From late May to mid-October, the nine vessels belonging to the Maine Windjammer Association offer 3- to 6-day vacations along the coast of Maine.
Carrying between 16 and 40 passengers, this is the oldest and largest fleet of working sailing vessels in North America.Most of the windjammers have been designated National Historic Landmarks.
Sailing out of Camden and Rockland in mid-coast Maine, the vessels ply the hundreds of mostly uninhabited islands here.
Windjamming lets guests discover the unspoilt Maine coast and , because windjammers are quiet and do not disrupt the environment, passengers are likely to see seals, eagles, porpoises and an occasional whale.
After a full day of sailing, windjammers settle for the night in a protected anchorage usually off an uninhabited island or a Maine fishing village where guests may go ashore to hike, explore or discover life on "Main Street."
All of the windjammers carry small sail, paddle and rowboats, so guests also have the oppornity to explore the waterways on their own.
Entertainment is simple, and may include music and story-telling, stargazing or perhaps a moonlit row around the harbor.
The windjammer cruises offer schooner-cooked meals from chefs willing to share their experience with anyone who is interested.
Every cruise also offers a beachside lobster bake, serving up what is claimed to be the sweetest lobster meat in the world.
Windjamming comprises a series of day sails through the hundreds of islands and bays that protect the coast of Maine from the ocean.
The vessels are never out of sight of land and, because they are always in protected waters, and seasickness is rarely a problem.