Possibly one of the world's finest sailing areas, Maine is the place to be for a taste of great adventure and a wonderful sailing holiday. Aboard Maine's large cruise ships, known as windjammers, you can be assured of a scenic and relaxed journey. The Maine sailing vacation season extends from mid-May to mid-October, with special events scheduled throughout the summer.
The Maine Windjammer Association has 14 traditional sailing ships that can take travelers on a three- to six-day trip to the best parts of Maine. Interestingly, nine of these windjammers are National Historic Landmarks. Ranging in size from 46 to 132 feet on deck, the windjammers can carry between six and 40 guests. It offers travelers the unique experience to sail a large ship and at the same time make friends with fellow travelers. The windjammers will bring you to quaint coastal villages or uninhabited islands. It will also take you to different ports and harbors and quiet coves.
For instance, the vessels of the Maine Windjammer Association offer diverse specialty cruises including Lighthouse, Natural History and Pirate Week cruises. The windjammers sail out of the neighboring ports of Camden, Rockport and Rockland, located in the mid-coast region of Maine.
There are many activities that can be done while windjamming. These include hoisting sails, taking a turn at the wheel, navigating, or helping out in the galley.
Maine windjammers play a key role in preserving America's maritime heritage. Long before steamships and trains were developed, wooden sailing ships were the workhorses of thriving America. These tall ships sailed up and down the Eastern Seaboard carrying cargoes of fish, granite and lumber to the market. Modern technologies slowly eased out these ships and only a handful of them survived.
Frank Swift, an artist from rural Maine, thought of transforming these flagship vessels into something that not only preserves America's maritime tradition but also capitalizes on Maine's appeal as a summer destination. Thus, the birth of windjamming along the Maine coastline.
Over the years, windjamming became more popular even as sailors continued on Swift's legacy. More and more people are now going for the Maine windjammer experience during their holidays. For three to six days, they set out in a wild and natural environment temporarily leaving behind the pressures of a technology-heavy society.
The towns and villages of coastal Maine reflect distinct personalities. Communities like Camden, Castine, Wiscasset and Damariscotta may be viewed as romanticized communities with their charmed lives based largely on their commercial successes. These towns are famous for their crafts, bookstores, antiques, among others. Then there is the more hard-working picture of Coastal Maine communities including locations such as Stonington, Rockland and Vinalhaven. These communities are big on the rock trade, as they live in areas where you will find high quality granite used for construction.
Still, there are other communities that have chosen to remain simple and preserve their local cultural identity. These are places like Tenants Harbor, Port Clyde and Friendship.
Friendship is one of the two most bountiful lobster ports in Maine.
|
