Skip to Main Content
Maine

Explore the Coast of Maine Under Sail: Maritime and Natural History

Program No. 8681RJ
Get to know Maine’s rugged coast and idyllic islands as you sail a classic windjammer to historic villages, pristine harbors and an uninhabited island, and see an iconic lighthouse.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
7 days
Program Begins
Camden, Maine
Program Concludes
Camden, Maine
Meals
17 ( 6B, 5L, 6D )
Activity Level
Explore Maine’s beautiful coast and its hundreds of islands aboard the 95-foot windjammer “Angelique.” A Maine experience since the 1930s, “windjamming” is unscripted cruising aboard a traditional sailing vessel. “Angelique” is a modern day windjammer made of steel-and-wood that serves as lodge, classroom and serene retreat. Departing from the beautiful town of Camden, “Angelique” drops anchor every evening in a picturesque harbor to let you explore a fishing village, a historic town, a beach, tide pool or an uninhabited island.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Lodge each night aboard the classic English Channel windjammer “Angelique,” in scenic harbors along Maine’s majestic coast.
  • Learn about the intriguing history of Castine, site of the worst naval disaster of the American Revolution.
  • Explore the wild, unspoiled beauty of an uninhabited Maine island.
General Notes
Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available. Windjammer Angelique, the provider for this program, requires a signed passenger contract from all program participants. This contract will be included in the program preparatory materials participants will receive after enrolling in the program and must be signed, or e-signed, and returned prior to the program’s commencement.
Profile Image
James Kary
James Kary has more than twenty years of teaching experience, having taught in Venezuela, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Colorado, before moving to Maine in 2013. The woods and waters renewed his passion for ecosystem science, while teaching natural history at Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki, an educational organization near Bath, Maine. It also afforded the opportunity to dust off his sailing skills and spend more time on the water. In 2019, his family moved to Quebec City, where he teaches biology at CEGEP Champlain St. Lawrence.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Profile Image of Rachel Perkins
Rachel Perkins
A native of Rhode Island, Rachel earned a BS in wildlife ecology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and an MS in resource management and administration from Antioch New England Graduate School. After spending a decade as a naturalist working with children around the country, she became a site coordinator and lecturer for Road Scholar programs on Tybee Island and in nearby Savannah, where she also worked part-time as a licensed group leader. Rachel now teaches what she calls "old-fashioned geography."
Profile Image of Dennis Gallant
Dennis E. Gallant
Dennis Gallant grew up in the mountains of Maine but fell in love with the ocean when he moved to the coast for college. In 1993, he began work on the Maine windjammers, first on smaller daysailers, then signing on as mate aboard Angelique. He held the position for 10 summers and worked as a boat builder during the winter months. After leaving Angelique, Dennis captained both schooners and yachts on the coast of Maine and beyond, racking up offshore miles on three transatlantic trips.
Profile Image of Daniel Brayton
Daniel Brayton
Dan Brayton is a professor of literature at Middlebury College, where he is a member of the English department and the environmental studies program. He has also taught for Sea Semester, the Williams-Mystic Program in Maritime Studies, Semester-at-Sea, and the California Coast and Climate Semester. Dan is a traditional boat enthusiast and avid sailor who has published articles in the magazine WoodenBoat. He grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts. He and his colleague/spouse, Antonia Losano, live in Vermont, where they raised two children.
Profile Image of Susan Gilpin
Susan Gilpin
Susan Gilpin has been a Maine Master Naturalist since 2019. She leads nature walks for schools, for the Falmouth Land Trust, and for the Appalachian Mountain Club at Medawisla Lodge. She has also taught natural history to adults at OLLI, the Senior College at the University of Southern Maine. She and her husband Clifford sailed the Maine Coast from Portland to Acadia National Park for 15 years. Susan has a special interest in birds and in the ecology of islands.
Profile Image of Sam Collins
Sam Collins
Sam Collins is a maritime historian with 20 years of experience along the New England coast. He received a master's degree in museum studies from the University of New Hampshire in 2010, with undergraduate work in maritime history, and ran the small museum out on the Isles of Shoals off the coast of New Hampshire for seven years. He lives on a small, off-grid farm in Midcoast Maine with his husband and an assorted menagerie of farm animals.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Climbing ladders onboard ship, in and out of bunks and in and out of boats; walking on varied terrain; sailing 5-7 hours each day. This program is not suitable for people who rely on walkers and/or canes for mobility due to the ladders and negotiating a tilting (heeling) deck while sailing.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List (6 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call 800-454-5768
Enroll with Confidence
Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.