We rode the Appledore 2 (86 foot schooner) out of Camden for a sunset cruise in early July 2007. It had been sprinkling off and on all day, and I was worried that it might rain. Well, it did. It was nice as we left the dock, and cleared up as we returned. But for about an hour and a half, we were *soaked*. But we were prepared for that possibility. We brought hats and raincoats. We wore warm clothing because we thought it might get chilly after sunset out on the water. We never left the bay, so the water wasn't terribly choppy, but they did reach 12 knots, which allowed us to really move, and tilt at a good angle. I enjoyed the thrill, but my husband calls it the "devil boat". I think the other passengers expected much better weather because they were dressed in shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops. They were frozen. The crew only had blankets to offer them (I think they usually just cancel the trip if the weather looks bad). The blankets got soaked. The crew explained some basic sailing as we left the port and one passenger helped raise the sails. We saw some seals. The sunset was actually spectacular. I think the storm clouds helped in that respect. We couldn't see the Curtis Island lighthouse very well though. I think that was due to the sun setting behind it. I would recommend that small children not go on this cruise. They do have a liquor license and a nice selection of beer and wine. I would highly recommend it to couples and boat lovers. If you go for a sunset cruise, dress warmly and regardless, be prepared for rain. I brought a plastic bag to put my digital camera in, just in case.
