Chef Annie Teaches for Stonewall Kitchen Cooking School

On Friday, October 25th from 11:30 a.m to 1 p.m. Chef Annie will lead a cooking class at Stonewall Kitchen in York, Maine. She will be making recipes from her cookbooks including the following: 

Hard Cider-Braised Brisket with Housemade Mustard and Sauerkraut on a Slider Roll Photo by Elizabeth Poisson

  • Beet, Pear and Cranberry Salad with Shaved Gouda (from Sugar & Salt – The Orange Book
  • Hard Cider-Braised Brisket with Housemade Mustard and Sauerkraut on a Slider Roll (from Sugar & Salt – The Orange Book
  • Pumpkin Cheesecake (from At Home & At Sea – The Red Book

If any of you happen to be or live in the area sign ups are happening now on the Stonewall Kitchen Cooking School site! 

Highlights from Race Week 2018 – What a Special Day

Every Race Week is special, but this year’s was one for the books.  The captains decided the course in the morning at the traditional captain’s meeting.  Even as we started the race at the sound of the cannon, we were at the head of the pack.  After a full day of tacking and strategizing, we were on the last leg and just under the hills of Rockport off Indian Head Light.  The sky was clear and the wind had died to a whiff, and we were all yearning for the forecast 15 knots.  We’d had moments of excitement throughout the day, but they’d come and gone as the wind eased.  With only two vessels in front of us, we saw wind begin to skim the surface of the water.  Seconds later, the vessels ahead of us began to heal and then heal hard.  And the wind was upon us.  The Riggin gently healed over and when the physics of her majestic sails began to dominate, she started to move forward and pick up speed.  The wind drove her with such purpose as we went from a relaxed, everyday sail to a thrilling chase that had us pulling ahead of one of the two vessels.  With all of us cheering her on the Riggin finished 2nd in her class and overall!  What a moment!

maine windjammer fleet race week

maine windjammer fleet race week

maine windjammer fleet race week

maine windjammer fleet race week

maine windjammer fleet race week

Photos by Susan Land (guest extraordinaire and long time Riggin Relic)

Things Are Getting Fancy

While the main cabin house is getting it’s makeover, the navigation station is also getting a total renovation.  Those of you who have sailed with us for a while will remember Mouse, a long-time crew member who has, over the years, become a skilled carpenter and shipwright.  He’s back in school for naval architecture and on the weekends we get his good, smart self in our shop.  This beautiful nav. station will grace our cabin house this summer!  Capt. will get to look at all summer long as he stands back by the wheel.   Here’s some photos of the progress.  We’ll post when it’s all on board and installed too.

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

maine windjammer wooden boat repairmaine windjammer wooden boat repair

Isn’t it pretty?!

Photos by Alan Castonguay

 

New Main Cabin House

It started with a discussion about re-caulking the main cabin house.  It journeyed past replacing some cabin planks and lots of layers of varnish.  It ended with a completely new main cabin house.  Just like replacing a stove in a house which turns into entire kitchen renovation.  Exactly like that.  

Every year we choose a different area of the Riggin upon which to focus.  That’s just how owning a schooner built in 1927 goes.  This year, the main cabin house got our attention and we had a number of crew members working on the project.  Here are some  process photos from start to almost finish.  And an hilarious short clip of the guys having fun.  We aren’t quite to the final coat of paint or the re-installation of the skylight or nav. station but we’ll post those when that happens shortly.

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

maine windjammer wooden boat repair

 

Photos by Capt Jon Finger

 

Yankee Magazine – Showcasing Annie’s Food

For those of you who don’t live in Maine or New England, this in print issue of Yankee Magazine might be hard to come by, but if you can get your hands on a copy, do it!  Amy Traverso, accomplished writer, has given the Riggin wonderful kudos and Mark Flemming, photographer extraordinaire, adds a lovely balance to her words.

Recipes included in the article are Pecan Sticky Buns, Cornish Game Hens with Smoked Shrimp and Brandy Stuffing, Zucchini Gratin, and Lime Pie Jars.  You can also find these recipes in At Home. At Sea – The Red Book, 2nd Edition.

This is one of the best articles we’ve seen on our sweet girl and you should check it out.  #boatmagic!

Lakin's Gorges Cheese, boat magic,  yankee magazine yankee magazine,  maine food cruises maine food cruises,  maine sailing adventure maine sailing adventure, maine windjammer maine windjammer, sailing in maine, sailing in maine

 

Photo by Mark Flemming

Our Knitting Cruises – In the News

No matter whether you call it a knitting retreat, a knitting cruise, or a knitting vacation, all of our knitting adventures are special.  Taught by fabulous instructors who have been with us for years, these trips are a hoot from start to finish.  Right from the beginning, everyone starts out sharing needles, stories, and patterns – even before we even set sail.  Add the sailing and the delectable meals that emerge like clockwork out of Annie’s galley and you’ve got a recipe for success.  

knitting vacation, knitting retreat, knitting cruise, knitting trip, fiber arts now, janet mendelsohn, maine windjammer

The fabulous Janet Mendelsohn caught all of this in her article, Fiber Art Travel Adventures, in Fiber Arts Now.  

Why Adults Need Wilderness and Adventure More Than Ever

While this article is about kids and the benefits of being outside for our kids, we would suggest that adults need the outdoors, exercise, and adventure just as much, if not more.  After all, a good life is about balance.  If the bulk of our days are spent inside and on a computer, then the balance to that is to get outside and breathe unfiltered, fresh air in wide-open spaces surrounded by the the sounds, sights, and smells of nature.  Unplugged from our phones and completely plugged in to our natural world.   Might we suggest that the Riggin is the perfect place for this outside adventure?

Why Kids Need Wilderness and Adventure More Than Ever

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse photo: Ben Krebs