Give the Gift of Sailing

Submitted by Susie Cooke on

It's that wonderful time of the year ❄️  

Are you searching for the perfect gift for the sailing enthusiast in your life?  Well, search no further, we have the perfect gift for them!  Give the gift of a two hour sail or private charter on one of our beautiful wooden vessels this holiday season.  Your loved ones will be so happy you did.  Now, more than ever, something special to look forward to is it’s own gift. They’ll be dreaming of sailing all winter long.

We are available for the purchase Of Olad and Owl gift certificates for sailing by calling 207-236-2323, or our online store at www.maineschooners.com.  Our gift certificates never expire, and are good for up to 2 hours of sailing throughout our season.  You will also find a great selection of t-shirts, hats, sail maker bags, and other sailing oriented gifts on the Olad online store.  Orders typically ship next day, so you'll have your items well in hand before Christmas.  

We hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday season with family and loved ones.

Cheers!

Putting the Boats to Bed

Submitted by Susie Cooke on

Wrapping up the boats for winter is especially nice when you have a roof over your head. We’re lucky enough to be warm and dry as we put the Olad and Owl to bed for our off season.

Thank you all so much for helping make our 2021 sailing season such a success!  We’ve once again weathered these most difficult times with the help and support of the great community in which we live.  Our local community’s compassion and attention to keeping it’s local people safe and healthy was certainly acknowledged by the many folks coming to our area from away.  We were very lucky to be able to take many of our visitors and locals alike for a sail departing from beautiful Camden Harbor.

As we continue our in depth maintenance schedule on the boats, we’re also looking forward to some fun trips scheduled for our winter months. Lots of skiing is a surety and there may be a sail or two in warmer parts of the world to look forward to as well.  In the meantime, if you have a trip to Maine your planning for next season, a wedding or family event, please feel free to reach out to us to help you make it a fantastic sailing experience.  We are currently booking for our 2022 sailing season, and if this past year was any indicator, booking early is the best way to assure you get the day and time you’re considering for your event.  We’re always happy to talk about sailing, so please give us a call with any questions, etc. May 2022 couldn’t come soon enough.

Dreaming of sailing in Penobscot Bay! 

Fall breezes and foliage viewing on Penobscot Bay

Submitted by Susie Cooke on

One more month of sailing in our season remaining, and it's sure to be some of the best!

Fall in Maine is beautiful and breezy, lending to some picturesque scenery and some of the best sailing conditions of our season.  It may be a little cooler on the water, but bring a hot beverage, your woolie sweater, and your camera to capture the beautiful foliage.  We'll keep you entertained with our stories of the sea and the scenic views...and sailing, of course! 

The Cutter Owl is concluding her season of sailing this week, with just a few more days left to get out and enjoy a more private experience with our captain. Schooner Olad will end it's season closer to mid October with 3 available sailing excursions a day starting Friday October 1st.   Private charters as always will be available aboard Schooner Olad through the remainder of our sailing season.  Fall is a great time of year for a company event or a get together with a group of friends and family on the Schooner Olad. The bay is so pretty with the change of season, and the warm mulled cider you bring along with keep your fingers and belly warm while you get some great sailing in with us.  The perfect fall Maine experience.

The crowds are lighter this time of year, the kids are back in school, and the sailing is looking to be fantastic.  We hope you'll join us! 
 

We look forward to sailing with you out on Penobscot Bay!

Beautiful Fall Sailing Ahead

Submitted by Susie Cooke on

Question of the week: When will your last day of sailing be? 

We have just a little over a month of sailing left in our 2021 season!  Cutter Owl will be sailing through the end of September, and Schooner Olad's last day is scheduled for October 18th. 

We are looking forward to sailing some really fantastic conditions and fair winds through the rest of our season.  Fall breezes are some of the sailing season’s best out in Penobscot Bay, and the leaves are just starting to make their change to fall’s full splendor.  Wear your woolies and come out to see the beautiful views with our crew.  Our last special event of the season on Schooner Olad will be the full moon sail scheduled for September 19th at 5:15pm.  Come out to view the Harvest Moon rise with us.

We would like to send our gratitude out to everyone who has come sailing with us this season and in seasons past.  We are so fortunate to have such wonderful guests and to live in such a beautiful place for people to visit from near and far.  Thank you all for making it truly great.
 

We look forward to sailing with you through the rest of our 2021 season and beyond in beautiful Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay. 

We’ll see you out there!

Hello Fall Sailing!

Submitted by Susie Cooke on

The sailing is truly fantastic in Penobscot Bay, and there's plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the sea breeze aboard both Schooner Olad and Cutter Owl!

The end of August is upon us, and the warm weather continues to prevail for us sailing in Penobscot Bay.  There are lots of sailboats in the area to see, especially with Labor Day weekend just around the corner.  Enjoy a festive weekend in Camden and join us for a great sail out on the water to celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of our fall sailing season.  We’ll be offering many opportunities throughout the day to get out on the water with us aboard both the Olad and Owl throughout the month of September.  

Our sunset sails aboard both the Schooner Olad and the Cutter Owl will begin a little earlier in the evening to accommodate the sun setting sooner in our skies these days. Fall is right around the corner, so bring along your sweater, snacks and a bevie and prepare to watch a beautiful sunset with great friends. If a private sail is your thing, you are most welcome to charter our vessels out privately to enjoy a sail with close family and friends with just our crew to guide you.  It’ll be sure to be a lasting memory for all.

Happy almost fall sailing!

August Sailing in Maine

Submitted by Susie Cooke on

Enjoying this Weather!

There’s no hiding it, the weather has turned around this August in Camden, Maine and it has been beautiful! August has had some of the best weather this year and fingers crossed it continues into September. The sunshine and great breezes have made for excellent sailing during the day, and there’s been stunning sunsets in the evening. This is the best time of year to be on Penobscot Bay and the wildlife agrees. Guests have been seeing porpoise and seals daily! 

 

We will start to enjoy having both boats sailing at the same time in the evenings beginning tomorrow. They’re each doing 4 trips daily, including private charters and our 2-hour public sails. There are more people than ever wanting to get out on the water and Camden is a bustling downtown, so we recommend booking in advance to make sure your spot is saved. Come early to town and grab a snack and beverage from one of the local delis to bring along with you. There are all day lots to park in around town, just follow the blue P signs. Plan ahead to give yourself time. Camden is a great little town to check out while you’re in the area, and the harbor is the icing on the cake.

 

We hope to see you out sailing with us on the beautiful waters of Penobscot Bay!

Summer is in Full Swing Sailing

Submitted by Susie Cooke on

Happy summer in Maine everyone!

This summer has been such a whirlwind so far for us here in Camden, Maine.  So many wonderful folks visiting our beautiful region on this rugged coast we call home.  Both the Schooner Olad and Cutter Owl have been very busy with guests from all over the country, and have been rewarded with some wonderful sailing on Penobscot Bay. There’s still lots of time to get out sailing this summer, and September is always an exemplary time to visit Maine and sail with our stronger fall breezes.

 We recommend thinking ahead this year and planning accordingly when visiting our area for a sail.  We are generally prebooking out a few days, though we usually have a couple spots available on sails throughout the day if you call ahead the day before.  We would like to get as many of you out sailing with us as possible, and hate turning people away. Sailing in Penobscot Bay is a treat and a must do when visiting our area.  Visit our website to book in advance or give us a call. We’d be happy to speak with you directly to make it a special trip for you and yours.

Make your sail something to look forward to by planning a picnic onboard or a family event to celebrate an occasion.  Come aboard the Olad for one our sunset sails and bring a blanket for a snuggle with your favorite person…snacks and a bottle of wine and you’ve found our happy place.  If you’re staying in our area at one of the many wonderful  lodging establishments, it’s possible that they may be able to set up a sail for you and can certainly recommend places to get libations for your excursion with us as well.  A sail with us is fun no matter what you bring onboard(but a jacket is always a good idea…it can get chilly out on the water).

Upcoming events include:
 

Full Moon Sail on the Schooner Olad 

Sunday, August 22, 2021 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Watch the sun go down behind the mountains of Camden Hills State
Park; then turn seaward and watch the moonrise over the islands of
Penobscot Bay. 

As always, all of our sails are B.Y.O.B. , and food and snacks are welcome.
For more information on private sails and special events, please call or visit our website.

Sailing through the summer!
We hope you’re able to join us!

 

Beautiful Summer Days for Sailing

Submitted by Susie Cooke on

Summer days are here, and the sailing is great out on Penobscot Bay! 

 

The warmer weather and long days are perfect for evening sunset sails out on Penobscot Bay.  Bring along a bottle of wine, some snacks, a cozy blanket and someone to share the evening with and enjoy the relaxing view as the sun sets behind the Camden Hills and downtown.  Early evening is also a great time to see porpoise out on the water, and the wind is usually more tranquil for a more relaxed sail.  We'll be continuing our sunset sails through the end of August on the Schooner Olad, so book yourself a romantic evening with us while the long days last.

​We're looking forward to enjoying the Camden Classics Cup put on by Lyman Morse at the end of this month.  Come out with us on a 2 hour sail and view some beautiful classic sailing yachts, and enjoy the cool breezes out on the bay.  Our crew will be sure to make it a great sail for you whether on the Schooner Olad or Cutter Owl.  The weekend's festivities will include sailing races, a boat parade, and a possible day sailer schooner race…stay tuned!

This summer is shaping up to be a an especially good one on the coast of Maine, and many people are flocking to our part of New England to enjoy all of the activities that it has to offer.  We encourage people to book in advance for one of our 2 hour public sails that we offer daily.  Many families are booking the boats out to enjoy a private sail to celebrate weddings, go on island lobster bakes and other special occasions.  If this sounds like just the thing for your family, please call us to discuss the details of your specialized sail with us.

We'll be seeing you out on the water!

Update: June 23, 2021

Submitted by Abbie Smith on

Happy summer!

 

Things are going well here in Maine. As of last week, I’m happy to report that the Coast Guard is no longer requiring masks while outside on the deck of the boat. We also have been cleared to run at full occupancy. That is twenty two on the Olad and six on the Owl. We will still have masks and hand sanitizer available at all times for those who want them. You will still need a mask if you want to go down below to use the restroom. For that reason, we are still asking people to use the restroom before boarding. 

 

Things are also very busy. The pent-up demand after last year is huge. I only say this because we have been full many of the days in June, and have had to turn people away. So, please book in advance if possible. We want to take as many of you sailing as we possibly can.

 

Also, give yourself enough time to get to the boat. There are a few parking projects going on in Camden which has limited the parking in general. The check in time is 30 minutes before departure.  We will board 15 minutes before departure, and leave the dock at the printed scheduled time. We will not be able to give refunds to people who miss their trips,  but we will always try to reschedule you. Due to sailing's high demand this summer, we may not have as much scheduling flexibility as we have had in the past.

 

As a final note about sailing, we are still not giving out blankets or selling beverages aboard our vessels. We recommend that you bring a blanket or a jacket with you, as it will be cooler on the bay. Also, feel free to bring any food or beverage you would like.

 

Last but not least…Great news!! Today is the first time our retail store has been open in over a year.

 

It has been so great to be back out on the water and have some feeling of normalcy. I’m excited to see everybody and take people sailing, as are the crew and the employees of the Schooner Olad and Cutter Owl. We will see you soon!!

 

Sincerely,

 

Captain Aaron Lincoln, Schooner Olad, Cutter Owl, and Crew

Masks no longer required as of now!

Submitted by Susie Cooke on

Schooner Olad and Cutter Owl
mask requirement update for you all!

We are very excited to announce that we will no longer be required to have our guests or our fully vaccinated staff wear masks when on our sailing vessels per the USCG. We are very much looking forward to seeing everyone’s smiling faces, and be able to talk with everyone without a muffled mess of sound above the breeze. Our sailing capacity aboard the Schooner Olad has also increased to 18 passengers, and we plan to be at full capacity as of July 1st.  
Back to normal never felt so exciting, right?!

This sailing season is gearing up to be absolutely spectacular. Our wonderful crew is ready to show our guests the beauty of the bay on a most excellent sail aboard one of our classic sailing yachts. Experience the tradition of sailing wooden boats that has been a part of our Maine Heritage for over a century.  

Happy sailing, everyone!

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