Cruise the Maine Coast Aboard the Grace Bailey
Destination: Maine
Activity: Windjammers
Duration: 3 days
How Tough? Easy
When? May-October
For Kids? For Teenagers And Adults
Sail the beautiful Grace Bailey for three or five days of authentic windjamming on the Maine Coast.
Unquestionably the finest example of a 19th-century coaster afloat today, the Grace Bailey is listed as a National Landmark. Built in 1882, she is one of just five surviving two-masted coasting schooners in the United States. Fast and able, she is the 1993 schooner class winner and 1994 overall winner of the Great Schooner Race.
The Grace Bailey was designed to carry hard pine from South Carolina and Georgia to Edwin Bailey’s lumber mills in Patchogue, N.Y. Built for Bailey by his good friend and business associate, master shipbuilder Oliver Perry Smith, she was launched in 1882 and named for Bailey’s daughter Grace, who was born in the same year. The Grace Bailey was also registered for foreign trade and made numerous voyages to and from the West Indies. She was renamed the Mattie in 1906, in honor of Grace’s favorite niece.
Relocated to Maine in 1910, she continued as a hardworking member of the coasting trade, transporting a variety of general cargo including Maine granite used in the construction of New York’s Post Office Building and Grand Central Station.
Captain Frank Swift purchased the Mattie in 1939 and made her the flagship of his Maine Windjammer Cruises fleet. Completely restored and re-christened the Grace Bailey in 1990, the vessel’s authentic character has been preserved while passenger comfort has been maximized.
The Grace Bailey is 123 feet (36.9 m) overall, with 81 feet (24.3 m) on deck. She boasts a warm, spacious galley and dining area with two companionways providing easy access to deck. There is exceptional headroom throughout.
Children must be at least age 12 to sail.
Tour Plan
Cruise itineraries are largely determined by the wind and weather, but some tours include stops at the following special events.
Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Days: The windjammer fleet sails to Boothbay Harbor for fireworks and festivities.
Great Schooner Race: More than two dozen tall ships gather along the coast for an exciting race in which passengers may participate. July 1.
Schooner Gam: An informal gathering of some of the schooners that sail Penobscot Bay. The schooners raft up side by side and passengers may walk from ship to ship. July 13.
Sweet Chariot Music Festival: Musicians serenade the schooners into Burnt Coat Harbor on Swans Island and perform ashore in the evening. Aug. 5.
Camden Windjammer Weekend: The entire fleet squeezes into Camden Harbor concerts, contests, prizes and fireworks. Aug. 31.
WoodenBoat Sail-In: This is one of the last opportunities of the season to see the windjammer fleet together. The vessels anchor in front of WoodenBoat Magazine’s offices in Brooklin. Guests may tour the grounds and browse the WoodenBoat store. Sept. 9.
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