Boothbay Harbor: Schooner Day Sail & Maine Coastline Views

4.56

(126 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“You ever tried to say ‘Eastwind’ with a mouthful of salt air?” That’s what our captain joked as we pulled away from the dock in Boothbay Harbor. I could still smell coffee from the bakery across the street mixing with the seaweed and boat varnish. There were maybe a dozen of us—some couples, a family with a little girl who kept pointing at every seagull like it was her first time seeing one (maybe it was). The schooner itself felt solid underfoot, all smooth wood and ropes that creaked when the wind picked up. I liked that you could just sit anywhere—no bad seats, really.

We motored out past lobster boats—one guy waved, cigarette dangling from his mouth—and then the sails went up. It got quiet in this way you only get on water, just canvas snapping overhead and the occasional gull. Our guide (I think his name was Tom? Or maybe Tim—I’m terrible with names) pointed out Burnt Island Light off to starboard. He told us how some of those islands are only reachable by boat; apparently, people still live out there year-round. Hard to imagine in January. The sun kept shifting behind clouds and back again—Maine weather is moody like that.

I brought my own lemonade (they said BYOB but no booze), which tasted weirdly better out there than it ever does at home. Someone else had packed sandwiches—good idea for next time. There’s a restroom below deck if you need it, though I never did; too busy watching cormorants dive near the rocks or just zoning out at all that blue-gray water. The whole thing lasted about two hours but felt longer—in a good way. I still think about that silence after they cut the engine, just wind and water and nothing else for a while.