Sea Kindly: Windjammer Wisdom for Everyone

Captains, crews, and passengers share their affection for historic tall ships in Sea Kindly: Windjammer Wisdom for Everyone. The title comes from a nautical saying that refers to “a vessel with easy motion in rough seas,” a phrase that can just as well apply to life in general. Captain Barry King and his wife Jennifer operate the schooner Mary Day out of Camden, ME, and invite paying guests to join them on three and six-day excursions. Those who take the working tours, such as a pair of young honeymooners interviewed on camera, appreciate the opportunity to escape from the pressures of the modern world, praise the feeling of community that Barry and Jennifer create, and enjoy privileged views of nature: secluded harbors and peninsulas that are home to creatures including bald eagles, whales, and porpoises. Using kerosene lanterns for light and wood stoves for cooking, the amateur chefs, mess cooks, mates, boatswains, and deckhands all attest to the character-building qualities of their labors. Retired professor John Fawcett and his wife are so enthusiastic they've each taken about 70 of the trips. Director Rich Holzer also climbs aboard the Maine and the Martha's Vineyard-based schooners Heritage, American Eagle, Shenandoah, and the 138-year-old Stephen Taber. DVD extras include additional information about windjammers, yawls, and schooners. Recommended. Aud: P. (K. Fennessy)