The start of the 2022 sailing season!

Schooner American Eagle:

The start of the 2022 season

photo above courtesy of Sean Sheppard

What a beginning!

Hard to believe that it's already mid-July, yet the time is absolutely flying! With so many new things happening, it’s a wonder that we’re able to keep track of it all. We can certainly thank Shary, our office manager, for her magnificent skills of organization (thanks, Shary)!

Photo courtesy of Tracy Madigan-Sheppard

We started this season out with our first Hidden Traces of the Past journey, providing our guests with some little-known history of Penobscot Bay (for example: Did you know that granite from Penobscot Bay quarries was used to build some of New York City’s grandest skyscrapers?). This early June trip gave us cool sailing breezes all day and the chance to turn our cozy aft salon stove on in the evenings. Music and stories next to the stove or out on deck with Captain Tyler King are always a delight.

Then, for the first time in years, our wonderful chef, Matthew Weeks, was granted the chance for a vacation (a rare thing for schooner crew), giving some other talented chefs the opportunity to try the Eagle galley on for size.

Chef Martin McHugh-Mullane (affectionately known as “Marty”) brought forth some delicious treats during the first Schooner Gam of 2022, including (but not limited to) an incredible lunch of Shakshouka (fried eggs cooked with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and spices), kofta (spiced beef kebabs), local greens, and homemade wood fired pita, appetizers of seared scallops with a bacon & chive cream sauce, and a beachfront dessert of grilled peaches with vanilla ice cream following lobster bake. What an amazing gathering of boats.

Photos courtesy of Marty McHugh-Mullane and Sean Sheppard

Following Marty’s departure, the galley was graced with Chef Caroline Ridout, who ticked all our “comfort food” boxes on the first Watercolor Workshop sail of the season. Ranging from white chili and cornbread to baked brie and prosciutto then onward to key lime pie, Caroline’s creations were the only thing that got our artists to put down their paint brushes! Though we will miss Caroline in the galley, we are pleased to announce that she is now a part of the American Eagle shoreside team, working as our social media maven and writer extraordinaire.

As much as we loved our visiting cuisiniers, we were very glad to have Matthew back aboard for our Boothbay Windjammer Days trip where he tackled the challenge of offshore sailing with the skill only his experience can bring.

And speaking of showing the skills of experience, Captain Tyler displayed his ease at the helm during the Boothbay festivities when he sailed the Eagle into the crowded harbor and dropped anchor in a position of prominence, allowing all to see and admire the beauty of our boat.

However, it was during our next journey, The Great Schooner Race, that Captain Tyler and his crew displayed their true skills.

After several days of roaring good sailing (as you can see from the topmost photo), we hoped for a repeat of that weather for all of the upcoming races– both small boat and schooner. The wind on the evening of small boat races did not disappoint, our amazing crew sailed Cappy throughout the small-boat fleet, taking the opportunity to arm themselves with water cannons and leftover baked goods to use with friendly force! It seems that they were much more interested in creating water hazards for the rest of the racers than the competition itself.

On the morning of the schooner race, the breeze was strong, and we were hopeful for a windward haul. However, as soon as we crossed the starting line, the wind shifted to our stern, and our heavy girl is not a fan of being pushed, so she settled back into last place.

Now, I told you that the captain and crew showed their true skills that day, and I meant it! Halfway through the race, the wind shifted and we tacked into it, rounding Porterfield Ledge and Mark Island and blowing past numerous vessels as we went. When we finally crossed the Breakwater finish line, we had earned 2nd place in our windward class and had climbed from last to fourth overall– a commendable gain (especially considering where we started).

And while the award ceremony was filled with food and live New Orleans-style music (courtesy of the Hadacol Bouncers), the real star of the evening was our very own Captain John Foss, who was awarded the Lifetime Appreciation Award by his windjammer peers and collegues. Congratulations, Cap, and thank you for all you do! Click here to watch the ceremony.

Photos and video courtesy of Caroline Ridout

We're proud of our placement, and we enjoyed sharing the spoils of our success with our guests!

Photo courtesy of Caroline Ridout

Although the season is nearly halfway through, we still have many opportunities for you to join us. The first week of August is the Swans Island Music Festival cruise– a week of sailing and folk music to enjoy.

Then some new sailing adventures aboard the American Eagle:

Hiking and Island Exploration sails!

With two of these sail & hike opportunities in August,

we get the chance to explore islands we don’t often get to visit.

Or if you're just interested in good food, beautiful scenery, and some smooth sailing, join us for some Traditional Coastal Sailing on August 26-30 as we show you what a vacation on the American Eagle is all about.

Our 2023 schedule will be out soon, so keep a sharp eye on the lookout!

Give us a call at 207-594-8007 to book your 2022 trip or Book Now below!

Photo courtesy of Tracy Madigan-Sheppard

Photos for your enjoyment!

Sunset and small boat sailing with the J&E Riggin nearby end the day perfectly.

Warm apple pie and cool watermelon slices await us aboard after lobster bake.

Marinated steak tips on a bed of lemon basil & feta orzo with roasted asparagus and eggplant, topped with fresh chimichurri and sweet tomato relish. Delicious.

If you are interested in joining us this season or the next, please reach out via phone, email, or through social media! We are happy to answer any questions you might have.

Looking forward to seeing you aboard!