Sailing on the Angelique
- Fernanda Fisher
- Sep 22
- 8 min read
Sailing on the Angelique is like going to summer camp. Some campers are returning knowing the ropes and settling in easily, while others are new and come filled with perhaps a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.
They feel anticipation because a windjammer cruise is new to them, and apprehension because the cruise consists of twenty-one women housed in tight quarters, with some sharing a tiny space to sleep in. There is no true privacy aboard the Angelique unless you are lucky enough to get a cabin to yourself.
Remembering My First Sail
Last year, I was that new camper, filled with both excitement and fear of the unknown, I had never been on a women-only trip. When my friend Mary-Anne invited me I was nervous.
While I knew some of the women there were many others I did not know. I wondered, how would I fit in with the group? Last year, after one week, I walked away with new friends and the knowledge I could travel again solo. Which brings me to the Angelique trip this year.
Life Aboard The Angelique
If you don’t yet know, a windjammer cruise has no fixed itinerary. This can be unsettling to a person used to a schedule. During this past week, I overheard one woman ask another, “where are we going today?” to which she replied, “I have no idea.”
Part of the beauty of a windjammer is the lack of a plan. Women are so programmed to go and do, that taking a moment to just ‘be’ is a challenge. With no electrical outlets on board, it also means that many of us had to throw out the thought of blowdrying our hair and looking put-together for an entire week.
This summer, between the Esnagi Lake trip in August and this sail in September, I learned how refreshing and restoring time on the water can be. I unplugged for a week, worrying only about whether I would see a seal, dolphin or whale while on the boat.
Feeling the breeze on my face and helping the crew to raise and lower the sails or row the boat for our time ashore were the only activities offered on the boat. No bills, emails and to-do lists. There were no explanations necessary if you overslept a meal or took an afternoon nap.
Old Friends And New Friends
Being a return camper on the Angelique, I eagerly looked forward to seeing the women from last year. Since my husband and I travel so much during the year, this week with these women is a special and almost sacred time for me.
Women on the boat ranged in age from twenty-nine to seventy, and they live all over the U.S. Last year, I became close with several individuals and I couldn’t wait to find out how they were and how their families had been over the year.
One woman was recently engaged and we chatted about wedding plans, hopes, and dreams. Connecting with another friend, who lives in Florida, was a treat since last year we spoke about the difficulties of getting in to medical school.
My first words to her this year during a huge hug were, 'Roberta got in!' Much like any good long-distance friendship, we picked up right where we left off last year and continued to build a lasting bond.
I met new women too, including one studying to be a Master Naturalist, another who is the retired Sheriff of a very large county, a woman who is a photographer using drones for her footage, and a fourth woman who, at the age of fifty, sold her business and travelled the world with her husband for four years. These were amazing women who never once boasted about their talents but instead brought to the boat years of interesting learned experiences to share with us.
Activities Onboard
Because this was a private charter, Mary-Anne and Leslie-Ann were in charge of the activities we participated in each evening. Even though we had no set travel path, we did have a planned evening activity each night.
While I dislike ice-breakers because they usually make me uncomfortable, this year, I had fun with the exercise. We paired up with a person we didn’t know and had time to talk. At the end of our individual conversations, we were asked to select a food, cocktail or dessert that best described our new friend.
We all giggled a little bit trying to come up with our descriptions but it was really fun. Sharing our new food or cocktail designation with the rest of the group, I learned that someone was a carrot cake, another a Long Island iced tea, and even a comfort meal were some of the examples. This made everyone relax and get to know each other right on the first night.
During the week, we had several theme nights. Fifty Shades of Pink and Nautical Night were the two big ones this year.
Looking back to my first trip, I remember being unsure if people actually would get dressed up. This year, I eagerly found many shades of pink clothing, scarves and shoes.
I visited ThredUp, my new favorite clothing website for gently used clothing, to find a terrific nautical outfit.
Both nights we laughed and took tons of pictures as a group and individually. Nautical Night, coincided with our lobster bake on a remote beach.
All twenty-one of us dressed in striped shirts and wearing sailor caps or masquerading as pirates. Even the crew got in on the action.
As the lobsters cooked, we walked along the beach searching for shells.
At dinner, we sat where we could to dine on fresh Maine lobster, corn, and steak.
True confession - I ate three lobsters and skipped all the sides and the dessert. I really love a good sweet lobster!
The night we went to Turner Farms, we all dressed in denim or floral patterns.
This is a beautiful farm to table property our group visits each year. Dining at a long communal table, the crew and guests all dine together. Including the crew is something that Mary-Anne insists upon. Few other charters include the crew in a lovely sit down dinner. I am glad that we do.
We rowed to and from the Angelique to have dinner. Rowing in the dark after several glasses of wine is challenging!
The Crew
Speaking of the crew, they are an amazing and hard working group of individuals. From Dennis Gallant the Captain and owner of the Angelique down to Gracie who washed the dishes, they never ceased being kind and considerate to us.
When it was time to raise the sails, one of them would call out for help. Most times they could get enough of us to help. But they also understood it was our vacation and never pressured us to work.
Much of the day, while we sat and read, slept or chatted, the crew busied themselves with chores. Pearce, the first mate this year, has many skills. He would eagerly speak about the house he was buying with his girlfriend and then stop mid-sentence to answer a guests question. He knew a good deal about the early fishing industry in Maine and would sing a fishing shanty song if requested.
The Gam
Our group had the chance to participate in an old-fashioned gam this trip. During the whaling days, when more than one ship encountered another, they would come together to socialize and exchange news.
The windjammers have several of these gams during the season, and we were there for the final one of the year. Dennis dropped our anchor and then one by one, these 130 foot majestic sailing ships slowly maneuvered in next to us.
By the end of the night, we had nine boats tethered together just off the coast of Brooklin, Maine.
That night, we had a traditional musical group move from vessel to vessel playing and singing songs. The crews and passengers drifted freely from boat to boat, comparing deck space and trying to peak below when possible. Many of the crews had worked previously on other boats so it truly was a joyous occasion.
Our merry band of females was quite a draw with the other groups. Peppering us with questions about who, how, and why we came together, we each told a version of our origin story. The next morning, we really gave the other boats a surprise, serenading them all with a full blown exercise class including music while everyone watched or ate their breakfast!
A Foggy Morning
Long before the ship board exercise class, Mary-Anne, Leslie-Ann and Marie rose very early to motor around the sleeping boats.
Heavy fog shrouded the large sailing ships, and the photos they brought back reminded me of ghosts ships emerging from the fog. Sleeping nestled in my bunk, it was the only time on the trip that I regretted not getting up early.
Places We Visited
During our travels we visited Little Cranberry Island, Buck’s Harbor, Brookville and Stonington. Each town was small and somewhat rustic. The people we met here were not bubbly, but provided a smile if one was offered first.
I feel that Maine residents are not an overly friendly bunch to outsiders unless they are in the service industry.
Our group stood out like a sore thumb to locals, and after an entire summer of boats dropping off nosey, photo taking tourists, they were pleasant but left us alone.
Saying Goodbye
By the last day I was ready to get off the boat. I was ready to have unlimited hot water and a deep soaking tub to sink into up to my chin. I was looking for a larger bed than the small bunk I’d called mine for six nights. But I would miss the gentle rocking of the boat and the chance to sit in my room and drift off to sleep listening to the women on deck singing karaoke or just chatting in groups.
That last night, while sitting at the long table at Turner Farms, I thought about the differences between the two trips I took on the Angelique. Not only was I more comfortable with the format of the trip, but I was also a more active participant in the activities. Instead of sticking with the people I knew, I extended myself to meet others.
Meeting new people and trying new things are part of my life adventure. Did I want to extend myself and learn the line dance for Austin (Boots Stop Working)? Not initially, but I stuck with the line dancing lesson until the end and laughed heartily with others about our lack of line dancing coordination.
Driving up to Maine with Marie meant times when we chatted and times when we sat in comfortable silence. We struggled to find a place to stop the first night because neither of us wanted to make up our minds. But that next day, we had no problem agreeing and finding a place that served a darn fine lobster roll for lunch before getting on the boat.
I also enjoyed multiple engaging and thought provoking conversations with Dennis, including at least one while we lay on the deck looking up at millions of stars above our heads.
Dennis is an excellent conversationalist, likely a good teacher to the young sailors that sign on to crew the boat, and he gives outstanding hugs.
For me, sailing on the Angelique is a privilege I don’t take for granted. Being included with and surrounded by an amazing and diverse group of women is a real gift. If things work out next year, I hope to be sailing again on the Angelique with many new and old female campers. We will share memories and make new ones, because that is what female travel is all about.
Well done Fernanda! you captured so many wonderful moments and memories of this years charter. what fun it was to look back and be reminded of all the fun we had and all the activities on board and on land!