Ship Log

From Marsha:

Departed Sat, June 13th, 

TPA / Rockland via Boston then taxi to Camden Maine for 2n stay at Abigal Inn B&B.

Having a layover in Boston, we chose to go into the City via Uber.  Downtown was hopping with activity. The Saturday Market hosted abundant produce, fresh seafood (oysters) and meats.  The Soccer World Cup was held later that day and already the streets were filled with laughter from kilt dressed hopefuls, while the beer mugs were passed.  

We enjoyed a healthy lunch before taking the subway back to the airport.  Unfortunately, we got off at the wrong stop and had a long exhausting walk to the Cape Air terminal.  

The prop flight to Rockland was very picturesque, flying over hundreds of inhabited islands.   A taxi drive took us to the door of the Abigal Inn, a B&B in the town of Camden, ME.

Our first evening was a walk into town, later meeting up with Gary, a VillageSailingClub member and his wife Barb, enjoying diner along the Harbor’s water.

The next morning, we had a marvelous homemade breakfast prepared by one of the Innkeepers, and later strolled their gardens and found that all the breakfast eggs came from their own chickens.  Later another stroll through the town, taking in the local shops with a late lunch on the Harbor’s boardwalk where there was a small jazz group playing.

Early to bed for the big day tomorrow, boarding the ANGELIQUE. 

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The Angelique is a Gaff topsail ketch, full keeled with an 11-foot draft, built of steel and wood.  She is 130 feet in overall length, w/ 95 feet in deck length and a beam of 23 feet. She has double and single cabins, hosts 27 passengers and has a crew of 7. She was built in 1980 in Palatka, Florida as a Windjammer for the tourist trade.  She is known for her unique ‘red’ sails as during the circa of 1880, it was common in England to treat sails with tannic acid and tallow to make them mildew resistant and durable.

I can’t say enough about how hard the crew works, and together.  The food was nothing but wonderful, all homemade with main chef, Eddie rising in the early hours to prepare three ‘squares’ a day.  Alex, the pastry chef, made excellent desserts and homemade bread.  While Lee was in a photo workshop, I was often drying dishes below!

The pictures speak for themselves, beautiful scenic waters throughout thePenobscot Bay located in the mid coast region of Maine:

Monday: Woke early to heavy rain ending soon. Sails hoisted! Anchored in Hell's Half Acre.

Tuesday: Stonington to pick up live lobsters, stored in wet tank that evening for tomorrow’s bake.  Anchored later in Cookie Bite cove

Wednesday: Short row (all in unison) to small island for lobster bake….yummy!     Anchored in Babson Island

Thursday: A pancake breakfast on the lower deck.  Stop in Buck harbor for nice walk to stretch.     Anchored in Bucks Harbor

Friday: Fresh winds allowed us to sail right out of harbor, arriving an hour later in Castine, a town predating the Plymouth Colony.

 We took a wonderful walk, taking in the architecture of the old, lovely gardens, and attempted reaching the Lighthouse atop the Hill.  Castine is known for being the ‘battle line of four nations’:  France vs Great Britain; Netherlands vs France; Great Britain vs United states.

The conflicts for control over Castine due to it’s strategic deep-water harbor on the Bay pitted these nations against each other, shifting alliances and battles for two centuries. 

Sailed towards homebase, but by 1:30 there were 24 knot winds so Captain took alternate route and tucked into Smith Cove as by that hour the water depth in Camden Harbor would be too low.  The boat rocked all night, which I found for a pleasant sleep.

Saturday: Crew set sail by sunrise as passengers packed up. Back in Camden, we easily docked while watching the Mary Day, another famous Windjammer vessel maneuver into place.

Our taxi arrived timely for our drive to Portland where we had a long wait. Our driver suggested using the app ‘Bounce’ to book a hold for our luggage while we toured. We were dropped by a local Deli where they carefully kept our two bags. We then took in the sights while venturingdownhill to the water’s edge in the main part of the city.  There we hopped a tour “bus” which was an old fire truck decked out with seating. They make quite a mention of fires as Portland has nearly been burned and destroyed four times. Portland has much history and interesting architecture. Of course, we then had to walk the nine blocks mostly uphill to grab our luggage and walk to the nearest bus enroute to the airport.  P.S. senior citizens travel via city busses ‘free’. 

Flight via Breeze Airlines was a ‘breeze’ being non stop.  Our travel was in and out of Tampa.  It did make for a long day, finally arriving back in the Villages close to 2 a.m.

From Lee:

Angelique Wind Jammer is beautifully maintained, red-sails, wood vessel, replica of a 'Brixham trawler' that fished the North Sea and English Channel around 1880.   It is owned and operated by a husband and wife team,  Candace handled all our questions and reservations.  Captain Dennis  and his 3 deck hands plus 3 galley hands wove us through the islands of Penopscot Bay.  

Each evening we anchored in in tucked-away coves to feed us on deck and enjoy the surroundings. 

Long days of sunlight.  Light breezes.  Weather was comfortable all week.  Crisp mornings and light jackets by day.  Dense wool blankets kept us warm at night.

Toured Stonington and Bucks Harbor and Casine.  Lobster bake was mid-week.  (there is actually a technically correct way to consume a whole lobster).

that was sailing for the Tall Ships gathering 250 4th of July in a week after we departed.  New York and Boston then back to Penacote Bay.   That voyage was 'sold out' soon as announce two years ago.  

We were early in the season so only 16 passengers, lots of deck space and half of those 16 spent the week in a Photography Workshop...  I learned lots form pro photographers and advanced hobbyists.  Marsha was already a great photographer.  Coastline, moon-less star abundant night skies.  weather was very comfortable all week...  with and intense 1st morning rainfall and a last day 24knot high wind thrown in.  

cabin accommodations below are double for couples and bunks for others.  There are 3 cabins with the upper bunks removes...  Marsha and I were lucky.  Ours were roomy ... which was a blessing since we both OVER PACKED...  ready for wet and cold... temps were 70s and the wonderful wool blankets were plenty for sleeping nights.  Every cabin is equipped with sink and USB plugins and sky light to the upper deck.  Shower stall is smartly controlled by a kitchen sink sprayer.. plenty of hot water if you wait for the galley crew to stoke up the stove...  (they have that job underway long before any of us rise)..  Meals on deck because our weather was so accommodating.  Lots of variety but the highlight was our pastry chef...  she was GOOD.

The Captain and deck crew weaved us throughout Penecote Bay, tucking into an idyllic alcove late each afternoon.  We stopped in Stonington to pickup our lobsters and later, also, toured the lighthouse and villages of xxx.

top sail of main mast was dropped inorder to pass beneath o bridge..  from my angle is was CLOSE.

Memorable.  

I sailed with the Angelique 10 years earlier, too.  The Maine coast is a strange draw for those that like the water.  We travelled with true 'frequent jammers'  .. one tallied 20+ trips on the Angelique, and another more than 10.