Atlantic Challenge Penobscot Bay Expedition
Sunday August 20 – Saturday August 26, 2023
Passage from Rockland to Greens Island, and explore the coves and surrounding islands off Vinalhaven by way of an 18th-century Bantry Bay gig! This is an all-ages island camping expedition designed for those who wish to be part of a community in learning, and honing rowing, sailing, and traditional seamanship skills in a fun, supportive atmosphere! We will practice Leave No Trace camping as we row and sail around Vinalhaven, learning about the weather, tides, navigation, anchoring, anchorage assessment, passage planning, and the local eco-system along the way.
The boats require careful orchestration, communication, leadership, and teamwork to maneuver well. Every crew member will have many opportunities to lead throughout the program. With guidance from AC USA instructors, participants will rotate and be invited to participate through a range roles each day on and off the water to keep our crew healthy and our boats well tended. For example, you may refill the group's water jugs, stow the sails and oars at the end of the day, create the day's passage plan to our next anchorage, or assist our cook with preparing a group meal. Under sail, your leadership role may rotate from coxing, to being the mast captain, to doing a specific task such as raising and lowering the sail. While rowing, you may cox, navigate, lead the other rowers by keeping the stroke, actively follow the stroke oar, or perhaps be inspired to lead a call-and-response song to help keep the rowers in sync.
We will teach skills relevant to the weather and passages presented each day. Many of the skills likely to be covered, include:
Points of Sail
Sail Theory
Sail Trim
Tides
Navigation
Reefing/Heavy Weather sailing
Docking
Knots
Anchoring
Anchorage Assessment
Handling a dipping lug sail within a team
Steering Forces
Weather
No prior experience necessary. All ages 14 years old and up. This program starts and ends in Rockland, Maine.
Detailed logistics to follow.
Have any questions? Please get in touch.
Two boats. Maximum group size 24 people. All ages, 14 and up.
Sunday August 20 – Saturday August 26, 2023
Passage from Rockland to Greens Island, and explore the coves and surrounding islands off Vinalhaven by way of an 18th-century Bantry Bay gig! This is an all-ages island camping expedition designed for those who wish to be part of a community in learning, and honing rowing, sailing, and traditional seamanship skills in a fun, supportive atmosphere! We will practice Leave No Trace camping as we row and sail around Vinalhaven, learning about the weather, tides, navigation, anchoring, anchorage assessment, passage planning, and the local eco-system along the way.
The boats require careful orchestration, communication, leadership, and teamwork to maneuver well. Every crew member will have many opportunities to lead throughout the program. With guidance from AC USA instructors, participants will rotate and be invited to participate through a range roles each day on and off the water to keep our crew healthy and our boats well tended. For example, you may refill the group's water jugs, stow the sails and oars at the end of the day, create the day's passage plan to our next anchorage, or assist our cook with preparing a group meal. Under sail, your leadership role may rotate from coxing, to being the mast captain, to doing a specific task such as raising and lowering the sail. While rowing, you may cox, navigate, lead the other rowers by keeping the stroke, actively follow the stroke oar, or perhaps be inspired to lead a call-and-response song to help keep the rowers in sync.
We will teach skills relevant to the weather and passages presented each day. Many of the skills likely to be covered, include:
Points of Sail
Sail Theory
Sail Trim
Tides
Navigation
Reefing/Heavy Weather sailing
Docking
Knots
Anchoring
Anchorage Assessment
Handling a dipping lug sail within a team
Steering Forces
Weather
No prior experience necessary. All ages 14 years old and up. This program starts and ends in Rockland, Maine.
Detailed logistics to follow.
Have any questions? Please get in touch.
Two boats. Maximum group size 24 people. All ages, 14 and up.
