Happy New Year!

Submitted by Jaclyn Gilson on

Happy New Year from the Olad and Owl! We hope your 2023 is off to a great start. We enjoyed some time with family over the holidays and are excited for some winter fun in Maine, however, we’re always looking forward to sunnier days and full sails this summer!

If you’re planning a sailing charter for a family gathering, birthday party, wedding celebration, or other event this summer, be sure to reach out to us early so you get your preferred date. We look forward to getting back out on the water with you soon, but in the meantime, enjoy some winter fun! 

Holiday Gift Ideas - Give the Gift of a Sailing Experience!

Submitted by Jaclyn Gilson on

Looking for a special gift for your loved ones this Holiday season? Why not gift them an experience they won’t forget! A Gift Certificate for a sail aboard the Schooner Olad or Cutter Owl is a great gift for the adventurer in your life, and they’ll have something to look forward to all winter long!

We have customizable sails aboard each vessel, choose either the 57-foot-long Schooner Olad for a traditional Maine Schooner sailing experience, or our 6-passenger sailing vessel Owl for a more private, adventurous sail on the bay. With a full calendar of special sails throughout the season, there are so many ways to get out on the bay! Join us for our Summer Solstice sail where you’ll watch the sun rise over the bay on the longest day of the year, or one of our Full Moon sails with fabulous views of this summer’s full moons. We also have two public lobster bakes scheduled this summer that you won’t want to miss out on! 

Gift Certificates are typically mailed out the next business day, so you still have time to get your order in! Give us a call at 207-236-2323 or visit our Gifts & Souvenirs Page on our website to order yours.

The Holidays are Here!

Submitted by Jaclyn Gilson on

As the Holiday season rolls around, we’re thankful for gatherings with friends and family, good food, and taking some time off to rest.  We’re also dreaming of sunnier days, a strong breeze filling up the sails, and the warmth of the sun on our backs. If you’re in the same boat as us or have a sailing enthusiast in your circle, it’s never too early to plan for the 2023 sailing season. We are taking bookings and have Gift Certificates available, which make a wonderful gift this holiday season!

The gift of a two-hour sail or private charter aboard the Schooner Olad or Cutter Owl will give your loved ones something to look forward to over the long, cold winter months. They can customize their own experience, with opportunities for sunset cruises, morning wildlife watching, fireworks sails, and two public lobster bakes next season! As you plan your summer getaways to Camden, make sure to check out our recently updated Special Events page for a list of our special sails throughout the summer.

If you’re planning a wedding, office outing, or big family event next summer you’ll want to reach out to secure your preferred date early! To book ahead or purchase a Gift Certificate for the 2023 sailing season give us a call at 207-236-2323 or visit our website. 

Another Summer of Sailing Behind Us!

Submitted by Jaclyn Gilson on

As our sailing season comes to a close we have time to take a deep breath, celebrate our hard work, and appreciate the amazing community we are part of! We loved hosting your family gatherings, lobster bakes, and weddings, thank you all for making this season one to remember!

We enjoyed a picture perfect October day with friends and family for our traditional last sail of the season. Now we are transitioning to our in-depth maintenance on the boats. With the distinct smell of pine tar in the air, and lots of sanding and varnish in our future, we are also booking for our 2023 sailing season. We are busy building our special events calendar and planning your family gatherings. One thing we have learned over the last few seasons is that booking early is best, so don’t hesitate to call us as you plan your trip to the Maine coast. In the meantime, stay warm and we look forward to sailing with you in May 2023!

Giving Back

Submitted by Abbie Smith on

 

Giving back to our community is one of most important and rewarding things we get to do all season. This is the first year since 2019 we have gotten to take our friends at coastal opportunities for their annual privet charter aboard The Olad and we are so happy they are back! These guys and gals inspire me, no matter rain or shine; they always approach life with joy and optimism, smiles and laughter, and remind me to lighten up! Camden is such a great place to visit, work, and live because our community is so supportive and vibrant, full of so many interesting people. Recently we ended our 2022 season where things finally felt like they got back to "The way life should be" after the pandemic. We welcomed back many of our regular customers we hadn't seen for a few years, and welcomed many more new ones into the Olad and Owl family. And now Camden and its year round community slow down to its winter time schedule. Looking back on the season, what a wonderful year and we want to say thank you for being a big part of it, see you next spring!

https://www.coastalopportunities.org/

We made it to the Discovery channel!

Submitted by Abbie Smith on

 

In between the storms at the end of September we got the perfect day for a video shoot with the crew of RV There Yet? Patrice, Kevin, and the crew joined Captain Lincoln and first mate Tristan on a four hour tour of Penobscot bay. With a steady 15-20 knots, the Olad got to show off that even at 95 years old she can hang with the best! Captain Jeff Lewis and the crew's drone photographer followed in the tender boat to get shots like the one you see above, as well as video footage for the show. These professionals have been in the TV business for over 20 years, watch their take on the best Maine has to offer (we think they have pretty good taste) and catch their new season airing on the Discovery Channel in 2023! Check out their inspiring content at https://www.rvthereyettv.com

Cruising towards August!

Submitted by Anonymous on

The Schooner Olad and Cutter Owl are cruising right along towards a busy August! July was filled with great sailing weather, lots of family charters and lobster bakes, and a recent heat wave that had folks eager to get out and enjoy a cooling sail on Penobscot Bay.

We are excited about some upcoming events, starting with the Camden Classics Cup this weekend! Join us aboard the Owl on Friday, July 29th and Saturday, July 30th to view the starting line and finish of the Camden Classics Cup races! You also don’t want to miss the CCC participants cruising through Camden’s inner harbor in the Parade of Sails on Saturday, July 30th at 10:00 a.m. Best viewing for this event is along the docks at the Public Landing.

On August 10th we are hosting a Full Moon Sail aboard the Schooner Olad! Watch the sun set behind the Camden Hills and the moon rise over the bay. Only a few tickets are left for this sail, which will also mark the last day this summer that the Schooner Olad will be departing at 7 p.m. After August 10th we’ll be changing schedules to four trips a day on the Schooner Olad and Cutter Owl, with our sunset sails departing at 6 p.m.

Our first and only public lobster bake of the season is fast-approaching. Join us on August 17th for an afternoon sail out to Warren Island where our crew will prepare a traditional Maine lobster meal over an open fire with all the fixings. Enjoy all the trails and beaches that Warren Island State Park has to offer, then take in the views of the sunset on your cruise back to Camden Harbor! (Trip schedule: 2:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., $235 per person).

As August is starting to fill up, be sure to schedule your day sail or private charter in advance. You don’t want to miss out on August sailing in Penobscot Bay!  

Cutter Owl Sails Again!

Submitted by Abbie Smith on

The Cutter Owl has just started her sailing season! Come aboard to enjoy all the sights and sounds of sailing in Maine this summer aboard our classic wooden yacht. The Owl is what's known as a "6 pack" vessel, and although she is ideal for a beer shared aboard with friends, this term actually refers to the maximum number of passengers she can hold. Perfect for small groups of 6 and under, The Cutter Owl excels at providing the privacy, freedom, and memories so many of us are looking for with our loved ones. All the special charters we offer on The Schooner Olad can be achieved sailing The Cutter Owl, with a much smaller budget. We don't call her "The most Versatile" for nothing!

The Schooner Olad and Cutter Owl have their sailing crew back!

Submitted by Abbie Smith on

 

It's been an amazing spring in Camden, Maine so far. April is finally here, and with it we get to see the smiling faces of our crew back in action. Fit out is in full force, with varnish already complete and a deep hull clean under way. Joining Captain Aaron, Devon, Matt, and Jeff this year are Captain Wilson and Captain Korina. Captain Wilson grew up on the coast of Maine and has been sailing for over 15 years. He has worked on such esteemed boats as the Victory Chimes, Heron, and the When and If, to name a few. Captain Korina has over 15 years of sailing experience working aboard the Stephen Taber,  Shearwater, and St. Laurence II. She has sailed extensively from New York harbor to Kingston bay, Ontario and many places in between, but now calls Maine home. We can’t wait for our passengers on Schooner Olad and Cutter Owl to experience both captains' knowledge of traditional boats and wisdom of the sea this sailing season. Penobscot Bay looks primed for the best summer sailing Maine has to offer, there is still room for you to book your passage today. Let us help you make your outdoor wedding or custom charter something they will never forget!

The First Days of Spring

Submitted by Susie Cooke on

As the first +40 degree days start to happen, we can’t wait to get back to sailing. Our day dreams turn from family ski trips, hot cocoa, and the Holidays to thoughts of long summer afternoons, playing in the sun, and a pleasant breeze filling the sails. We pack our sweaters away and bring out the sun hats and flip flops.

For the crew of Olad and Owl, it’s time to start spring maintenance and ready our boats for the hundreds of hours of sailing the season will bring. This job, like the great state of Maine, has its seasons. Everyone has their favorite, but for me, the variety that working on these boats offers each and every day is why I enjoy it so much. So thank you for making that possible by coming and enjoying aboard The Schooner Olad and Cutter Owl.

Already, people are planning their adventures with us. Full day charters sailing the Fox Island Through-fare, Destination Weddings with Lobster backs on Warren Island, Sunset that cameras just can’t capture. Experiencing all Penobscot Bay has to offer in a way few people ever get to. Making each trip a unique experience is why we love doing what we do. The schedule is filling up fast, especially with our new special event sails for The Great Schooner Race, The Camden Classic Cup, and Windjammer Weekend freshly up and available. So don’t let mud season get your down, or in our case, varnish season. Here’s to the possibilities of the year to come!

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