Have you ever thought about sailing on a historic boat? I’ve been wanting to give sailing a try for a few years, so when the opportunity presented itself to spend a little less than a week aboard the Schooner J&E Riggin sailing around Maine, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. I loved the idea of sailing Maine, taking in the beautiful coastlines and just relaxing on deck as much as possible. Want to know what I thought of my trip and my tips if you’re planning your own Maine Windjammer getaway? Then just keep reading!
My Time Aboard the Schooner J&E Riggin
When I first heard about the Maine Windjammer Association and its fleet of historic sailing vessels, I knew this was the kind of unique adventure I’d been looking for. Growing up in Austin, TX, I didn’t exactly spend a lot of time on the water as a kid – I certainly never learned to sail or spent time on boats. So I had absolutely no idea what to expect out of this trip, beyond that I knew it would be an experience, one way or another.
Coming off my 6-day sailing on the Schooner Riggin this past week, I think it’s safe to say that I enjoy windjamming, but I could see why it wouldn’t be for everyone. First of all, you definitely need a certain level of mobility to be able to get up and down the ladders into your small cabins. The crew also highly encourages everyone to participate in manning the ship, like hoisting the sails in the morning (you don’t have to, but you should try to as much as physically able).
Back to the cabins, they are definitely small. If you’ve never spent time on a small boat, you wouldn’t know what to expect, but there’s a reason they ask you to pack duffles and not large suitcases for your voyage. My cabin, for example, was composed of two twin beds, one lower and one functioning as an upper bunk, but turned perpendicular to the other bed. The cabin is meant for two people, but I was very lucky to have it to myself. There are only a few feet of standing space, so it’s best to be able to stuff all your belongings under the bed or in the various nooks and crannies of the cabin. There is your own sink in the cabin, which had drinkable water, and they provided bed linens, towels, etc. The bathrooms are another matter – they are also very small and communal. Two marine toilets, one with the capability of being a shower if anyone really needed it – no one on my 6-day cruise ever did end up showering, though some jumped into the ocean for a swim the last day so maybe that counts? Anyways, the point is, don’t plan to shower.
So you can see why some of these things might make your average person wary of such a vacation. But if you can handle a lack of showering and a small cabin, this trip is the unique sort of adventure you might be looking for! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all cooked for us by our onboard chef (and she did a wonderful job catering to dietary restrictions and allergies), and every day we’d set sail after finishing breakfast. Helping hoist the sails on this nearly 100-year-old schooner (she was built in 1927!) made me feel like I had teleported into Pirates of the Caribbean, especially on the one foggy day we had. It was like sailing into an endless void of white. It was actually pretty meditative!
After setting sail, the morning and afternoons were spent hanging on deck, chatting with the other passengers, and reading a book. Sometimes we’d anchor and visit small towns or islands. On the second night of our trip, we had a huge lobster bake on one such island and then made s’mores tacos. It was so peaceful to always be the only ones around. Until it was the day of the Gam! This one special week in June every year, all of the Maine Windjammer Association gets together for a big party. All of the historic vessels raft up together and you can walk from ship to ship, checking out the features of each schooner and even enjoy live music. There’s really no other such meeting of historic boats in the world, I’m told. Basically, if you’re a fan of getting to view all these old boats up close together, make sure you book during Gam week!
Beyond the Gam, I personally just loved to relax on deck every day as we sailed past scenic coastal Maine. I finished a book, started another one, chatted with all the guests and crew on board, and had some very intense games of Rummy and Dominoes. I was also pleasantly surprised to have a phone signal for most of the voyage, so I could still check my emails and such as necessary. This is the kind of trip where the pleasure is in doing nothing. And truly, it was probably the closest I’ve ever felt to being back at summer camp, except this time as an adult.
What To Pack For Your Trip
Make sure to pack as light as possible! Like I said before, the cabins are small, so you probably won’t fit a suitcase. With that said, the weather is unpredictable, so you’ll want layers. It can get quite hot with the sun out, but also quite cold, especially on a rainy day.
- Duffle bag as your luggage (not a large suitcase)
- Rain jacket and rain pants (not poncho)
- Waterproof shoes
- Sandals
- T-shirts, Sweater, Shorts, Pants
- Swimsuit
- Wool socks
- Thermal underwear in case of cold nights
- Refillable water bottle
- Dry shampoo
- Baby wipes/camping shower wipes (just do not flush these down the toilets)
- Sunglasses/hat
- Car charger plug converter (if you want to use something like a laptop or your camera – my cabin did have USB ports)
- USB charging cables
FAQs About the Schooner J&E Riggin
- Plugs: Each cabin on the Schooner J&E Riggin has two USB ports and a car charger port. If you have a device that needs a real plug, make sure to bring a car charger plug converter with you!
- Showers: There is one communal shower onboard. Don’t plan on using it if you can manage the trip without it. I suggest baby wipes and dry shampoo! They do provide towels.
- Toilets: There are two communal marine toilets. They’re really not that bad to use!
- Internet: No wifi. Depending on where you sail and your phone provider, you might get a signal on and off. I had T-Mobile and had a weak signal most of the time where I could check emails and stream Netflix even.
Got any more questions? Drop them in the comments below!
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