Twitter has triumphed at Ooh of late. Not only have we deeply enjoyed the #blameoprah thing, but we chanced upon a a twitter feed from some people hard at work on the J&E Riggin, a schooner sailing yacht located in Rockland, Maine, USA.

Captain John Finger and his wife Captain Annie Mahle never thought they’d own a schooner, though Jon had entertained the fantasy. Annie ‘wasn’t even a little bit interested’. But, she informs ooh, ‘telling your spouse it’s not okay to live your dream is a terrible thing.’ Damn straight.

Around 12 years ago, Jon was strolling idly along the docks in Maine when he came across Captain Dave Allen at the end of a long season’s sailing, changing the oil in the yawl boat. ‘He looked cross, with motor oil dripping down his elbow. He grouched to Jon, “Wanna buy a schooner?”’ From the sounds of things, Jon didn’t need much persuasion.

With a crew of six including two captains, the 90ft schooner, built in 1927, has 24 berths including 9 double cabins. Annie tells us that J&E Riggin started life as an oyster dredger down in Delaware Bay: ‘For a time she was fitted with an engine and eventually did some ground fishing. In 1977, after an abbreviated rebuild, she began life in her current form as a Maine windjammer taking guests out for 3, 4 and 6 day sailing adventures.’

Trips on J&E Riggin can include activities like photography or cookery courses. Guests are encouraged to help sail her. ‘For most people, the more they’re involved, the more fun they have. It can be as participatory or as unengaged an experience as a person chooses,’ Annie tells us.

Jon is primarily in charge of the sailing, putting years of accumulated nautical know-how to good use and Annie, a published cook, with 25 years experience, is in charge of cooking. ‘All of the meals on board become part of our daily “events.” They’re prepared by me using only the most local and freshest ingredients, mostly from our own garden.’

With the oily troubles of Captain Allen in mind, we wanted to know if owning an 80 year old boat was as troublesome as we imagined. ‘Well the politic answer is that it’s a labor of love,’ Annie explains, ‘and we do love her. We consider ourselves stewards of her and even though our names are on the mortgage, she’s really a part of our collective American history as a National Historic Landmark…’

Annie doesn’t mince words, going on: ‘…working in the snow, painting around driving spring rains, and dealing with continual repairs related to weather and wear sometimes makes a person wonder what they were thinking when they decided on an antique wooden vessel.’

To be honest though, the ooh team is pretty sold on this idea already. Just to be sure we asked Annie to tell us what makes an experience on the J&E Riggin so special.

‘A week on board is a gift to yourself, letting go of all of the multitasking and 100’s of tasks one manages every day. It’s nourishing to the body and spirit, exhilarating without being an extreme adventure, and unusual for people looking for something different.’

So if, like me, you’re now wondering how you sign up for one of these trips, it’s right here. Alternatively you can email Annie with any questions you may have.

If you’re reading this and you own a similar business offering something really special, we’re always keen to write about it, so drop us an email here.

Tags: adventure, captain, cooking, J&E Riggin, Maine, photography, Rockland, sailing