“Oh, how she scoons!”
Legend has it that the name schooner was the result of a spectator exclaiming "Oh, how she scoons!" Builder, Andrew Robinson replied, "A schooner let her be." These graceful ships seem to skip or skim over the water or scoon, a Scots word that means precisely that.
The sail plan of a schooner calls for two or more masts with the forward mast being shorter or the same height as the rear masts. Schooners were more widely used in the United States than in any other country. Two masted schooners were and are most common. They were popular in trades that required speed and windward ability, such as slaving, privateering, blockade running and offshore fishing.
Shipboard Life
Life aboard a schooner is a glimpse of the past, a refreshing way to escape from the pressures of your life. Nature's winds and tides determine your day's events, and there is no set itinerary.
Shipboard routines quickly become a comfortable pattern. Rise early, maybe in time for an exhilarating sunrise. As you relax and enjoy the dawn of a new day, take in the sea air with a hot cup of coffee. Later, the sound of the ship's bell will announce it's time for a hearty breakfast. Enjoying your current surroundings of the early morning, you know that the day's adventure has just begun.
Follow your course on the captain's chart. Keep your eyes open for marine life, photograph lighthouses, discover the area's history, or just relax. The choice is yours! Want a real taste of shipboard life? You are encouraged to help raise the mainsail. As the foresail is lowered, you can begin to anticipate the delectable dinner, maybe even a lobster bake on a deserted beach. It's a perfect way to end a day of sailing with new friends.
Intriguing Destinations on your Schedule
The captain sets out the course on his map. Each destination has uniqueness to its own and won’t be filled with maddening tourist throngs. Explore a destination in ways you’ve never done before. Immerse yourself into the culture and life of the locals, gaining a deeper understanding and appreciate of the world.
The captain may have the option of altering your itinerary to participate in special events happening in various destinations. It’s as if you had your own chartered yacht and could sail anywhere you wanted. Except all the work is done for you.
