The Schooner Olad, a magnificent vessel sailing out of Camden, Maine, embodies the region’s rich maritime heritage.
With a history spanning nearly a century, the Schooner Olad invites passengers to experience the thrill of a bygone era where wind-powered sailing reigned supreme.
Stepping aboard this classic schooner, visitors are transported to a time when tall ships dominated the seas.
Meticulously restored and lovingly maintained by Captain Aaron Lincoln and crew, the Schooner Olad offers exhilarating excursions in Penobscot Bay.
As the sails unfurl and catch the ocean breeze, passengers are treated to panoramic views, salty air, and the sensation of being part of maritime history.
Following my cycling tour of Acadia National Park, including the Schoodic Peninsula, I had the opportunity to go for a two-hour day sail aboard the Schooner Olad, its first passenger cruise of the 2023 season.
About Schooner Olad
The Schooner Olad’s origin story began back in 1926, the year it was designed by Horace Manley Sr. for Alexander Smith of New York City and Great Island, W. Yarmouth, Massachusetts.
She was built in the winter of 1927 and launched in 1928 from Osterville, MA. The sale price was $21,727, equating to $386,000 today.
The original owner sailed it often between NYC and Massachusetts before selling it during the Great Depression. In the 1940s, Charles H. Mason III bought it and renamed her the Schooner Olad.
After the Masons’ ownership ended, the Schooner Olad sailed south to the Caribbean, where it was available for custom charters. Walter Cronkite is one notable guest during this time.
In the 1960s, she returned to the waters of Massachusettes and, in 1985, was acquired by John Nugent, who brought her to Camden, Maine, where she’s resided ever since.
During the 1990s, she was almost wholly rebuilt, returning the Schooner Olad to her former glory.
In 2000, Captain Aaron Lincoln, a local Mainer, was hired to manage and sail Schooner Olad. Five years later, he bought the ship and has continued to offer sailing cruises ever since.
Captain Aaron has sailed more than 100,000 miles in Penobscot Bay alone, not to mention his time sailing around Cape Cod, the Florida Keys, and the Caribbean.
Sailing Experience
My experience with Schooner Olad began in Camden Harbor, where I gobbled down a tasty crab roll sandwich from the Camden…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at GoBackpacking…