How many people does the boat hold?
The Lannon holds 49 passengers, plus crew.
What should I bring?
Sweatshirt or windbreaker. It’s always cooler on the water. Camera. Binoculars if you have them. Sneakers or other comfortable shoes. No high heels, please. Sunglasses and sunscreen. Please do not bring alcoholic beverages onboard with you. Coolers are not allowed for space reasons. (See below). Umbrellas are not allowed, because of the inversion danger. We sell plastic rain ponchos at very reasonable prices.
What about food and drinks?
We have a liquor license, so you cannot bring your own alcohol onboard. We appreciate your cooperation. We offer water, soft drinks, beer, ale, wine, prosecco, sparkling rosé, rum punch, and a selection of salty & crunchy snacks for sale at reasonable prices. Please note that we have a $10 minimum for all credit card charges
Is there a restroom onboard?
There is a restroom (marine head) onboard. It is located below deck and the access is down a steep set of stairs. There are public restrooms located in the Blue Collar Cafe, on the water end of the Gloucester House Restaurant, which you are welcome to use before you sail.
What about the Weather?
Meteorology is not a perfect science. For this reason, we do not call off our trips when we first get the five-day forecast that invariably calls for “a chance of thundershowers.” Rather, the captain makes the call regarding whether or not to sail very close to departure time. A ‘small craft advisory’ issued is not enough for us to cancel a trip, as the Lannon is not a small craft. Just think positive and remember that you will have fun even if it isn’t a beautiful sunny day and that clouds make for the most beautiful sunsets.
Will I get seasick?
We’ve got some great news for you! Most people don’t. Over the past 25 plus seasons, with thousands of people coming out for sails, only a handful have been seasick. There are a couple reasons: we shut off the engine (engine vibration and/or the diesel smell send some people over the edge), and the shore is always visible (often without land, people don’t have a reference point.) We sell acupressure wrist bands for those that still feel uneasy. If you are overly prone to seasickness, you might consider taking ginger caplets before your sail. They act as an anti-nausea agent and are a natural alternative to Dramamine, which can make you drowsy. It is true that some people will tell you that they get seasick in a bathtub. But, for most people on most days, seasickness is not an issue.
What is your cancellation policy?
Reservations can be made up to two weeks prior to the sail date, for certain trips earlier than two weeks. When you make a reservation online, over the phone, or in person we take a credit card to hold your reservation for the total cost of your trip. Your credit card will be charged in the morning on the day of your trip prior to your arrival. If you have any discounts, gift certificates, or vouchers you must use them at the time of booking. We cannot apply them to a reservation that has already been completed. If on the day of your trip your credit card returns in an error (declined, insufficient funds,etc.) we will attempt to contact you to get a working credit card number. If we cannot get in touch with you we will cancel your reservation, so please be sure to give us a phone number we can reach you at on the day of the sail.
We have a 72-hour cancellation policy. You can cancel up to 72 hours prior to sail time without any penalty. If you cancel after 72 hours we will charge your card for the full value due on your reservation.
If the Captain cancels, we will issue a full refund to your original form of payment within 24 hours. Depending on your credit card service, it can take 5-10 days for the refund to post.
There are instances where we have a longer than 72-hour cancellation window. If this is the case, it will be stated in the description of the trip and that will take precedence over the 72-hour requirement.
Where are you located?
Our Schooner Sails shed is located in front and to the right of the Gloucester House Restaurant, on Seven Seas Wharf in downtown Gloucester 63 Rogers St. This is where you should come to pick up your tickets before getting in line to board the Lannon. If our Shed is closed please proceed directly to the boat and we will check you in at boarding time. We begin boarding five minutes before sail time. The Lannon sails on time. Please allow yourself extra time to allow for summer and weekend traffic and to find parking. Come early and enjoy Gloucester.
Tips for Parents
We are often asked about our policy on having children aboard. We welcome children of all ages. Every child is included in our headcount and there is a charge for every child. If you are trying to decide whether or not to bring your young children, our advice is this: Our trips are generally quiet and relaxing. If your child is at the age where he/she can’t do 1.5 hours of quiet and relaxing, you might want to rethink bringing him/her along. Children are not allowed to roam the vessel on their own, so you will be spending quality time velcroed to your child while we sail. Toddlers can be tough. You know your children best. If you think your child won’t be able to handle the length of the trip, you are probably right. Lots of young children have sailed with us and loved it. But, to be honest, some parents who have brought their young children have wished they hadn’t. There is nowhere to go with a screaming, unhappy child. A backpack full of snacks, books, etc. is helpful.
For older children, the issue of wearing life jackets often comes up. We are a Coast Guard inspected vessel. What that means is that the Coast Guard does a safety inspection of the Lannon and all our safety gear once a year. We are required to carry enough life jackets for every passenger, but our passengers (including children) are not required to wear them while onboard. The kind we have onboard are the stiff orange “hold your head above water in case of emergency” type. They are not comfortable for a child to wear for the duration of the sail. If you have comfortable vest-type life jackets that your children wear whenever they go on a boat and you want them to wear a life jacket while onboard the Lannon, then you are welcome to bring your children’s life jackets with you. If you have other concerns about children onboard, please ask.
Is the sail narrated?
When we first built the boat, we made the decision not to have someone with a microphone talking for the duration of the sail. Most people enjoy the QUIET of sailing: the sounds of the wind in the sails and the noise that the vessel makes as she glides through the water. So, the short answer is that the sail is not narrated. However, the Captain and crew are very knowledgeable about the boat, the area, and landmarks that you will see, so feel free to ask questions as you sail.
What do you do if it rains?
We are very safety conscious. We don’t sail in thunderstorms, but we do sail in the cloudy. We also don’t cancel our trips when the weatherman says there is a chance of storms, since he/she is usually giving the forecast for a much larger area than Gloucester harbor. The Captain will make the call about whether or not it is safe to sail close to sail time. Some of our best sails are on overcast days, so don’t waste time worrying about something you cannot control. Just know you’ll have a great time, no matter what.