CAMDEN — Ray Williamson runs the fleet of what locals call the Green Boats out of Camden Harbor. His company, Maine Windjammer Cruises, operates the Grace Bailey, the Mercantile and the Mistress. Like all schooners that spend the winter in the harbor, the boats are wrapped to protect decks and rigging from the elements. It also gives some of the crew an opportunity to work on the boats. I took a look inside the bubble of the Grace Bailey April 22.
 
Everyone sees the boats from the outside. They look like giant igloos setting serenely and waiting for spring so they can shed their wrap and again ply the waters of Penobscot Bay full of passengers on two-day, three-day, and week-long cruises to area harbors or island anchorages.
 
Williamson said his first cruise of the season will be on May 17. The fleets first trip will be onboard the Mercantile. Williamson has run the green boats for 27 years. He bought the fleet in 1986.
 
“For now bookings for trips are looking okay,” said Williamson. “It should be a decent season.”
 
It takes a lot of work, after their coverings are removed, to prepare the schooners for sailing. There is painting to be done, bright work (varnish) to be stripped and reapplied and general repair work to the boat and mechanical systems. Not to mention that each boat needs to hauled out of the water to get its bottom painted and a Coast Guard Inspection.
 
“We did a bunch of repairs over the winter,” said Williamson, “so the boats already look good. the Mercantile has already been hauled at North End Shipyard in Rockland. We’ll do the Mistress next at Knight’s or Journey’s End Marina and finally, the Grace Bailey will go to North End. Well leave the covers on until just before we go to the yard, so the crew can continue to work despite the weather.”
 
Zak Phillips is from Mobile, Ala., and is spending his second season aboard the Bailey. He is spending his time prepping the spars and getting them ready for paint. Gus Apans is from Massachusetts and was spending his time stripping old varnish.
 
“It gets stripped every five years or so,” said Apans, “or when it gets to looking old. Yes, it’s tedious work; there is definitely no instant gratification here. The Bailey is scheduled to go into the yard on May 15, so we’ll leave the cover on until just a couple of days before.”
 
Maine Windjammer Cruises is the registered trademark for the first and oldest fleet of historic vessels offering sailing vacations in America. Established in 1936, it has been the cornerstone of the industry for more than 60 years. The authentic turn-of-the-century coastal cargo schooners, Grace Bailey and Mercantile, have been lovingly restored and recognized as National Landmarks. Both boats date back more than 100 years.
 
Meals on board the vessels are all done fresh every day, breakfast, lunch and dinner and prepared on a wood fired stove. In 2007 MWC published a cookbook, authored by Ray’s wife, Ann. It’s a collection of stories and recipes that represent her 20 years of training cooks, planning menus, ordering supplies and cooking aboard the Grace Bailey. It includes more than 150 recipes.