The Bowdoin
A big adventure. I went with Sam’s sister and two of his cousins for an two-hour cruise on the sailing ship, The Bowdoin, out of Castine. I didn’t really know what to expect, as I’m not a sailor. I knew it would be cold out on the water, but – it was really cold. And windy!
It was fascinating watching the captain and the crew handling the boat and the sails. There were only 30 people on board, perched on various surfaces. The crew was all college-age kids from the Maine Maritime Academy. Some seemed more proficient than others. The captain called commands from the back of the boat (stern) and the kids called out their responses. There was lots of lingo, which of course I forget. I’m still getting the hang of port and starboard. One woman could name the different sails – mainsail, jib, and maybe others? The mainsail was very heavy and we were requested to volunteer on the ropes used to hoist it up. Very exciting.
When we got out of the shelter of the harbor, the wind really filled those sails. The ship was almost sideways to the water. Nobody seemed alarmed, so I set my alarm aside. I never felt seasick, but I did feel cold and apprehensive.
After our cruise, we had dinner out at a posh inn in Castine. I’m not a sailor, that’s for sure, but I’m glad I had this experience.