Captain

Joel Rowland

Joel has been sailing our 40' wooden sloop Tammy Norie in Penobscot Bay for thirty years. He's a seasoned, friendly captain who will help you feel right at home sailing in Penobscot Bay. Fun and safety are Joel's main objectives, no matter where he is sailing or who is aboard. Beyond his sailing and seamanship skills, Joel is a teacher at the Midcoast School of Technology in Rockland, a builder, a master schlepper and a dad.

Joel's Background: Thirty years ago, Joel was a student on a Hurricane Island Outward Bound sea expedition aboard an open pulling boat.  Since that trip in the early 1990’s, he has taken many opportunities to spend time at sea. Joel spent years working as a deckhand on the schooner Roseway from the Caribbean to Maine; he fished in the commercial lobster industry working as a sternman on Monhegan Island and for years farther offshore in the Gulf of Maine; he worked for ten years teaching and supporting sea programs for Outward Bound in Maine, Florida and the Caribbean (in the same 30' pulling boats he was first introduced to on Hurricane Island). Joel also worked as a mate aboard the 40' wooden sloop Tammy Norie he now owns and runs his sail charter business in Penobscot Bay. Joel was initially aboard as mate to Mike Rowland as they sailed Tammy Norie on four trans-atlantic voyages, where he gained a deep love, respect and appreciation for the ocean.

Having learned as an adult from patient instructors and having taught sailing to many people of all ages and backgrounds, Joel is very comfortable sharing his knowledge and sailing skills, and enjoys helping others to find the beauty and simplicity in what can be a complex learning process. 

Crew

Amy Peterson

Depending on the size of your party and charter package, you may be accompanied by Amy Peterson, who serves as a crew member, and at times, photographer during Blue Yonder sailing adventures. Amy has been sailing since childhood. Like Joel, she worked for many years teaching others to sail and gain an appreciation for seamanship and camaraderie on the water, although in the form of dinghy racing, primarily in Casco Bay. Amy is a seasoned educator, and also specializes in digital media, communications and photography. She is currently focused on a variety of media projects and raising two young kids.

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