Schooner Isaac H. Evans
Sailing Schedule for 2008
 All Cruises Board the Evening of the Trip Date between 5 and 7 PM

The 2007 sailing season is now a distant memory and we want to sincerely thank everyone that sailed with us last summer. If you weren't able to be a part of our adventures last year, it's time to think about sailing in Maine this summer! We find that many of our guests plan up to a year in advance for their adventure aboard the Schooner Isaac H. Evans. Although cancellations are rare, we are happy to put you on a waiting list or refer you to another vessel if there isn't room available for the trip you choose. There are already several full trips so book now to reserve your specific dates or your favorite cabin.

It's also not too early to start thinking about sailing in Maine in 2009! Actually, it's the perfect time to plan your wedding, family reunion, corporate retreat, or other special event! And we're planning a VERY special event in 2009. Watch for details as we plan to attend Sail Boston July 8 - 13, 2009!

All trips spend the first night at the dock in Rockland so you can settle in comfortably in your new surroundings.
You'll have time to explore the town that evening and enjoy dinner in one of many fine restaurants.
We set sail the following morning around 10 am.
Book your safe, fun and relaxing adventure today!

 

Week Long Cruises
6 nights on board and just over 5 days of sailing
June 15
$950

Schooner Gam
Maine Lighthouse Week
Summer Solstice
Full Moon Night Sailing
Sun. night to Sat. morning
July 20
$900
only 4 cabins
available
Isle au Haut Sail/Hike
Sun. night to Sat. morning
Aug 17
$950
Whale Watching
Full Moon Night Sailing
Sun. night to Sat. morning
Sept 28
$900
only 3 cabins
available
Season Finale
Sun. night to Sat. morning
Five Night Cruises
5 nights on board and just over 4 days of sailing




Aug 4
$780
only 4 cabins
available
Maine Boats and Harbors Show
Mon. night to Sat. morning
Sept 7
$780

WoodenBoat Sail-In
Sun. night to Fri. morning
Four Night Cruises
4 nights on board and just over 3 days of sailing




 June 10
$660
only 5 cabins
available
Knitter's Cruise
Featured in Cooking Light magazine!
Tues. night to Sat. morning
June 25
$660
Knitter's Cruise
Featured in Cooking Light magazine!
Wed. night to Sun. morning
June 29
$660
only 1 berth
available (single female)
Great Schooner Race
Sun. night to Thurs. morning
July 8
$660
5th Annual Maine Windjammer Parade
North Atlantic Blues Festival
Tues. night to Sat. morning
July 13
$660
North Atlantic Blues Festival
Sun. night to Thurs. morning
July 27
$660
Lobster Festival
Sun. night to Thurs. morning
Aug 12
$660
Perseid Meteor Shower
Tues. night to Sat. morning
Aug 24
$660

Pirate Adventure Cruise
Sun. night to Thurs. morning
Aug 28
$660
Camden Windjammer Weekend
Thurs. night to Mon. morning
Sept 2
$660
Knitter's Cruise
Featured in Cooking Light magazine!
Tues. night to Sat. morning
Sept 12
$710

Full Moon Night Sailing
Fri. night to Tues. morning
Sept 16
$660
Knitter's Cruise
Featured in Cooking Light magazine!
Tues. night to Sat. morning
Three Night Cruises
3 nights on board and just over 2 days of sailing




June 22
$550
only 3 cabins
available
Pirate Adventure Cruise
Sun. night to Wed. morning
July 4
$550
Fireworks
Fri. night to Mon. morning
July 17
$600
Full Moon Night Sailing
Thurs. night to Sun. morning
Aug 1
$550
Lobster Festival
Fri. night to Mon. morning
Aug 9
$550
Maine Boats and Harbors Show
Sat. night to Tues. morning
Sept 21
$550

Fall Foliage
Autumnal Equinox
Sun. night to Wed. morning
Sept 24
$550

Fall Foliage
Captain's Birthday
Wed. night to Sat. morning
  Trips with the "FULL" star have no available cabins.
We'll be happy to put you on a waiting list.

The fares listed are per person and include a full crew and captain,
accommodations, meals from breakfast the first day to brunch the last day,
on-site parking, activities, and taxes. There are several beverage options on
board (lemonade, iced tea, water, fruit juices, coffee, tea, hot chocolate)
but we do not provide alcoholic beverages or soda.
We provide a cooler and ice for any beverages you wish to bring with you.

We believe single travelers should not have to pay more to travel
so our trips are designed for shared accommodations and do not
involve a single supplement. Single travelers joining our trips
are paired in bunk bed accommodations with someone of
the same gender.



Dates and rates subject to change



Benefit Day Sail

Each year we start our season with a day sail to benefit a local charity. On Saturday, June 7, 2008, we will raise sails and funds for Station Maine. We will sail from 10 AM to 2 PM (rain or shine) and lunch is included. Tickets are $40 per person (minimum suggested donation) and ALL proceeds go to the chosen charity.

Previous beneficiaries have included Big Brothers Big Sisters, Friends of the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, New Hope For Women, Meals On Wheels, the Bob Gagnon Cancer Care Fund, the Friends of the Rockland Public Library, the Hospitality House, and Area Interfaith Outreach. Space is limited to 46 guests so make sure you get your tickets now!

SOLD OUT!
This trip has become very popular...
check in with us early to reserve your tickets for 2009.
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The Evans specializes in family trips. We started designating special 'family trips' in 1988 and by 2003 were welcoming children on all of our cruises. We've earned the reputation of "the family boat" because we spend lots of time ashore exploring and have activities and foods for the whole family. Our family adventures are the perfect way to introduce kids to the wide world beyond TV, video games, and the mall and are an opportunity for unparalleled experiential learning where your children will have the opportunity to experience the sea in a safe and comfortable environment. We don't stress education, but everyone learns something about nature, maritime history, and teamwork on a schooner.  We even carry our own lobster traps and fishing poles. Anyone age 6 or older is welcome on any of our adventures. Click here to read an article by Brooke Cunningham, a.k.a. TravelLady, about the trip she took with her daughter.
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The Schooner Gam is a very informal gathering of the fleet of windjammers on Monday night. Sometimes we’ve even been able to all tie up together, a giant raft-up. In typical relaxed windjammer fashion, we don't know where it will be till just before we anchor. After dinner you'll be welcomed aboard all the other vessels where you'll meet other passengers, crew, and captains, and also get to compare the size of your bunk! As the sun sets and the brass lanterns are lit on deck, instruments and voices are warmed up for an evening of informal music and story telling. When everyone heads back to their cozy cabin for a peaceful evening of the sound of water gently lapping against the hull, they all profess that the boat they chose is the best! When you wake in the morning to the smell of dozens of woodstoves fired up to cook breakfast and you wander the deck with your first mug of hot coffee, you'll think you've stepped back in time to an era when hundreds of schooners graced the waters of Maine.
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Maine Lighthouse Week. Everyone loves lighthouses and this trip we will seek out as many as possible in celebration of Maine Lighthouse Week. Upon return to Rockland you will have the opportunity to walk the length of the Rockland Breakwater (9/10 of a mile) to be greeted by volunteers that will give you a tour of the lighthouse including a view from the light tower! Your trip includes a free souvenir lighthouse map to keep track of the lights that we discover. back to the top


 

Wellness Trip. Wellness is much more than being free of illness - it's the sum of six different aspects  of our lives creating a true balance and harmony. We'll have informal instruction and discussion on each of the six aspects; physical, intellectual, occupational, emotional, social, and spiritual. Tai Chi, yoga, massage, Chinese healing and meditation will be offered by on-board specialists. Our menu will include healthy ingredients with a focus on organic and local produce as well as tasty indulgences. Has the stress of work, schedules, traffic, cell phones, computers, and decisions, decisions, decisions got you running in circles and feeling exhausted? Then this is the trip for you....unleash your potential, experience the world in new ways, enjoy all your senses, be more self-accepting, cure what ails you, renew your spirit, achieve balance and flexibility, stretch your mind and body, get in tune with your inner self and nature, awaken powers you didn't know you had...the possibilities are endless.

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61st Annual Maine Lobster Festival.
Sailing and lobster...lots of lobster! What more reason do you need to come to Maine? After returning from your 4-day adventure aboard the Evans you'll be within walking distance of all that the Maine Lobster Festival has to offer and your fare with us includes a one-day admission to this unique celebration of our favorite crustacean!
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Whale Watching. We have seen finback, humpback, and minke whales and a special sighting of a very lost beluga whale. As the wind and weather permits, we'll head out in search of these beautiful creatures. No guarantees. back to the top 


Perseid Meteor Shower. The Perseid meteor shower is the most famous of all meteor showers. It never fails to provide an impressive display and, due to its summertime appearance, it tends to provide the majority of meteors seen by non-astronomy enthusiasts. This year the moon will be new and waxing during the peak period this summer, so the conditions will be perfect for a spectacular show! back to the top

 
Pirate Adventure Cruise.
Arggghh, Mateys! Sail away into the legendary world of friendly swashbucklers, spirited pirates, scallywags, and undesirables. But beware....you may be called upon to defend the ship with a little sword fighting, firing the cannon, or sling-shotting our environmentally friendly ammo (marshmallows and bread balls). Perhaps you'll be made to walk the plank. Discover treasure and take your share of the loot. Scarf down worm sandwiches and pirate punch but...bring your own grog. Are you a swashbuckler at heart? Then a Pirate Adventure Cruise is definitely the trip for you. Pirate costumes, a scavenger hunt, pirate booty, chanteys, chasing other schooners, cannon firing, and lots of fun for all ages! It won't be "all pirate, all the time" but you can fulfill your fantasy to act like a pirate as much or as little as you like. "Yo, ho, yo ho, it's the pirate's life for me!"

Our August 24th Pirate Adventure Cruise boards just after Down East Pirate Days. Visit the event on land during the day and then join a scurvy bunch for four days of pirate fun on the water!

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WoodenBoat Magazine welcomes us ashore for an informal get together of the windjammers at their editorial offices in Brooklin, Maine. Enjoy a walk ashore with passengers from the other vessels to tour the WoodenBoat School plus music by Flash in the Pans and steamed mussels for an appetizer before dinner! This trip is one of the best to get great photos of all the schooners together. back to the top


Full Moon Night Sailing! Enjoy the unique opportunity to sail past sunset on our exclusive full moon adventures. Although this takes additional planning, it is an experience not to be missed! We'll spend a relaxing day on an island where you can enjoy our famous lobster bake, hike, swim, visit with your new friends, or find a secluded spot to relax on your own. We will get underway mid-afternoon, sail through dinner and past sunset. When we drop the anchor depends on the wind and weather but is typically sometime between 10 pm and 12 am. There is nothing quite as romantic or personally moving as sailing at night! back to the top


 
 

 



Camden’s Windjammer Weekend is a lot of fun for all of the schooners involved. We tie up in the inner harbor for events ashore including a Schooner Crew and Guests Talent Contest (so come prepared!) and fireworks. It’s Labor Day Weekend, and it will be a great festive way to celebrate. back to the top

 

10th Annual Knitters Cruises. Beth Collins, owner of UniqueOne yarn shop in Camden, Maine, has been knitting for nearly forty years and will be on board again this summer to provide informal instruction. Beth has designed a gansey sock, a nautical "Isaac H. Evans" sweater, a hat, and other patterns especially for these trips and there are some pretty fantastic prizes, too. Due to popular demand this trip has grown from a three-day to a four-day! Also due to popular demand (especially from teachers that simply cannot join us in September), we have again added another Knitters Cruise in June. AND....because of the overwhelming response to an article in Cooking Light magazine, we have just changed two of our other trips to Knitters Cruises as well; June 10th and September 16th. Book now because they will go fast!
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Grab a copy of Cooking Light magazine and read about the Schooner Isaac H. Evans!

That's right....grab the Jan/Feb 2008 issue of Cooking Light and turn to page 66 to read an article for the Enlightened Traveler in the Healthy Living section. The article is titled "Vacations with art; Jump-start your creative spirit with five hands-on getaways." by Pam Grout. You'll find the Evans featured under "Knitting" on page 76. The issue had only been on the stands for a few days and the response was overwhelming! If you are a regular on either of our knitting trips, you'd be wise to consider reserving your spot for next summer!

Knitting and sailing? Absolutely! Beth taught me to knit many years ago and suggested the idea of a sailing and knitting cruise when I bought the schooner. We offered the first knitting trip in September of 1999 and attendance was less than I would have liked. Thankfully, the trip grew in popularity and became so popular that we had to add a second knitting trip two seasons ago. Beth brings a variety of items from her shop (UniqueOne) and I throw in a few items from the Evans' Ship's Store for daily "porthole prizes". Everyone's name goes into a hat and we draw names before meals. Of course, the earlier your name is drawn the more choices you have as to which prize you'd like. There are usually skeins of yarn, books, knitting kits, and organizers as well as Evans hats, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. Everyone gets something and there is always more to choose from than guests so that last person still has a choice and isn't just stuck with the last thing that no one else wanted! Beth is very generous as these prizes are in addition to a 20% store discount and lots of free patterns. It's fun and many of the same people keep coming back year after year!




Great Schooner Race. A day of racing with about 20 schooners participating and you're the crew! You can handle the sheets while we tack the course and try to be the first to cross the finish line. The Evans was built to carry lots of oysters and is not a fast boat so if crossing the finish line first is high on your list you should consider a different boat. But if you love to have fun and want a chance to get some great photos we're the boat for you. They let us start first so you'll get pictures of the other schooners behind us, then as they approach, then as they are in front of us! back to the top

 

North Atlantic Blues Festival. This trip returns to Rockland on the morning of the North Atlantic Blues Festival. Some of the top names in blues music will be featured on the Main Stage overlooking picturesque Rockland Harbor. What could be better than enjoying a sailing trip along the coast and then enjoying some of the best blues music around? The festival is within a mile from the shipyard so leave your car in the lot and stroll along Main Street without worrying about driving or parking. back to the top



5th Annual Maine Windjammer Parade. Our parade will take us by the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse where we will anchor so you can take a tour. Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and to admit you into the light tower! Sometimes many of the schooners move after dinner to another anchorage where everyone rafts up for an informal music show. back to the top


Fall Foliage. Many of the islands that we sail near are spruce covered so we only catch a rare glimpse of color here and there as the leaves start to change late in our season. It would be unfair to even suggest that you will come sailing and see anything like the traditional New England peak-season foliage photos everyone is familiar with. What we suggest is that you enjoy a relaxing 3-day adventure aboard the Evans and then take a day or two (or more if you have the time!) to drive downeast (Acadia National Park) or inland (Moosehead Lake Region or Baxter State Park) for the spectacular foliage; a perfect combination of land and sea. back to the top 


Isle au Haut Sail/Hike. Enjoy the opportunity to stretch your legs on one of Maine’s most beautiful islands; home to the most secluded part of Acadia National Park. One day during the week we’ll anchor near Isle au Haut and venture ashore with a brown bag lunch and plenty of water. Whether you choose to stroll the island roads or trek up a park trail, you’ll find the scenery stunning and peaceful.back to the top

isle au haut view
The scenery from Isle au Haut is stunning! photo credit: Russ Kinaman



Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors Show. Whether you join us for the trip that returns on Saturday morning or boards on Saturday evening, you don't want to miss the Maine Boats, Homes, and Harbors Show. Not just your run-of-the-mill boat show, this show features hundreds of exhibitors, with boats of all kinds in the water and on land, plus fine art, furniture, food, music, and fun! It's also the place to see the annual World Championship Boatyard Dog Trials.back to the top










International Coastal Clean-Up. In September every year, thousands of ocean stewards from nearly 100 countries volunteer for the International Coastal Clean-Up, the world's largest volunteer effort for the marine environment. But the Clean-Up doesn't just last for one day. After the beaches have been cleaned and volunteers return home, the Ocean Conservancy compiles and analyzes the marine debris data for a variety of uses in the public and scientific fields. This information becomes the foundation for additional efforts such as new legislation, heightened public awareness, and greater scientific understanding. When we visit Maine islands during this trip we will be armed with special Coastal Clean-Up bags and we will record our findings on data sheets that will be forwarded to the Ocean Conservancy. Every day is Coastal Clean-Up day for us so by September it may be hard to find a lot of trash but we'll do our best. As with all of our activities on board, you simply get involved as much or as little as you would like.back to the top


Celebrate "Great Outdoors Month" and receive Leave No Trace Certification. Leave No Trace (LNT) is a national and international program designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or climb. The program strives to educate all those who enjoy the outdoors about the nature of their recreational impacts as well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. LNT is best understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and regulations. Captain Walker attended a day-long extended training workshop in 2000 and set up a half-day training session for all of the captains in the Maine Windjammer Association in 2004. Our trainer told us that we "wrote the book" on minimizing impact as we have been acting as stewards to the environment for longer than LNT has been trying to spread the word.  We teach the practices and ideals of LNT ethics on all of our trips and if you sail with us any time in June you will also receive a LNT certificate showing that you completed the LNT Outdoor Ethics training. To read more about this celebration and how you can participate, read this press release!
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World Ocean Day. June 8, 2008, World Ocean Day is an opportunity to celebrate our world ocean and our personal connection to the sea. Sail with us this trip and you will be given the opportunity to celebrate our world ocean, reflect on the ocean's importance in your own life, and take time to do something good for our blue planet. You will have a chance to learn more about our connection to the ocean and how we all can help protect and conserve the ocean through positive changes in our daily lives. We will discover the wealth of diverse and beautiful ocean creatures and habitats, how our daily actions effect them, and how we are all interconnected. Whether you live inland or on the coast we are all connected to the ocean!   back to the top


There is a traditional lobster bake on every trip. Many passengers say this is the highlight and for many it is a once in a lifetime experience!
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Home Schedule Reserving Our Trips Boat Tour

Schooner Isaac H. Evans
Captain Brenda Walker
PO Box 791
Rockland, ME 04841
toll free 1-877-238-1325
evans@midcoast.com