Just You, Your Tall Ship and the Stars Above and Below

As summer wanes and you're grabbing its final moments, the thing you want to do most is get out on the ocean and smell the sea breezes. But that private yacht just hasn't sailed its way into your personal finances. Well, not to worry. The Schooner Quinnipiack awaits you at the pier in New Haven Harbor.

You can board this 19th century-style vessel with your favorite matey and experience the sea life that has been avoiding you as you toil so tirelessly inland.

Schooner Inc. offers several sails – the Harbor Discovery, Sunset, Brunch, Family Pirate, Adult Pirate & Ale and Gay Night.

We chose the Harbor Discovery, which is Captain Ben Yanni's favorite. “The minute we leave the dock, we prepare our trawl and set it with the help of the passengers. After 10 minutes of trawling, we haul back the net and the fun begins,” Yanni says.

It's true. Our trawl haul netted more than 250 sea stars – they're not fish so we don't call them starfish, crew member Cathy schools us – and assorted other castes of sea life. Some untouchables were relegated to a separate pail, but all the others were handled by the younger voyagers on ship and, ultimately, gently plopped back into the ocean.

“The children's faces just light up,” says Yanni, who has worked on or served at the helm of ships for the last six years. “It's almost as if they had no idea that New Haven Harbor was a home for such diverse marine life.”

The crew on Quinnipiack is competent and fully knowledgeable. Yoko told us how the 91-foot schooner, originally named the Janet May, was built in a town in Maine in 1984, from wood harvested from the builder's land, and guided down an icy hill for launching. The ship is the official flagship of New Haven and is traditionally rigged.

This means the passengers are needed to help hoist up to 2,500 square feet of sails, which are manipulated only by human power and pulley systems. Then the schooner sails its course without mechanical power of any kind. Crewmembers like Pierce, a brawny salt, say the professionals could do it alone but it's much easier with some volunteer muscle added. On our cruise, the young teenage girls were the most likely to pitch in.

During the two-hour sail, you'll see harbor attractions, such as Fort Nathan Hale – used in the American Revolution, War of 1812 and Civil War – and Lighthouse Point, before you take in the scenery of Long Island Sound.

You can do as much or as little as you like, from learning the knots, participating in the old heave-ho, handling marine creatures or just sitting on deck, pretending you own a tall ship and having your own private pirate fantasy.

Speaking of, Schooner Inc. offers a Family Pirate Sail that includes sea chanteys, hoisting sails and plundering treasure. Costumes are welcome.

For more adult fare, think about the sunset cruise (BYOB and thrill to a canon salute to twilight) or an adult pirate cruise that includes sea lore and drinking songs (no one under age 21 allowed). The gay night sail, on the second Friday of the month, includes DJ tunes and dancing on deck.

Capt. Yanni says every day is an absolute surprise on the Quinnipiack. “You never know who will wander onto the boat for one of the sails or what new marine creature will end up in the trawl.”

Depending on the cruise, Schooner Inc. prices are $45-30 for adults, $30-25 for seniors and $15-10 for children. The ship leaves from Long Wharf Pier, 398 Long Wharf Drive, New Haven. For information, visit the Schooner Inc. site, call 203-535-2016 or throw them a line at harboradventures@schoonerinc.org.