Happy New Year!
2026 marks our fortieth year as owners of Maine Windjammer Cruises. My, how time flies! It seems like only yesterday that Ann and I, only a young couple with a dream, purchased the fleet which I had been working in the previous four years.
We knew we were in for a lot but we had no idea our historic vessels would need total restoration so soon. Sailing all summer and shipbuilding all winter was the way it went for the first five years. This resulted in our receiving a local award for our efforts to preserve Camden’s community image. Nationally we received accolades from the National Park Service and two of our vessels were designated as National Landmarks. These were the most challenging but also the most rewarding years of our career.
The decades that followed were “easy sailing” for our whole family. Our girls grew up on the schooners. Each summer was an adventure. We met people from all over the country, in fact the world. Even celebrities and dignitaries were aboard from time to time. Every week was like a new party that we hosted as we explored the Maine coast.
The most fun was to share this experience with our guests. We have become intimate friends with many of our repeat passengers. The Old Salts Club recognized anyone who had sailed with us with more esteem. We got to know a broad spectrum of people who have enriched our lives, and we trust their lives were also enhanced by their experience.
Although Ann had a full career as a kindergarten teacher, our forty years in the business has defined our lives. Now, having to slow down a bit in semi-retirement, we operate Swift. She is the only square-rigged passenger vessel operating in Maine.
What more could anyone ask for?! We thank every one of our guests whose participation has made our dream a reality. In celebration of our anniversary, we are making several special offers. Please read on.
Old Salt Appreciation Offers
It’s not just our 40th anniversary… we are also celebrating the 90th anniversary of our company which was founded in 1936 by Captain Frank Swift. Much of this history is recorded in Captain Ray’s book Keeping the Tradition Alive. This 172 page, 11×14 hard cover book contains over one hundred full page images of the score of vessels our company has operated through the years.
As a special thank you to Old Salts for having sailed with us, we offer you a complimentary copy of Keeping the Tradition Alive. This would be a great way to relive old memories. Contact us for details!
We are also offering a 15% discount to Old Salts who help us celebrate our anniversary by sailing with us this coming year.
Thanks for sailing with us in the past, and we hope to welcome you aboard again soon! Just contact our office by phone or email. We’d be happy to hear from you!
207-236-2938 mwc@mainewindjammercruises.com
Special Charter Offers
In an effort to promote private charters and early reservations, we are offering a 15% discount for full-boat reservations made before February 15, 2026.
One unique feature of Swift is her capacity limited to just six guests. This makes it much easier for a group of family or friends to enjoy the whole boat. Doing so offers more flexibility to customize a trip to fit your needs. Private charters also allow for additional passengers and a customized sailing schedule if desired.
In addition to our overnight charters, Swift can be available for day excursions for up to 12 passengers.
Epilogue
When I originally wrote Keeping the Tradition Alive it was to celebrate the 75th anniversary of our company. Little did I know we would come to celebrate 90 years of continuity in the windjammer industry.
As part of the history of Maine Windjammer Cruises, we have been owners for forty years. The past 15 years have seen some changes for us. In anticipation of retirement, we purchased yet another windjammer in 2020. It happened all of a sudden, when I found out a vessel I had long admired was in need of a new home.
It was late November, the Friday before Thanksgiving when Ann and I first stepped aboard. The engine wouldn’t start, and there was some damage to the port rail from a storm but we fell in love immediately. The decks were broad and spacious. The proud square rig was all there; in fact she still had all ten sails on.
We discussed it over the weekend and on Monday morning made our offer. I didn’t even make it home from the broker’s office when he called to say we now owned a Brigantine. Well here we were again taking on yet another project when we still owned three big wooden schooners.
The thought of selling our schooners had been on our minds for some time; however I couldn’t imagine not having that connection to the sea. This chance to repurpose a very special vessel for the windjammer business gave me the ambition to take it on, and with Ann’s blessing we were on to another adventure.
Our new vessel was designed in 1937 by the famous Maine naval architect Murray Peterson. His models were greatly influenced by the coasters. Built in 1983, she was relatively new compared to the century-plus old Grace Bailey and Mercantile which were repurposed from the cargo trade. In terms of size at 39 tons she is somewhat smaller than the Grace Bailey (59 tons) and the Mercantile (47 tons) but much bigger than the Mistress (13 tons).
With winter fast approaching, we had to move quickly. On Tuesday we moved the Mistress from her berth at Camden dock and tied her to the hip of the Mercantile. On Wednesday I spent the day with the mechanic who was rebuilding the engine on Mercantile’s yawlboat. He assured me that it would be ready to go Friday morning and we began making arrangements to transport our pushboat to East Boothbay.
On Thursday, Thanksgiving morning, I again went to East Boothbay to see what type of arrangement could be made to launch the yawlboat. What I found was a very useful launching ramp but because of the holiday the wide-load marine trailer was restricted so we had to hire a car hauler ramp truck to do the job. This presented a problem because the ramp truck, unlike the boat hauler, could not go into the water.
On Friday we loaded up the pickup truck with an assortment of pipes and rollers, chains and comealongs. Low tide was about 4PM so we arrived about an hour before that. Using the implements we brought, we were able to roll the yawl on its cradle off the truck and down to the water’s edge just at low tide. Now all we had to do was wait for the coming tide to float the yawl.
Shortly after dark, we boarded our new vessel. We brought a space heater and plenty of food, bedding and other provisions so we were quite comfortable. That night dreaming of our future plans I knew that she would have a new name. In honor of the founder of our company and the windjammer trade, Captain Frank Swift, she would be known simply as Swift.
Saturday morning we were up before the sun. After making another attempt to start the engine, to no avail, we got underway with the assist of our trusted yawlboat. With little to no wind we motored all day. Just before sunset we anchored off Owl’s Head only a couple of hours from Camden.
Sunday morning brought warm sunshine and a nice steady breeze from the northwest. We sailed off the anchor and before you knew it we had all ten sails flying. The thrill was too grand to head straight for Camden so we sailed about for a few hours before heading home.
Once we were secured to our dock we removed all of the sails and brought them to the shop where they were stored until needed. The following days required the removal of the yards, topmasts and other spars and rigging. Next we had to make a cover which would allow us to work through the winter.
Our attention was immediately given to two projects, the removal of the ancient 471 GMC marine engine and gutting the interior. Having been used as a private yacht, Swift was totally unsuitable for the windjammer trade. One of the appeals of the new vessel was her Spartan accommodations and minimal joinery work. This allowed us to tear everything out right back to the hull without destroying important work.
That winter we installed a new 110 horsepower Yanmar diesel engine and ripped out all of the plumbing and wiring. First on paper, then on board I began to develop the new interior layout. We moved the galley from below to the after deck house and converted the space to a dining salon. The only head on board was enlarged to incorporate a comfortable hot water shower.
In spite of her size, she would only carry six passengers on overnight cruises, making her very commodious. A skylight on the foredeck was removed and on the same opening a hatch was built to access the new accommodations.
There were some interesting challenges, but the results were exactly what I imagined: three private cabins. Given the volume of the Swift the cabins are much more spacious than on your typical windjammer. Two cabins amidships are mirror images with an oversized double bed, ample storage and each has its own enclosed head and sink. Multiple lighting options, charging ports and electric fans add to the comfort. The forward cabin, which we call the family cabin, has three single bunks and also has a private head and sink.
During the summer of 2021 we were busy operating our other vessels, so not much progress was made. In the fall we hauled out to do some hull repairs. At that time we pulled the mainmast to replace the crosstrees and added more through hulls to accommodate the additional heads.
We continued to operate our three schooners through the 2022 season while progress continued on the the Swift. In December 2022 we sold the Grace Bailey and in April of 2023 we sold the Mistress. This left us with the Mercantile and the Swift operating for the 2023 season. Mercantile sold in March of 2024 leaving us with just the six-passenger Swift.
After decades operating a fleet, we are happy to settle into what we are calling semi-retirement. Things have worked out just fine. We have passed on the responsibility of our national treasures to others and continue our connection to the sea aboard the only true square rigged windjammer available for charter in Maine.
We look forward to sharing this magnificent vessel with you!
Captain Ray and Ann Williamson