“She’s the belle of the ball and has caused many a gentleman’s heart to ache,” said the captain as he gently guided the Stephen F. Taber schooner away from the moorings.  The crew heartily set about their business of checking riggings, lines, knots, canvasses, and cleaning the deck all the while keeping one eye focused aft where captain Noah Barnes held a firm hand on the vessel’s wheel.  Referred to in the feminine gender with a masculine name and heritage this cruising vessel is one huge success in Maine’s Windjammer Association (www.mainewindjammers.com).   The Taber, originally launched in 1871 as a cargo vessel for the United States, has maintained documented continuous service.  Built in an era when shipwrights were known for their fine skills and aesthetic abilities, the Taber encompasses these unique qualities.  Functional as well as beautiful, tall and proud, she is an icon of American craftsmanship.  The oldest documented sailing vessel in continuous American service has been honored with inclusion on the National Historic Register.

Having read the history of the Taber, I was excited to board the schooner and take the six day cruise along with the crew and a cast of 9 other guests.  We were a small group being one of the ends of season cruises before closing down for the winter.  The Taber cruises from Memorial Day holiday through the Fall Foliage season ending around the second week in October.   Cruising from the harbor of Rockland, Captain Noah and his schooner depend upon the prevailing winds to sail as far down east as Stonington, Deer Isle, Mt. Desert Island, or another day over to Monehegan.  In keeping with tradition and history, the Taber has no inboard engine, which causes the vessel and everyone aboard to rely upon the wind and the trusty yawl boat “Babe” to give the old girl a push whenever the wind dies down!

 Having stowed away our lightly packed luggage in separate cozy cabins below deck, one guest immediately decided to try out the lounging facilities of sunning on cabin-deck top (dressed in hat, gloves, and jeans!).  Did I mention our cruise was in 60 degree weather with a week of surprises filled with sunshine, fog, rain, wind, and no wind!  Windjammer cruises are extremely fun filled.  These cruises allow for the vacationer to become involved in the minute to minute care of assisting the crew with keeping the sails tight, taking sails in, letting sails out, readjusting lines, learning knots, and hands on the captain’s wheel while out in safe open waters.  I watched with amazement as Captain Noah Barnes tacked the Taber’s way through a treacherously narrow underwater ravine.  Barking orders while keeping an eye on a global positioning monitor, Captain Noah and his crew danced to a song only a “matey” can hear.  “Saved from the terrors of the dark beyond and the dashing of the fine girl’s hull, we are safe at least for now until another terror from hence arises,”  roared Captain Barnes as he and his crew cheered the Taber’s

clearing an island area.

On this particular cruise we anchored in safe harbor each night going ashore either in afternoons or evenings with one hour to one and a half hour excursions on shore to visit lobster villages, explore lighthouses, bay villages, artisans shops, or just stretch our legs and explore the country side on a deserted island and enjoy a lobster cook out.  The Stephen F. Taber can be chartered for whale cruising, reunions, day sails or overnight.  Captain Barnes is a gifted musician and has traveled the world sailing vessels as well as worked in the business world.  He is a most remarkable historian quite capable of spinning veritable yarns around the lamp light, taking out an acoustic guitar and harmonic embellishing on some jazz licks, or lighthearted folk music.  Any special interest group, wedding planner, or high school reunion class would deem this a treasure of a cruise!  Call 1-800-999-7352 for reservation or go to website www.stephentaber.com and preview the CBS news specials which have been recorded about the Taber.  You can email Captain Noah Barnes at info@stephentaber.com .

Tabor cuisine, par excellence, served to us by Chef Aimie LePaige, whose parents happened to be onboard as vacationers during my cruise.  Cruising on the Taber at age 15, during her summer vacations, she fell in love.   Her destiny was the Taber.  Chef Aimie with natural talent and a gifted instructor none other than former Captain Ellen Barnes chief chef, learned all the Taber recipes Captain Ellen could teach her.  Aimie was obviously a brilliant student!  Our meals were elegantly prepared at each setting beginning with early morning coffee or tea, eggs benedict, blueberry pancakes, heaping bowls of oatmeal with fresh granola and fresh fruits served with homemade biscuits.  Lunches were not to be outdone with a starter of phyllo covered brie’ decorated with mango chutney served with fresh foccacia bread, moving onto exquisitely rich haddock chowder served with salads, on cold days we experienced the delight of Maine style chili and cornbreads, thick rich stews with homemade yeast rolls and real butter.  Yummy!  Dinner brought us together to sample salmon steaks, a feast of turkey with trimmings, beef brisket tender enough to cut with your fork, and a symphony of homemade apple pies, cakes, and cookies.  Chef Aimie prepared all her meals on a vintage wooden cook stove in the schooner’s galley, the warmest gathering place when winds roared the highest and cold rains pelted down the hardest.  Chef Aimie’s galley was always a welcoming warm place filled with laughter, hot coffee, endless cookies, and many memories of past and present cruisers.  Check out the Taber for your next cruising vacation and add your memories to mine. 

Happy Traveling!