulders have been known to roll to new spots on the Island.
Topsails were set as we headed off to Inner Scoodic Ridge in hopes our hunt for whales would improve. Puffins and Shearwaters flew and floated nearby. On the east side of the ridge we spotted some spouts, Humpbacks, 6 of them. We were treated to a great show, flippers and tails waving for the crowd. What a day, enthusiasm ran high, it has been a while since we have seen Humpbacks, close up, glad they are back!
The G.P.S. said that we were 22 miles from Southwest Harbor, the wind had been dropping out all afternoon. We fired up the Detroit's, Heckle and Jeckle, and cruised toward Southwest Harbor glowing from the day. A great day on planet earth.

Captain Mike
At Anchor Southwest Harbor

Windjammer Race Week

2008-07-09T08:48:00.000-07:00

I feel very fortunate that I love my job. The fact that I sail with a fleet of beautiful traditional vessels, in one of the best cruising grounds in the world is a great combination. Once a year we all get together for a more “formal” race than the usual run ins around the bays. Last week was race week. I got goose bumps watching all the vessels strutting their stuff. Vessels of different sizes, shapes and colors with personalities to match.
I admire the other vessels and their captains, I know for a fact that if I want to get ahead of them they are going to try their hardest to make it difficult to do so. Angelique and her crew will do the same. I take joy knowing that if Angelique is behind someone on race day that they are looking over their shoulder.
Watching 15 traditional sailing vessels and captains trying their darnest to get the most out of their boats is a sight to behold. Never underestimate any one of them, every boat has its day. The person at the wheel and crew never stops trying to do their best and give it their all.
We won our class (leeward) on race day this year. It was our turn to look over the shoulder during this years race, so much so that I got a crook in my neck. We will hold on to the “trophy” for a while till someone else gets a turn to get a crook in their neck. Every boat has its day...

Captain Mike
At Anchor Dark Harbor, Maine

SAILING AGAIN!

2008-05-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

The crew climbed aboard with duffels and sleeping bags in hand April 1st. Angelique was covered from stem to stern in shrink wrap. We coaxed a head to work and breathed some life into the batteries with the chargers. A two burner camp stove, an extention cord, a $10 Mr. Coffee maker, a hand-me-down microwave and a couple of jugs of water rounded out the makeshift “galley”.

Angelique was a cold and lonely place in early April. The crew spent many weeks sanding and painting, followed by shedding the cover, more painting and varnishing. Topmasts were raised from the deck, booms and gaffs hung, running rigging followed by the bending of the 7 heavy sails, a little more painting, laying out braided rugs in the deckhouse and hanging pictures on the bulkheads. The moment the crew has been waiting for, the day we head “out there”, where vessels belong, has arrived! The crew was happy to trade in their paint brushes for brass polish and windex.

The crews excitement was contagious, this season marks my 22nd year as owner (along with Lynne my lovely wife) and captain of Angelique, the excitement of their anticipation has even rubbed off on me. Twenty two years and I feel like a little kid getting ready for an adventure for the first time.

Our guests arrived settled in for the evening, suddenly Angelique became warm and cozy, a far cry from the frosty April days. Laughter and conversation filled the air. Chad our cook treated us to blueberry pancakes, sausage and juice for breakfast. Soon we closed the boarding gate, took in lines and headed out of Camden Harbor.

We were greeted by a 18-20kt breeze at the Camden R2 bell. The 4 lower sails were set, the mizzen followed by the mainsail, staysail and jib. Angelique fell off on to a port tack, slowly heeling dipping her shoulder into Penobscot Bay like she had never left.

I couldn’t help notice the grins from guests and crew alike as we gathered speed in the Northeast breeze. Our wake was framed by Curtis Island Lighthouse as we set our course east, North Haven Island in the distance. Angelique was once again doing what she was meant to do. It’s good to be back!

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!