Covid-19 Updates

Update: June 23, 2021

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 already a lot of the days of 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 some 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 15before minutes the departure time, and depart at the printed scheduled time. We will not be able to give refunds to people who miss their trips, we will always try to reschedule you and do our best but 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 on the boat or selling beverages. You may 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!!

 

Captain Aarin Lincoln, Olad, Owl, and Crew.

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Update: March 28, 2021

Sailing and Covid 2021

Happy Spring!

Thanks for staying the course with us through the global pandemic. How crazy to think that, one year ago, COVID was a new reality. We had a great season last summer, and we appreciated everyone’s cooperation so we could sail safely. Thank you! We know that the pandemic has affected us all in different ways, and we offer our understanding for any difficulties the last year may have brought into your life. 

We also offer our excitement for the 2021 sailing season! We all deserve to get out on Penobscot Bay to enjoy the wind, waves, and wildlife. As we look ahead to the season, we are committed to safety precautions to ensure that everyone feels as comfortable and relaxed as possible. We are not out of the woods yet with COVID but things are looking up! With vaccines rolling out and fresh air always on our side, we look forward to a great sailing season with you. 

So, what will the start 2021 look like?

On the Schooner Olad and the Cutter Owl:

• Our captains, crew, and employees will wear masks at all times.

• All passengers will wear masks. As of now, Federal law requires that all passengers wear masks, with the exception of when eating or drinking. We expect that this law may end in May. Stay tuned!

• We will ask all passengers to put on hand sanitizer before boarding the boats.

• We will ask all passengers to use the restroom onshore before the boats depart. (The bathroomonboard will be available for emergencies and longer charters.)

• We will practice social distancing onboard.

• We will sanitize the boats between trips. 

Additionally on the Olad:

We will be limiting passengers to 14 maximum on the Olad for public trips. (For private charters, we canbring 14-22 passengers.)

Additionally on the Owl:

The Owl has a maximum capacity of 6 passengers. We will limit passengers, as needed, if passengers do not know each other.

Charter the boats

2020 was a record year for private charters, and we already have a lot of bookings for 2021. Simply put, charters allow you to choose who you go sailing with, and this helps ensure an enjoyable trip for all. The Owl can take 6 people maximum, and the Olad can take between 14-22 people, depending how your group meets the criteria.

Book today!

We recommend that you book early, well in advance of when you would like to sail. Last year, we were often full to capacity a week in advance. We expect to fill up quickly this year. Whether you are booking individual seats on the Olad or Owl, or wishing to charter one of the boats, please reach out to us as soon as possible. Visit the website at www.maineschooners.com or call us today at 207-236-2323 or email [email protected]

We will keep you posted….

We anticipate that with the vaccines out, that restrictions will be removed as the season moves on. We will be keeping up on the latest information, and keep you informed.

We’re excited that things look so promising on the horizon. We’re excited to go sailing with you. We are committed to your safety, and we’re committed to having fun and giving you the best sailing experience possible on Penobscot Bay. 

Thanks again for staying the course with us. We look forward to hearing from you. Remember, book early this year. Call us anytime.

See you soon!

Captain Aaron Lincoln 

 

 

Update: 12/15/2020

The Schooner Olad and Cutter Owl will be open for the 2021 season.

Maine still has a relatively low Covid-19 rate and we expect that it will stay that way. We realize that the state laws of our state and other states are constantly changing and we will do our best to stay ahead of these changes. Please go to the following link for the most up-to-date information. This website will let you know who can freely travel to the State of Maine, where you can get Covid-19 tests, and how soon you need to get the results before arriving in Maine. We are also happy to field any questions and do our best to help you as well, please feel free to reach out.

Also, free to read through our Covid-19 refund policy on our website or click this link.

For both boats in the 2021 season:

  • We will be taking fewer passengers this year to provide additional spacing.
  • Boats will be sanitized before each trip
  • You will be required to bring and wear a mask when boarding and when socially distancing is not possible.
  • Groups will be spaced 6 feet apart while boarding and while being seated.
  • Hand sanitizer will available and must be used before entering the boat.
  • Captain and crew will be wearing masks for the duration of the trip
  • We cannot provide anything this year but fun!! Please bring your own sunscreen, blankets, warm clothes, food and beverages. You may also B.Y.O.B. but remember we are limiting bathroom use to emergencies.
  • For kids, we suggest you bring your own life jackets because there is a limited amount of the “comfortable style” onboard that will be sterilized each day. There will always be the Coast Guard required ”block style” life jackets onboard for an emergency.
  • There will be “no bathroom use” on two hour sails except for an emergency, because of the Covid-19 cleaning protocols. The public landing bathroom is open 24/7 and is being cleaned regularly during the day. Please use if needed prior to your trip.
  • Groups with young kids may want to privately charter the boats to allows the kids more room to move.
  • There will not be opportunities drive the boats this year, sorry to say.
  • With the exception of charters, passengers will remain in their assigned seats for the duration of the trip.
  • Thanks for your patience will we learn to navigate these crazy times.

In addition to the testing protocol we will have in place enhanced cleaning.  Please be mindful that you will need to bring any food or beverages that you’d like to enjoy as well as blankets, warm gear, sunscreen and life jackets for children under the age of 12.  We have life vests for everyone on board in case of an emergency, but are unable to supply a more comfortable style of life vest for those children whos parents require them to be worn.  We are not able or allowed to supply any items at this time, but you are more than welcome to bring any food or beverages, etc that you would like while sailing.  As always, the pleasure of being aboard a Schooner is all the time spent on deck in the sun and breeze – both of which lessen the spread of Covid.

Our slightly different boarding protocols will require us to have everyone social distance and wear a face covering while boarding our vessels.  There may also be guidelines put in place by the town of Camden as we move into a busy time of summer.  As rules and guidelines change we will update our website to keep our guests apprised as to what they should expect while sailing with us.

Thank you for the incredible support we have received during these difficult times.

Captain Aaron Lincoln

 

 

Update: 7/3/2020

The Schooner Olad and Cutter Owl are open and sailing for the 2020 season. We have some upadates for you.

Maine still has a relatively low Covid-19 rate and the state is slowly reopening. Just last week our governor announced a testing protocol for visitors coming into Maine. We do not know how long this protocol will be in effect but for now visitors need to receive a negative Covid test upon entering the state or within 72 hours of visiting Maine if they are from another state other than New Hampshire, Vermont, Conneticut, New Jersey, New York or other locales in Maine. Visitors can test in their home state or once they arrive in Maine. Currently this is unrealistic for many parts of the country, but every week testing in Maine and across the nation improves so we are hopeful that this will be feasible for our guests.

For both boats:

  • We will be taking fewer passengers this year to provide additional spacing.
  • Boats will be sanitized before each trip
  • You will be required to bring and wear a mask when boarding and when socially distancing is not possible.
  • Groups will be spaced 6 feet apart while boarding and while being seated.
  • Hand sanitizer will available and must be used before entering the boat.
  • Captain and crew will be wearing masks for the duration of the trip
  • We cannot provide anything this year but fun!! Please bring your own sunscreen, blankets, warm clothes, food and beverages. You may also B.Y.O.B. but remember we are limiting bathroom use to emergencies.
  • For kids, we suggest you bring your own life jackets because there is a limited amount of the “comfortable style” onboard that can be sterilized each day. There will always be the Coast Guard required ”block style” life jackets onboard for an emergency.
  • There will be “no bathroom use” on two hour sails except for an emergency, because of the covid-19 cleaning protocols. The public landing bathroom is open 24/7 and is being clean regularly during the day. Please use if needed prior to your trip.
  • Groups with young kids may want to privately charter the boats to allows the kids more room to move.
  • There will not be opportunities to hoist sails and drive the boats this year, sorry to say.
  • With the exception of charters, passengers will remain in their assigned seats for the duration of the trip.
  • Thanks for your patience will we learn to navigate these crazy times.

In addition to the testing protocol we will have in place enhanced cleaning.  Please be mindful that you will need to bring any food or beverages that you’d like to enjoy as well as blankets, warm gear, sunscreen and life jackets for children under the age of 12.  We have life vests for everyone on board in case of an emergency, but are unable to supply a more comfortable style of life vest for those children whos parents require them to be worn.  We are not able or allowed to supply any items at this time, but you are more than welcome to bring any food or beverages, etc that you would like while sailing.  As always, the pleasure of being aboard a Schooner is all the time spent on deck in the sun and breeze – both of which lessen the spread of Covid.

Our slightly different boarding protocols will require us to have everyone social distance and wear a face covering while boarding our vessels.  There may also be guidelines put in place by the town of Camden as we move into a busy time of summer.  As rules and guidelines change we will update our website to keep our guests apprised as to what they should expect while sailing with us.

Thank you for the incredible support we have received during these difficult times.

Captain Aaron Lincoln