Double the Dazcat Feelgood Factor when you charter USA.
Dazcats on Charter Part 2.
When you charter D1195 Rip Van Winkle you’re not only sure to have an amazing time on the stunning US East Coast, but you’ll also be making it possible for someone else to experience sailing.
Rip Van Winkle is part of a larger fleet managed by Sail Maine
A skippered charter on board this Dazcat 1195 exploring her home stomping grounds sounds idyllic and also potentially the perfect holiday if you want to try out the Dazcat experience. But ‘Rip Van Winkle’s’ role as a charter boat comes second to arguably more important things, so that’s where I’m starting…
Sail Maine purchased Dazcat 1195 Rip Van Winkle in 2020, mid pandemic, and are her second owners after she was shipped to the US from new in 2013. Sail Maine are a community sailing centre located in the beautiful and historic town of Portland on the US East Coast. Their aim is to provide affordable access to the water through their community programmes and youth scholarships. They also offer adaptive sailing lessons and experiences for people with all abilities, following the Multimarine/ Dazcat passion to make sailing accessible to those who couldn’t otherwise access the water.
(Photo with thanks to Foreside Photography)
So, while I set out to profile Rip Van Winkle as a Dazcat charter option, which it very much is, my heart was stolen by some of the quotes that Skipper and Adult and Offshore Programs Director, Bennett, sent to me.
It’s quotes like this from the Youth Sailing Programme that remind us of why we build boats:
“5 weeks ago I went on the trip of my life. I was able to go on a trip with SailMaine and Portland Youth Corps (PYC). In this trip I learned so much about boats and sails and how sea life is. But the most important thing was that I was able to learn more about myself.
When I first did SailMaine I was not that much into sailing. But after this amazing experience I started loving sailing and would love to learn more about it. And I also was able to see places that I never knew existed. I was able to see Maine’s beauty.
We lived on the boat for 4 nights. Through these nights we learned how to work together to reach our destination, how to live the boat life, and how to sail a sailboat. On our first night we did not know that much about each other. But after we did dinner and all sat together and talked about what we like and don’t like, and how doing bike tricks in the house is not safe. I started to feel more comfortable.
The best part of the trip was when we all ate together on the trampoline. It was fun to see what people liked to put on their food and tell some funny stories. Also, the last day was one of the best. I loved when we met the other group and all went around town and went to the square lighthouse. I also loved the free time we had on land, and swinging with the rope.”
D1195 Rip Van Winkle (RVW) has been a really great tool in helping Sail Maine fulfil their mission.
Bennett tells me that private charters are a relatively small but very important part of the boat’s life. SailMaine is a non-profit and before acquiring RVW their largest and most stable boats were J22’s.
“Having RVW has allowed us to increase our accessibility and allows us to offer sailing to a wider range of participants due to how great of a platform it is.
A lot of our programming aims to provide an on the water experience to those who would not otherwise be able to. Many of these groups have never been on a boat before. You can imagine what a different experience someone who has never been on a boat before might have sitting on the bow netting of a smooth and stable cat vs heeled over in the cockpit of a cramped and lively J22. It’s such a pleasure to give that experience to so many people aboard RVW.”
(Photo with thanks to Foreside Photography)
What can you expect from a charter on RVW?
Where is Rip Van Winkle based?
Sail Maine is located in Portland and charter cruises give guests the opportunity to explore the islands of Casco Bay in style aboard Dazcat 1195 Rip Van Winkle. Casco Bay consists of numerous islands, secluded anchorages and a mix of both working waterfronts and picturesque historic landmarks, possibly with lobster in abundance…
It’s a naturally beautiful area and perfect sailing grounds. The main difficulty you’re likely to encounter will be deciding where to go!
(Photo with thanks to Foreside Photography)
The format
Charters can be custom tailored to the desires of the customer. If a guest would prefer to have a short sailing day and spend a few hours exploring the beauty of Jewell Island by foot instead of a long day underway, that can absolutely be accommodated says Bennett.
‘Learn to sail’ and ‘learn to cruise’ charter options are also on offer.
I’m sure Bennett and team will be happy to help advise on itinerary depending on the length of your charter, what you want to get out of it and the time of year. There’s also an abundance of information about the area on-line, including this Yachting World article of Pete Goss sailing just a little further up the coast.
How many guests?
US Coast Guard regulations allow RVW to carry up to 6 passengers, but if a customer wishes to take a full 6 people they’ll need to understand the space available on the boat and understand that it could be tight.
How does it work with food?
There’s no chef on staff so charter customers become part of the boat team and are expected to share in the cooking and cleaning responsibilities with the captain and first-mate. The classic Dazcat galley ensures that is always a pleasure. Food is always an important part of Dazcat life, a thing to be shared and enjoyed (as noted by Baquer above) and it’s good to hear the tradition continues on RVW!
(Photo with thanks to Foreside Photography)
Making a booking.
The boat is heavily booked during the height of the summer. Obligations with the Community Outreach Programs, as well as the Adult Offshore Race Program, make private multi-day charters difficult (near impossible) to book in July and August. May, June, September, and early October are wonderful months to sail in Maine and the boat’s schedule is more flexible during those times. There is some space in the calendar during July and August for day charters if people are looking for shorter trips.
Charter rates are available via their website. Please note these are subject to change in 2022. http://www.sailmaine.org/charters/
You can also contact Bennett directly: bennett.allen@sailmaine.org
Dazcat 1195 RVW Changing Lives
Despite the pandemic Rip Van Winkle has had a busy schedule this year and seems to have settled into her new role brilliantly and is already changing lives. Some quotes from the youth programmes below.
“I’ve had a pretty fantastic summer this year, but nothing can compare to the four days I spent on the Downeast Sailing Adventure with Sailmaine. I expected it to be loads of fun, but I also expected it to be slightly uneventful. I thought that once we started sailing that would be it, and for the rest of the day we would just be hanging around, enjoying the views. Instead, those four days were packed with learning, discovery, and a wonderful sailing experience. Never have I taken in that much information on a topic in that short span of time. I learned that there is so much more to sailing than just raising the sail and steering the boat. We learned how to navigate, and how to stay on a course. We learned how to use a compass to figure out our sailing angle. We learned how the wind works, and how to manoeuvre with it to take advantage of its speed. And, most importantly, we learned how to work as a crew and all do our part to get to our destination. Overall I never would have thought that there was so much more to sailing, and the experience definitely inspired me in many ways.
I am so grateful that I got to participate in this, and that Kate and Bennett are such good teachers. Thank you to everyone at SailMaine who initiated this, I had a truly amazing time.”
“This was an adventure that I will never want to forget. I learned a lot about graphing coordinates and parts of the boat like bow, stern, port, starboard, jib and more. I also learned the ups and downs of living on the water. You have to take many precautions and be precise as to where you’re going to anchor. The views were wonderful and the seals were adorable. The best part though was hanging out with everyone. I loved sitting on the trampoline and just talking about interesting questions while laughing our butts off. Playing cards was also super fun even if I was confused half of the time. Kate and Bennett taught me how to drive through both easy and rough waters and how to use a compass to guide. Meghan helped me track longitude and latitude which took a while for me but she was super patient and really helpful. Everyone is just so cool and lovely to be with. This trip grew my hunger for adventure in the future and a wilder love for our ocean. I hope that doesn’t sound cliche but it’s the truth. The only bad thing was that we had to lose a day and cut the trip short. This sail trip has been so, so, so, soooo awesome and I am super lucky I got to do it. Thank you so much to everyone, especially Bennett and Kate, you guys are amazing!”
For anyone non-UK based considering purchasing a Dazcat, this is what Bennett had to say about the support he’s had from us:
“Simon and Multimarine have provided extremely good customer service and expertise to SailMaine since our acquisition of the boat in the Spring of 2020. I have been very impressed with how responsive, supportive, and knowledgeable Simon has been, even though we are not the original owner of the boat. It is clear Multimarine takes pride in their craftsmanship and wants to see their boats sailed well and cared for, period.”
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