Schooner ‘Manitou’ a live, sailing B&B with a gourmet twist
July 28, 08 by TheFleetIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
by Kim Schneider | Source: Michigan Travel News
I’m sitting at the helm of a 100-ton, two-masted schooner, trying to keep Fisherman’s Island near Charlevoix in northern Michigan to the right of the bowsprit.
It may not sound that tough, but then wind power can be pretty impressive when it catches my 3,000 square feet of canvas, on one of the largest sailing vessels on the Great Lakes. And it’s not like driving a car. Or so crew member Kent Gorham reminds me when I steer too sharply, then overcorrect, to the peril of a couple dozen passengers I may just have made a bit seasick.
Take a breather
The motto on the tall ship Manitou, based out of Traverse City, could be “forced relaxation.” On this replica of a 19th-century schooner — a floating bed and breakfast — passengers spend their days sipping coffee on the glistening deck, learning a new rope wrapping technique or settling into a nook with a book as the ship gently rocks them to a state of calm.
… I surrender the wheel only after ship chef Carey Draeger squeezes by with a platter of mint chip cookies, fresh from the fickle woodstove she calls Leo. Close behind is a pot of homemade gumbo, a platter of fresh cornbread. This will hold us over until we reach the Charlevoix harbor where we’ll savor some marinated shrimp spring rolls paired with aromatic white wines of the 45th Parallel before a dinner of Moroccan roast chicken, spiced couscous and pecan pineapple upside down cake.
On this wine-themed cruise, you see, our foray into shipboard life of the 1800s comes with a decidedly modern gourmet twist.
Other themed sails include music, astronomy, fall foliage and an unusual chocolate and storytelling combo being offered for the first time this fall. But our “wine” theme has drawn foodies from around the country….
Awesome story, photos, and link to Manitou’s website and schedule at Michigan Travel News >>
