Maine Schooners to Welcome Home Bowdoin:
MMA's schooner Bowdoin will return to Castine on Wednesday, July 30, following a 60-day voyage to the Arctic Circle. The historic schooner is expected to dock at approximately 1 p.m. and the public is invited and encouraged to welcome the crew home.
According to Capt. John Worth, small vessel master at MMA, at least three of Maine's commercial passenger schooners are expected to sail to the area and provide a festive escort for the Bowdoin on the return leg into Castine Harbor. Depending on scheduling, Worth said that as many as 10 schooners have expressed interest in participating in the informal sail parade.

07-27-2008
Position 43 15.5N 66 09.9W Crossing the Bay of Fundy!
Most of yesterday and last night were spent motoring in the fog. Winds layed down around mid day and with relatively calm seas we made good progress toward Cape Sable on Nova Scotia.
As we approached the Cape we found ourselves in company with several vessels all on the same course. We sailed along with Bonnie Lynn and a tug and barge for many hours.
This morning we rounded the Cape and at the change of the watches at 0800 set the sails. Although winds seemed light we are now sailing at between 5.5 and 6 kts off the wind, clear skies and fairly calm seas - Beautiful. A puffin flew by with a mouth full of capelin and we are on close watch for whales.
We will change our clocks for the last time as we enter US waters. We should make landfall early tomorrow morning and will try to clear customs later in the day.
All is well. Capt. Rick Miller

7/26/08
Position 44 01.0N 64 17.6W
We are underway on our final passage!
The visit to Lunenburg was great. Everyone toured the museum and enjoyed the shops and eateries in town. The Schooner Bluenose was in port some of the crew toured the boat and we enjoyed the company of MMA alum, Xander, who is sailing as 2nd Mate. Capt. Phil was envious of our voyage (Bluenose did a "powerboat" trip to Toronto via St. Lawrence River).
The barquentine Concordia returned around mid day with their "Class Afloat" program and crew tours took place both on Bowdoin and Concordia.
We are currently beating against a SW breeze heading for Cape Sable and our southern most point of the voyage. We are hoping for a wind shift of any kind to get a more favorable slant.
We are all well and looking forward to crossing the Bay of Fundy and returning to US waters.
Capt. Rick Miller

7/14/08
Red Bay, Labrador.
Our transit west in the Strait of Belle Isle was not an easy one. Knowing that the winds would be right on our nose we elected to motor to Red Bay in order to arrive in advance of 30 kt. winds forecast to begin @ midnight. The wind funnels right down the Strait and steep seas build quickly. Bowdoin struggled to push through this sea and a wind driven current. At times it looked like what should have been a 10 hr. passage was going to take over 24 hrs. Fortunately we got a break shortly after 2000 as the wind died down and we made good progress, anchoring @ 0230 this morning. The town has some historic signifigance as a whaling port with several ship wrecks being recovered in the harbor. We have sent a "recon" group ashore to assess the availability of water and possibly getting to the neighboring town of L'anse au Loup for propane and some fresh produce This would allow for a departure from here without the need to stop until reaching the Bras d'Or Lakes. We will begin this leg to Cape Breton Island. tomorrow. On shore we can see the first trees we have seen since being in St. Johns over a month ago! The crew is well and anxious to find phones and internet ashore.

7/9/08
Position 56 48.6N 55 54.5W 1200 Greenland time. (Will probably switch to Labrador time tonight or tomorrow) Slowly making progress south. Finally got a favorable tack late yesterday sailing south and east. Had to reef around 2100 and shock it out at 0500. This crew has mastered reefing in all conditions, less than 40 min. from All Hands call to standing down idle hands with sail reefed and reset. Wind now has dropped out, so we are now motoring toward Battle Harbor. Will need to monitor fuel consumption - first possible fuel stop will be Red Bay beyond BH. Looks like a low will be approaching and may help our cause over the next 48 hrs. Hoping to arrive by the 13th. Beautiful sunny day, airing out midship cabin and wearing sunglasses for the first time since leaving Greenland. Even in foul weather it is noticeably warmer. A south wind actually has some warmth to it! This morning (midnight to 4 watch) sighted Jupiter and one star - the first we have seen in nearly a month! We are all anxious to complete this passage, visit BH, and begin the Canadian Maritime leg of our voyage.

7/8/08
Position 57 51.5N 56 43.4W Leaving Greenland we knew we would head out into some rough but improving conditions. This was the case, and after a period of large seas and strong wind we were sailing under full canvas. We held this for nearly 24 hrs. sailing along in 20+kts. making great headway. The forecast for our area was for 20 to 30 kts and seas less than 8 ft. When the wind finally picked up we took in the main and set the trisail, leaving the fore, stays'l, and jib set. This was a most comfortable combination. Seas where lumpy (4 - 6 ft, some bigger) and moving around the boat was a challenge, but we were sailing at 9 kts! Again we held this sail configuration for several hours. Many of the crew were tired and wondering when we would have calm conditions or be at Battle Harbor. During the 8 to Midnight watch, Chris Moore let me know he thought it was time to take in the jib. With the watch on deck, Eric J. and myself she came down nicely. The wind continued to build. At this time the barometer was dropping 2mb an hour and it kept dropping. Eventually winds built to near 50 kts. seas were 12 ft with a few bigger and many breaking. The rain felt like needles stinging your face and spray was constantly traveling the length of Bowdoin. The mast boot on the fore was torn from its lashing a couple of times. On the big rolls we would bury the leeward rail. Through all of this it was clear that Bowdoin was handling these conditions brillantly - she is an amazing vessel. At the change of the watch at midnight there seemed to be a lull in wind intensity. By 0130 the barometer had steadied at 995 (dropped from 1012) and the wind was almost calm. We fired up the Cummins and motored in a confused sea. Now at 0900 the sun is out, we are sailing again (260T) w/ full canvas in a lumpy sea. The crew did an awesome job. Everyone stood their watch. This is an incredible group of sailors.
All is well.






We are closing in on the Labrador coast, beating now, toward Battle Harbor. Bowdoin is in
great shape and the crew is happy to see the sun. Rick

7/3/08
Still at "Q" village waiting for storm to pass. We are doing a field day (massive cleaning of Bowdoin) and will update you on our plans as weather improves. Attached is a message from Amanda Brinkman to be posted on web site:
"This is our second day in Qeqertarsuatsiaq. It's the smallest of our populated ports (about 300 people). We spent yesterday walking aroung the village and a few of us went sailing on Capt'n Mac (an MMA, student-made sailboat). Today will be spent doing on board cleaning and maintenance. I would also like to say Happy Birthday to my Dad whom I miss very much!" -Amanda B.

The followingare entries from the past few weeks:

6/25/08
Position 67 40.5N 53 33.8W Anchored at the end of a fjord.
Largest lake in Greenland drains into this fjord.
Hiking parties ashore to explore, snowball ambush, etc.
We were scolded by an Arctic fox at our landing site.
Fog is just now clearing.
Leave tonight for Sisimuit.