Life changing: The term used most often to describe Maine Windjammer Association trips
by Marti Mayne
Often, when we read an article about the Maine Windjammer Association cruises or talk to someone who’s been on one, we hear the term “life changing” in the description. It’s a concept often used when describing the sense of freedom and community that evolves on Maine Windjammer Association cruises. Read about how a few of the members of the media have described their time with us on the water and how it’s impacted their lives.
Even I, an intrepid sailor and author of this newsletter, felt my life changed by the experience of sailing with the Maine Windjammer Association. In my twenty-plus years of owning a small business, I have never allowed myself to be totally unplugged on any vacation until the Gam windjammer cruise this year when my cell phone signal and I parted ways. For three blissful days, I was unable to access email via my phone or computer and suddenly nothing else mattered but life aboard the schooner. How easily and quickly I fell into the rhythm of the boat and the little microcosm that became our windjammer community. None of us aboard wanted it to end. It was life changing in that it proved that life can go on without email and cell access, and that it’s quite uplifting and wonderful to focus on the wide, beautiful world rather than that small, dark screen.
Blogger Elana Jadallah, from Elanaloo, had this to say after a sail aboard the Schooner Stephen Taber:
“If I were to describe our experience on the Schooner Stephen Taber in one word, it would be: Life-changing.
That might seem like an extreme word choice but in those short three days, my desire to learn to sail grew quickly and shortly. I was dizzy watching the crew hard at work sailing this almost 150 year old vessel out amongst the 2200 something islands in the Penobscot Bay, without a concrete destination in mind. We were at the leisure of the tides and the wind which was exquisite and exhilarating. I am so incredibly thankful to have had this experience. We saw parts of Maine that many haven’t, we played a role in many things that I’ve wanted to do for years, dove into the ocean in secluded coves, ate some of the best food I’ve had and met amazing people. What’s better than that in life?
Gailen David, host of The Jet Set shared the impact of time aboard The Heritage to followers on Facebook:
“I’ve been home for a few days but have not stopped thinking about this trip. I’ve been on countless cruises but this sailing on the Schooner Heritage is incomparable. The beauty of Maine, the way of life I experienced on this windjammer ship and the people I met opened up a whole new world to me and has me dreaming of what’s next. I’m planning my next trip back!“
Susan Kohlback, WickedGoodTravelTips.com editor says in her “Best Unplugged Vacation in America” story in the Huffington Post:
“On our final evening aboard Victory Chimes, as we watch yet another spectacular sunset, there isn’t a passenger on board who wants to leave in the morning. As one, we wish this soothing interlude in our lives could stretch on and on. These are halcyon days we will reach for in our memories when the buzz of life gets too much. We are richer for meeting these dedicated captains and crews who preserve and celebrate the golden age of sail in America, and who share the experience with fortunate vacationers.”
Come aboard a Maine windjammer and see how your life is enriched and changed.
To learn more about the windjammers in our fleet, please visit www.SailMaineCoast.com. For links to each of the Maine Windjammer Association’s boats, go to sailmainecoast.com/pick-a-ship/maine-windjammer-fleet/.
Category: Cruises
Tags: Maine Windjammer Association, Maine windjammers, MWA fleet, windjammer cruises
