Schooner Surprise Day Sails Camden Maine Historic Windjammer

Raise the sails yourself or watch from a cushioned seat with a drink in hand.

Day sails and sunset tours on Schooner Surprise depart from Camden, Maine, carrying a maximum of 18 passengers on a historic windjammer. You sail past Curtis Island Lighthouse, across Penobscot Bay, and along the rocky coast while the crew points out wildlife, local landmarks and the history of the area. Options include daytime sails, live music sails, sunset sails, full moon sails and eco-tours with an ornithologist, running daily from mid-May through mid-October. The crew invites you to help haul sails and steer, or to sit back with binoculars and blankets provided.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sail and explore Camden Harbor

• Sail out of Camden Harbor
• Pass Curtis Island Lighthouse
• Watch wildlife and seals
• Cruise across Penobscot Bay
• View Mount Battie and Camden Hills
• See lighthouses, yachts, and estates
• Participate in raising sails or steering

The Experience

You board in Camden Harbor with a small group—never more than 18 passengers—and the schooner heads out past Curtis Island Lighthouse into Penobscot Bay. The crew points out seals, seabirds and the big summer estates dotting the rocky coast as you sail across the bay and its islands. Mount Battie rises from the water, framing the Camden Hills in the distance. The pace is set by wind and tide, not a schedule, so the day unfolds at the speed of a working sail.

You can get involved: the crew teaches you how to haul sails and steer the boat, or you can stay settled in the cushioned seating with binoculars and a blanket, bringing your own wine and picnic. Kids are welcome and the crew is practiced at keeping them engaged. The boat runs seven days a week from mid-May through mid-October, with options for daytime sails, live acoustic music in the evening, sunset sails, full moon sails and birding tours led by an ornithologist—so the same boat offers different reasons to sail depending on what you want from the afternoon or evening.

Schooner Surprise is the only historic day sailing schooner operating out of Camden, and the boat itself is part of the draw: a working windjammer, not a tour vessel dressed up as one. The crew is experienced and the boat is built to carry passengers comfortably, but you are sailing on a real ship doing what it was made to do.

What’s included

• English-speaking crew who point out wildlife and local history.
• binoculars and blankets for all passengers.
• cushioned seating for the entire group of 18 or fewer.
• the option to help raise sails and steer the boat or to sit back and enjoy the views.
• daily departures from mid-May through mid-October.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Schooner Surprise

Is this one for you?Spend your afternoon or evening aboard Camden's only historic working schooner, where you can haul sails with the crew or simply settle in with wine and views of the Camden Hills.

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Top questions

What is Curtis Island Lighthouse and will we sail close enough to see it clearly?

Curtis Island Lighthouse stands at the mouth of Camden Harbor and marks the entrance to the bay. The schooner sails past it on every departure, close enough to see the white tower and the rocky island it sits on.

Can I bring my own food and drinks on the schooner?

Yes—you can bring your own wine, beer and picnic. The boat does not serve food or drinks, so bringing what you want is the way to make the sail your own.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day I book?

The schooner operates in a range of conditions, but the crew will assess the weather each day. If conditions are unsafe for sailing, you can reschedule for another day during the season or request a refund.

How much of the sail involves helping with the boat versus just watching?

That is entirely up to you. The crew invites passengers to help haul sails and steer if you want to learn, but you can also stay seated and watch. There is no pressure either way.

Are there different tour options, or is every sail the same?

The schooner offers day sails, live music sails in the evening, sunset sails, full moon sails and eco-tours with an ornithologist. You choose which option suits the time of day and what you want from the sail.

Is the schooner suitable for young children or infants?

Yes. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller on deck, and small children must sit on an adult's lap. The crew is experienced with families and the cushioned seating and calm pace make it manageable for kids.