The Ships and Sailing Adventures of the MidCoast

With its stunning coastline, charming harbor villages, and thousands of islands, Maine’s MidCoast is a haven for watching sailing ships or cruising along scenic bays. You can sail on a magnificent Windjammer, go whale watching, catch a ferry to quiet islands, or visit busy boat-building yards along the coast.

 

 

American Shipbuilding Started Here

Did you know? The first ship built in America was the 50-foot-long Virginia, constructed in 1608 by colonists at the Popham Colony on the Kennebec River. This small ‘pinnace’ ship set sail for England the following year, becoming the first ocean-going vessel built in the New World.

You can explore Maine’s seafaring history at the Maine Maritime Museum, near the original Popham Colony site, or cruise the Kennebec River on the 50-passenger Merrymeeting boat. In Searsport, the Penobscot Marine Museum showcases hands-on exhibits, small boats, shipbuilding tools and artifacts, fine art, and a research library. It’s an intimate way to immerse yourself in our seafaring history.

 

 

Ocean Adventures and Whale Watching

Experience the open ocean aboard a classic wooden Windjammer schooner, gliding through Penobscot Bay for a day or even a week. Departing from Camden and Rockland, these vessels follow the winds and tides past lighthouses and spruce-covered islands. For a chance to see whales and puffins, hop aboard Cap’n Fish’s cruise boats in Boothbay Harbor—an unforgettable way to connect with Maine’s marine wildlife.

 

 

Hop on an Island Ferry

Maine boasts the most coastal islands of any state—over 3,166! A ferry ride is your ticket to discovering these scenic and serene spots. Regular year-round State of Maine ferries connect to islands like Islesboro, Vinalhaven, North Haven, and Matinicus. For a quick escape, take a short 3-mile ferry from Lincolnville to Islesboro, a largely untouched island with countless hiking trails and breathtaking vistas.

 

 

Camden Windjammer Festival – Camden, August 29-30

Celebrate this Labor Day weekend when Camden Harbor hosts hundreds of graceful coastal schooners. The schooners arrive Friday afternoon and will have open houses on Saturday. Camden’s waterfront will be alive for two days of music, arts, crafts, food, and one-of-a-kind contests like the famed Lobster Crate Race.

 

 

Some of the World’s Best-Known Shipbuilders

More than 450 companies in Maine help build boats, from classic wooden sailboats and luxury superyachts to hardworking lobster boats and advanced U.S. Navy ships. These are some of the companies known worldwide for their engineering and craftsmanship.

 

Front Street Shipyard – Belfast

You can tour Front Street Shipyard to see different craftspeople and technicians working on boats of all kinds and sizes firsthand. Yachts from around the world regularly arrive for upgrades and refits. The main attractions of the shipyard are custom vessels under construction. The company’s expertise in carbon fiber and cold-molding wood construction is used to build comfortable trawlers and high-performance racing yachts.

 

 

Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding – Thomaston and Camden

Over the past 40 years, craftsmen at Lyman-Morse have built more than 110 world-class yachts. These boats stand out when they enter a harbor – luxury motor yachts and carbon-fiber ocean racers. One of the most spectacular boats built by Lyman-Morse is the modern, classic 65-foot Anna.

 

 

John’s Bay Boat Company – South Bristol

This small, traditional boat shop specializes in custom ‘plank-on-frame’ boats up to 50 feet long. The talented boat builders at John’s Bay Boat Company craft pleasure boats and commercial workboats that are ‘iconic Maine’ in their design and finish details. The hull of a typical boat may feature Maine cedar planking over white oak framing and keel. Most boats include bronze fittings and exterior teak trim.

 

 

Rockport Marine – Rockport

Few sailboats attract attention as quickly as the 45-ft. yacht MIST. The MIST exudes raw speed with sleek, classic lines. Despite its size, the yacht can be sailed single-handedly thanks to its ergonomic design and rigging. Focusing on custom wooden boat building and restoration, the team of craftsmen at Rockport Marine has worked on some of the world’s most renowned yachts.

 

 

Artisan Boatworks – Rockport Harbor

On Rockport’s Main Street, a crew of master boat builders is renowned worldwide for designing innovative boats and crafting excellent custom replicas of classic vessels. Today, Artisan Boatworks creates licensed replicas of boats designed by the famous naval architect Herreshoff. Herreshoff was the designer and helmsman who defended the America’s Cup six times from 1893 to 1920.

 

 

Back Cove Yachts – Rockland

The classic lines of a Maine lobster boat are clearly visible in every Back Cove Yacht on the water today. Built for comfortable and reliable cruising, Back Cove Yachts ranging from 31 to 41 feet can be found in harbors worldwide. The company’s modern shipyard in Rockland is home to over 200 experienced boatbuilders with skills from nautical engineering to custom woodwork.

 

 

Bath Iron Works – Bath

In 1890, Bath Iron Works delivered a steam-powered coastal passenger ship named Cottage City. Since then, BIW has built over 250 military vessels and more than 160 private yachts and commercial boats. Some notable ships include President Harry Truman’s ‘seagoing White House,’ the Williamsburg, and the USS Noa, which recovered John Glenn and his spacecraft after he became the first U.S. astronaut to orbit Earth. Today, BIW builds the advanced Arleigh Burke-class U.S. Navy ships.

 

 

The Virginia Sails Again – Bath

You can visit a floating replica of the 1607 Virginia just 10 miles north of the original Popham Colony. Built mainly by volunteers, the 51-foot “First Ship” functions as a floating classroom and museum to honor the four-century-old craftsmanship of early colonists. The Visitor Center is situated in the historic Bath Freight Shed.

 

Summer is the perfect time for Island Hopping in the MidCoast, or to go on a Sea to Table Getaway, exploring the region’s wide variety of culinary offerings from locally farmed oysters to coffee shops to world-class dining, and everything in between. We have tips and resources for you to start planning your MidCoast adventure.