5 day sailing experience
The Voyage: Find yourself and a group of friends traveling across the offshore townships of Maine the old fashioned way - under sail. As a group, you will discover the communities scattered on the pristine, rocky coastline in a classic schooner with cozy bunks and handcrafted styling. At 3,478 miles Maine has more coastline than California and plenty of hidden wonders to discover. For this one of a kind Atlas Obscura itinerary, we will dive deep into the local oddities and colorful characters that make up this remote corner of the world.
There are two classic wooden schooners to choose from with different amenities and price points for the AO review. Both schooners have a max capacity of 6 guests with a crew of 2 to 3. Please review the selection and the pricing. Scheduling for both schooners is subject to their availability and after the schooner is decided on, we will discuss programming and select the week for the voyage. The season begins July 1st and ends September 15th, 2019
Boat Options:
$2,320 Cost Per Traveler
Included in the total trip cost:
• Private captain and chefs for each boat
• Travel support to help customize and guide your group's journey
• Delicious family style meals with seven breakfasts, six lunches, three dinners and snacks aboard, all prepared by your private chefs
• Marina fees, dockage, and moorings for overnight anchorages
• Boat incidentals including fuel, water, local taxes, etc.
• And of course unabashed adventure and epic memories!
Liz began sailing on the Hudson River when she was eight and immediately fell in love. She soon moved to the Maine coast where she started her education in coastal cruising after obtaining her own boat. Between then and now, Liz has worked at Morris Yachts as a rigger and cruised from Barcelona to London in a seventy-nine foot trimaran, Earthrace (made famous by the TV show Whale Wars as the Ady Gil). She began her captaining career on a privately owned lobster yacht and has gone on to do deliveries up and down the east coast on an array of different vessels. In the summer months she manages the waterfront of The Northeast Harbor Fleet Yacht Club, maintaining the clubs boats and providing private sailing lessons in her free time. She lives aboard her twenty-five foot sailboat and is a USCG certified captain.
After graduating with a degree in Outdoor Education, Ross Beane has been relentless about sharing his love of wilderness travel with people wherever he goes. Having worked with programs from Alaska to Maine, he enjoys guiding students of all ages and abilities into beautiful and remote locations to foster technical know-how and an appreciation of the natural world. With multiple certifications in wilderness emergency medicine, he brings with him an understanding of risk management that keeps it safe without compromising fun. An avid sailor since youth, Ross has made many safe crossings and has taught sailing for The Wooden Boat School, New York Harbor Sailing Foundation, and the Manhattan Sailing School before joining Dayyan to help start the Sailing Collective.
The Penobscot Bay region in Maine is undoubtably one of the most beautiful coastlines. It's unique New England culture is best seen from the sea. As you sail up to islands with working fishing fleets You'll meet local characters that embody the way life should be. Buy the best lobster in the world right from the boat, swim in the chilly waters, explore the small towns, have a morning coffee at the general store, this is your chance to experience it for what it is.
AIRPORT AND TRANSPORTATION
Driving From New York takes aproximatly 8 hours.
Depending on which itinerary you choose you can fly into Bangor International Airport (BGR), servicing Allegiant, Delta and U.S. Airways. With Alamo, Avis, Budget,Hertz and National rental cars are available at the airport. Or Portland Jetport (PWM) Serving United, Jetblue, Southwest, Delta and U.S. Airways.
If you are flying in please contact us about transportation to and from the Marina.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
It is the responsibility of each individual to ensure relevant visas are obtained where necessary. If you are traveling to the USA for this trip please check USA visa requirements for your nationality before booking.
Bangor International.
The Sailing Collective cannot be held responsible for refusal of entry or travel due to lack of visas. If you are in any doubt of your visa requirements, please contact your Embassy for full details.
CURRENCIES / MONEY EXCHANGE
Accepted Forms of Payment:
US Dollars
WEATHER
In Maine the old saying goes that if you don’t like the weather just wait a minute, it will change. Prepare for all possible weather conditions from hot and sunny to rainy and chilly on the coast of Maine you are likely to see it all.
PROVISIONING
Sailing Collective stocks each boat with healthy, fresh and flavorful local foods and produce from the region. The provisioning package includes:
7 Breakfasts (including coffee and tea), 7 Lunches, 3 Dinners, Snacks*, Bottled Water
Not included in provisioning package:
Soft Drinks, Juice, Liquor, Wine, Beer, etc.
Cooking Aboard: Passengers and crew cook family style aboard; cooking enthusiasts and foodies are welcomed to add their skills and experience. Sailing Collective skippers and crew are all talented cooks and will prepare meals as well. Collective groups may choose to dine out more times than scheduled if the group or individuals choose.
Dietary Restrictions: Important to notify your Sailing Collective representative of any dietary restrictions ahead of time in your Guest Form:http://thesailingcollective.com/guest-form
*We will have plenty of food to satisfy you for your trip. However, if there are special foods that will make you feel more comfortable for the duration of your trip, please pack or purchase in advance.
ADDITIONAL COST
• Recommended spending for the week, $200 - $400 per person, varying on your spending habits.
• Additional food/beverages including alcohol, plus snacks, $30-100 average per person
• All expenses on shore including meals and drinks.
• Flights and transportation to and from the marina location.
• Tipping captain and crew is welcomed (10% to 15% per person satisfactory)
PACKING LIST
Life aboard a Sailing Collective journey is uncomplicated so we recommend packing appropriately. Collapsible bags in place of large rigid suitcases are advised for ease of transport on and off the boat. Island attire is very casual at all times so we recommend packing light and embracing the simple life.
• Rain Coat/ Foul weather gear
• Rain pants
• Warm clothes – it can be cold any day of the year in Maine
• boat shoes or other non-slip shoes
• hat / sunglasses / sailing gloves (optional)/ sun screen
• warm clothes just in case / fleece
• swim / beach towels (bath towels are provided)
• games
• iPod/music player
• camera
• books
• any special dietary foods or medications
• toiletries
Lobster Gangs of Maine - Join some of Stonington's locals who were born into the trade and know it's dirtiest secrets at the local bar for a night of harrowing stories and probably a drop or two of whiskey.
Unusual Sea Creatures - Not all Fishermen in Maine are catching fish and lobster. Not all fishermen are men. We will rendezvous with the legendary Kipp Quimby of Isle Au Haut to talk about her business collecting some of the more unusual specimens living underwater on the Maine coast for the science and research industry. You will get some hands-on time with her catch of the day and the opportunity to touch and feel some of the odd things she harvests. If there's something strange under the ocean in these parts chances are Kipp has spent some time with it so come prepared with questions you have about the fascinating cold water seabed in the Gulf of Maine.
Nervous Nellie's Jams and Jellies - Sculptures, jams, and the wild west collide at this folksy retreat.
The real charm of the place comes from the original sculptures created on and situated throughout the premises. Created by Peter Beerits, who also lives on the grounds, the pieces are an eclectic hodgepodge of styles created in wood, metal, and glass. Beerits repurposes old farm equipment and other found materials to create figures and animals in all manner of styles, most of them in whimsical states of repose such as the lobster and tuna playing poker or the owl and the cat in a canoe. Nervous Nellie's Jams and Jellies on Atlas Obscura
Owls Head Transportation Museum - Every plane, auto, and bicycle in this collection is kept in working order and are regularly demonstrated to the public. Owls Head Transportation Museum on Atlas Obscura
Ghost Ships - Throughout the week we will dive deep into the literature and first-hand accounts of various legendary Ghost Ships reported to haunt the Maine coast. Suggested literature and a reading list will be offered in advance with informational books offered aboard the cruise on the ghost ships of Maine.
WoodenBoat School -Get an insiders tour of the WoodenBoat school where students learn the old ways of boatbuilding on a beautiful campus overlooking the Eggemoggin Reach. Home of WoodenBoat Magazine, the Brooklin WoodenBoat School is a landmark wooden boat capital of the east coast. Activities include:
• Tour of the wooden boat shop
• Traditional lobster make
• Meeting local wooden boat builders
Sail from Rockland to Pulpit Harbor on North Haven. Pulpit is a cozy little harbor where we'll buy local oysters from a floating shack and eat them right on the boat.
Designed by French and Stuart and launched by Machiasport Boat Shop in Maine in 1947 from wood, the very traditional gaff rigged schooner ALAMAR has been rebuilt and refitted over the years and is maintained in first class condition. ALAMAR was originally built for use by a summer camp, and she’s retained her workmanlike interior and deck layout, over the years, in a very sea kindly and well-maintained hull. ALAMAR provides comfortable berths for 6 people in the large main cabin (all are 6 feet or longer) plus the crew in the fo’c’sle. She has generous seating for 10 at the drop leaf table in the main cabin, and has a new “Halibut” porcelinized wood/charcoal stove (with small oven) for heating and cooking. The head (bathroom) is forward to port with a classic WC Sea-Clo – manual long handle head and basin. No shower but there is a sun shower for on deck use. There are screens for the hatch openings. Pillows are provided, sheets and blankets are not.
ACTRESS is a beautiful 75′ brigantine designed by Murray Peterson in 1937 and built by Scott Kennedy in East Boothbay Harbor, Maine. With her 80,000-lb displacement and 56′-long deck, ACTRESS makes a wonderful platform for learning to navigate and sail our beautiful coast. Carrying nine sails, she offers plenty of opportunities for everyone to handle sails, ropes, and sail. Capt. Hans Vierthaler purchased ACTRESS in 2017 and has set her up to carry six passengers for a very unique sailing experience.
Explore photos from our past journeys