Sailing on an American National Historic Landmark has some disadvantages. Electricity for charging our important, “can’t do without” devices is available only from five to eight in the morning and afternoon. Just remember to plug them in when you turn in at night. Watch what you flush down the toilet; don’t take a long hot soaking shower; and turn off the lights when you’re not using them. Let the captain know if you will be using a curling iron or hair dryer, he will turn off non essentials such as refrigeration and navigation. Heat and air conditioning? Forget about it.

Actually, with a hull about a foot thick, it was cooler below decks than in the sun on deck. Shade was available while under sail, but it moved around a lot. There was no engine, just a powerful yawl boat with a 200 horsepower diesel and a 24 inch prop to get us out of trouble, or into and out of docks and slips. And while the hull was thick, the cabin walls were not. A bucket of ear plugs was available if your cabin was near a snorer. Sedentary was how new member Virginia described this voyage. Raising three gaff rigged sails was anything but. I think most of us would not hesitate to sail Victory Chimes again!

Nights were cool and days pleasant and sunny. When we were at anchor, a large awning provided shade and an outdoor dining room. The crew was young, experienced, knowledgeable, and willing to talk to and hang out with the “old” folks from the Sailing Club. Yoko and Nick were first and second mates respectively. Anthony, Joslin (“Chocolate” – long story), Daniel (“Fabio” – Joslin’s answer to the Chocolate nickname by Daniel) made up the rest of the deck crew. In the galley, James the chef worked miracles, Jo and Kelli were his helpers, anticipating our needs and helping out the deck crew. Kip Files was the owner and captain with Robert as second captain.

As trip leader, my plans for Monday evening were thrown into disarray – Victory Chimes needed all aboard by 8:00 p.m. – leaving the dock at 9:00 p.m. My 7:00 p.m. plans for crew dinner at The Landings would not work. Missing at 5:30 p.m. were Doug and Nancy, Katrina, and Virginia. I was able to contact all but Virginia to move up the dinner to 6:00. My biggest worry? That Virginia would show up at 9:05, just in time to photograph the magnificent stern of the VC leaving the dock. Just as we were wrapping up dinner, Virginia texted that she was safely aboard.

The Victory Chimes has room for forty guests. The Sailing Club contingent was fourteen with only one other passenger – Gilbert “Gib” Philbrook. Gib was past owner and captain of the Nathaniel Bowditch, a two-masted gaff-rigged, topsail schooner out of Rockland, Maine. The warm conversations between Gib and Captain Kip were funny, interesting, and entertaining. These two had a long history sailing in Maine.

Tuesday, September 1: Coffee was available at 6:00 on deck and the breakfast bell rang at 8:00. Captain Kip introduced himself and gave a brief history of Victory Chimes and his twenty five year ownership of the vessel. After breakfast, we were introduced to the peak and throat of the three very large gaff rigged sails that gave the power (wind permitting) to the VC. After we raised (hauled) the third sail (Mizzen) our arms were longer and somewhat rubbery. We then sailed with help from the yawl boat through Fox Island Thoroughfare between North Haven and Vinalhaven Islands to a harbor the locals call Wooden Boat – a remote school where skills useful to boat building are taught and “Wooden Boat” magazine is published. Our twenty-six nautical mile trip was followed by an all you could eat lobster dinner. Welcome to Maine!

 Wednesday, September 2: Anchor up by 8:30 to make it under the Deer Is. Suspension bridge (85 ft. at high tide vs VC’s 87 ft mast height above water line). Once under way, close all port holes and secure doors to keep them from banging around. No sail, calm water, patches of heavy fog. Porpoise sighting – five in a pod. Later a bald eagle flew over us. We stopped for lunch and took the yawl to Holbrook Island Sanctuary where we were able to stretch our legs and check out a small cemetery – head stones dating mid 1800s. John Foord broke out his painting kit and sketched the yawl and Victory Chimes off shore.

 Once back aboard, Doug Otte forced me to go for a swim – peer pressure and the desire not to be a “wussy boy”. The ship’s ladder was deployed and Doug, Nancy, Katrina, and I checked out the 63 degree water. My arms hurt from the cold, but Doug was back aboard before I was. Katrina remained in the water for quite a while.

 We continued under power to Smith Cove, across from Castine, Maine. Once settled in for the night, we enjoyed pecan crusted pork loin and watched as Heritage and Abigail sailed into the cove. Across the sand bar, we could see could see the Mary Day anchored near Holbrook Island where we had spent lunch.

Thursday, September 3 - Happy Birthday Patty: After breakfast, we took the yawl boat into Castine. We passed the wreck of the Garner Deering, a five masted schooner that ran aground in the 1930s and was later burned. Her ribs are visible, even at high tide. Captain Kip made the observation that this was the only time he was able to see the bowsprit.

 Castine is a beautiful city with eighteenth and nineteenth century Georgian and Federal houses restored and in perfect repair. These reflect the years between 1812 and 1861 when fishing and ship building brought great wealth to the town. The establishment of the Maine Maritime Academy in 1941 brought new life to the town.

 Back to our schooner, we worked to get sails up in the hope of more wind on our way to Islesboro Island. While wandering around chasing wind, a pair of porpoise was sighted and later a seal. Anchored in Gilkeys Harbor, with the water temperature a balmy 67 degrees, Doug, Nancy, Katrina and I were joined by Virginia and crew Jo in a refreshing swim. The Isaac Evans sailed in before dinner and we could smell and see the smoke from their cooking fire.

 James, our chef, baked Patty a heart shaped birthday cake. We could not keep the candles lit, but it was the thought that counted. Patty was very surprised and pleased. That night, a poker game (Katrina, Helen, Jacki, and Janet – with Theresa kibitzing) brought great wealth (maybe not) to Janet Foord, thanks to Katrina. Later, crew Dan and Robert had an impromptu jam session on bass guitar and lead guitar, respectively.

 Friday, September 4: The morning was breezy and sunny so we hoisted the sails and motor-sailed toward Camden and the Windjammer Festival. We formed up with other schooners and followed Mary Day into a packed harbor. As we entered the outer harbor, some of us got our first exposure to a drone, flying over our ship and probably taking videos. It was quite a sight to see our 170 foot ship maneuver slowly around the end of the harbor and dock in front of the Waterfront Restaurant. The whole sail into the harbor was shadowed by one of our inflatables and several other yawl boats (ours pushing). At the dock, Doug heard Yoko yell for him to haul on a line – not knowing what it was, he hauled anyway. She later came up and hugged him – “Coolest Passenger Ever” title was bestowed on him. Mary Day’s yawl boat had been pushing us in to the dock, and the centerboard was still down.

Once tied up, we were free to go ashore. The tide range was about twelve feet, so the pitch of the ramp from floating dock to shore varied from steep to extremely steep. Patty and I found that out coming back to the boat at 9:00 p.m. Friday night, there was a talent show with contestants from various schooners (passengers and crew invited). The crew from Victory Chimes was a no show and as unprepared passengers, we did not stand up and make ourselves known. The crew said they were unprepared and also, they had won many times before. We will be prepared when we make the next trip on Victory Chimes.

Saturday, September 5: We were pulled away from the dock and under way at 7:30 – before breakfast. No sails this time as we had to be back by 10:00 to disembark.

Notes and Thoughts: This trip was worth every dollar it cost. The Victory Chimes is unique and the crew fabulous. If it were not for The Sailing Club and the fourteen members who chose to come, the boat would not have sailed. Loraine, at the front office, was very accommodating – waiving all extra fees for single occupancy and premium cabins.

 Members came by all means and most took an extra night, staying with family or springing for a hotel. Patty and I brought John and Janet Foord along, staying in Lowell, Massachusetts – a wonderful college town with a canal system. Katrina flew to Portland, Maine with only a hope of catching the last seat on a shuttle to Rockland. Virginia drove all the way and after the sail, was heading to Nova Scotia. Nancy and Doug brought along cherry tomatoes and gave them to our chef to use as he saw fit.

 I hope that this kind of trip can be done again – members need the variety and some have a hard time sailing on sloops and catamarans. We cannot ignore the needs of some of our members.

 Larry Sherwood Trip Leader