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CAMDEN, Maine - The schooner Mary Day of Camden is celebrating 50 years since her launch, and 50 years of taking passengers sailing along the coast of Maine. In commemoration of her birthday, Mary Day's captains, Barry King and Jen Martin, will be hosting a celebratory event on Sunday, September 2, at the head of Camden Harbor in conjunction with the Windjammer Festival in Camden.
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The schooner Mary Day celebrates 50 years of taking passengers sailing along the Maine coast.
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"As much as this is a celebration of Mary Day, her history and context become special because of the waterfront communities and windjammer fleet that make the 'schooner coast' such a magnificent national symbol of our maritime history and the place we call home," shared Captain King, who is also turning 50 this summer.
The 90-foot schooner was designed by Havilah "Buds" Hawkins, Sr. as the first schooner built exclusively to carry passengers along Maine's coast. At the time that Mary Day was designed, the majority of windjammers were commercial vessels that formerly carried a variety of cargoes throughout New England. After owning the schooners Stephen Taber and Alice Wentworth, Hawkins started from scratch and designed Mary Day specifically with passenger comfort in mind. Mary Day, named after Hawkins' wife, was launched in 1962 at the Harvey F. Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol, Maine, making her the first commercial coasting schooner launched in the second half of the 20th century. Prior to Mary Day, the last coasting schooner launched in Maine was the Endeavor, launched by the Billings family in 1938 at Little Deer Isle.
While Mary Day has 50 years of rich sailing history, the windjammer is in top condition. Captains King and Martin renovated the schooner in 2000 and have continued to make upgrades on a regular basis. The beautifully-appointed cabins all have nine feet of headroom, and opening skylights and windows to provide plenty of fresh air and sunshine. During the early spring and late fall the wood fired heating system keeps the passenger accommodations warm and dry. The main saloon is large and welcoming, offering several cozy sitting areas, as well as space enough for guests to gather and mingle.
Guests enjoy the open, uncluttered deck which provides ample space to stretch out and relax, ideal for reading and wildlife watching. There are games for evening entertainment, and in moments of inspiration, Captain King pulls out his guitar for an evening of storytelling and a mix of folk tunes around the fireplace.
Sailing packages are available for three, four, five or six nights and include all meals, shore trips and pleasurable sailing as Mary Day winds her way through the hundreds of islands in the Penobscot Bay archipelago.
Mary Day is often sought out as part of a tech-free vacation experience since the crew of the schooner tries to make the trips as "unplugged" as possible; guests are able to use cell phones while on land, but they have limited connectivity while at sea, and there are no televisions onboard,making the windjammer experience a true getaway from everyday life.
As Thomas Blinn, a repeat customer from New Hampshire who has sailed on Mary Day 25 times, states, "It's the best way to experience the Maine coast."
Editor's Note: Click on the image above or the link below to access a downloadable version of photo.
The schooner Mary Day celebrates 50 years of taking passengers sailing along the Maine coast.
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Established in 1950, Coastal Cruises is one of Maine's oldest windjammer firms. Mary Day is the first coasting schooner built specifically for the windjammer trade. With room for 28 guests, Captains Barry King and Jennifer Martin rebuilt and refurbished the vessel in 2000, maintaining the absolute comfort of the cabins and main saloon. The schooner is powered only by sail as there is no inboard engine, creating a continuously peaceful ride. For more information visit schoonermaryday.com.
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