Beating into Pulpit Harbor, courtesy of Steve Bouvin |
Schooner American Eagle
October 2021
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What a terrific season we've had! Limiting ourselves to a maximum of twenty guests allowed us time to keep up with new sanitary standards and to continue providing a safe place for everyone on board. Only three of our shipmates were not vaccinated and they had negative test results within three days of boarding. All good!
Some of you have already figured out the transition this fall as I step away from 45 seasons of being master/owner of a Maine windjammer. I'll be passing along the burdens and joys of being steward to a National Historic Landmark, a self supporting enterprise proving that working sail can survive in the twenty first century. It's been a delight, hosting guests who become friends, away from the crazy plugged-in world, enjoying the Maine Coast, conversation, stories, and the world that is life under sail.
This would never have been possible without vacationers investing in the continued success of the schooner American Eagle, family and friends who gave of their time and energy, and dedicated, hard working, crew who could never be paid enough. I hope that in some way I have given back to all of you part of what has kept me on watch at night and busy most of my waking hours for a long time.
There have been many candidates for the next chapter for the American Eagle: qualified, capable, devoted to the perishable skills and practical abilities to see the schooner through a bright but challenging future. Rising above is Tyler King. Having grown up in a boatyard in Gloucester, MA, he's always had schooners and tradition close by; having spent his life learning and working on all manner of vessels... in short, he gets it. He can handle the vessel, understands what's important to our shipmates, and respects what the American Eagle represents today as well as in the past. In summary he'll be a good ship's husband. When he becomes the master/owner this fall, he'll be about the same age as I was when I bought the Lewis R. French in 1973, and he's much better qualified than I was then.
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Cruise News... Spring all the way into Autumn |
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This t shirt
"# Vaccinated
and so the
adventure
begins
Anchors Aweigh
2021"
this T-shirt speaks for the whole season
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A sunbather in Somes Sound, Mt. Desert in June
photos courtesy of Mike Irish
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Out for a spin on a summer afternoon on an old fishing schooner. Multi-faceted experiences on multi-day cruises; certainly the best way to see the Maine Coast and avoid traffic. In 2021, motel rooms ashore charged about the same as we did, but we have meals, too.
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Windjammer Days in Boothbay Harbor,
late June.
courtesy of Spencer Whitehouse
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Amazing sometimes how things work out. In fall 2019, we put a cruise to a tall ship state bicentennial parade of sail on the schedule for July 2020. As you might suspect, there was no event in 2020 and it was rescheduled for 2021. When that was also cancelled we persisted in going to Portland Harbor anyway. Ralph Smith shared some of his pictures of that adventure. |
First night out we had a lobster picnic on an island in the Sheepscot River. Next day we made our way to Cliff Island in Casco Bay. Approaching Portland by way of Whitehead Passage we encountered the schooner Timberwind, built in Portland in 1931 and now offering daysails there. Tacking out to Portland Head Light we headed in for the harbor and tried something new: docking overnight at a marina on the historic waterfront. |
Tied up in the Old Port there was a lobster boat maneuvering in for fuel under the bow of a 190-foot yacht. We had a full day ashore to explore the Portland waterfront, a chance to sail in company with the schooners offering daysails, take a ride on the narrow gauge railway, visit some local breweries and, best of all, attend the first day of the Maine Boatbuilders Show, which had been rescheduled from March. |
A good sailing day is not always an easy day working in the galley. Andre the galley hand had an iron stomach and turned out to have a talent for making cookies and only playing his violin once all season. |
Running home from Portland we had a wonderful sailing day off the wind from Boothbay Harbor to North Haven. A fair breeze made up for a damp day. |
There was a typically wonderful sunset our last night out. This was one shot by Dave Irish in June but we're treated to them all season long. |
The annual cruise to Cape Ann for the Gloucester Schooner Festival is an inspiring adventure, celebrating these uniquely American sailing vessels, both working and pleasure examples alike. With twenty five schooners from 30 to 141 feet, the parade before the race is a bit of a traffic jam at times.
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Asher, Tiffany, and Mike as the foredeck crew for this year's Mayor's race |
The mate makes thing happen all day long and into the evening. Season three for this man; a favorite for guests, crew, and master. This is a rare time when he's not smiling broadly. |
And back on the quarter deck during the race, left to right, Tyler, Eric, and Chloe. |
And at the end of the race, the awards ceremony... where I get all the credit. What about six crew, nineteen guests, Tyler, and tactician Eric? That makes an even dozen wins for us since 1987. That's the Esperanto Cup I'm holding aloft, first awarded a hundred years ago.
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While we were moored in Castine this fall we happened to witness the annual pulling boat races for the first-year cadets. They showed a lot of spirit. We bet on boat Charlie; they did well and didn't hit anything. |
It was Taco Tuesday on the American Eagle and Asher and Mike helped.. eat them! |
Tiffany, Asher, Mike ,Tyler, Sarah, and Matthew in formal wear for the last dinner aboard in 2021. Goodwill was the couturier, Pulpit Harbor the venue, and dinner was excellent and enjoyed by all. And I did the dishes, with a lot of help. |
About my successor as master/owner.....Tyler's no stranger to working on the American Eagle. Here are some of the projects he's been part of over the past nine seasons, aboard or ashore. |
Sailing Cappy our North Haven dinghy with a smile on his face. |
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Tyler replacing the shaft cutless bearing on the schooner a few springs ago.
I've never given him easy jobs!
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Asher and Tyler lifting something heavy. |
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When Christa was the mate on the schooner Roseway she had Tyler come on for a long trip to trouble shoot some of the systems on board. |
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There's been a tradition of sending us postcards from your other travels. They don't have to be actually mailed from the location pictured but they are all welcome and add to the fun and pleasure guests bring to their time aboard. Last trip this year we saw eagles in two different harbors, pairs both times. If you're a duck look out! This card Jean mailed from Sitka. |
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Rose..an institution of the Fox Island Thorofare, home of the North Haven dinghy. |
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Story time on deck in the evening |
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After the first of the year the American Eagle will still be berthed at the same dock with all the facilities of the shipyard to draw upon and I won't be far away. The 2022 schedule has been posted this month and I'll be aboard with Tyler on five cruises between May and October. Here's a link to American Eagle's schedule for the coming season! This fall give Shary a call and choose your trip and cabin for 2022. Deposits will be accepted the first of the year. 800 648-4544
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Schooner American Eagle
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