Two Special Honors for Classic Harbor Captains!

As the Adirondack II heads north for the summer, our season in Key West comes to a close. We're taking a blogging hiatus until November, but we couldn't depart without announcing two very exciting wins for the Classic Harbor Line team.

Captain Andrew Neuhauser sailed the Adirondack II to yet another Wrecker's Cup Race victory. The April race (which was delayed until May 3 due to weather) was against five other schooners. Captain Andrew and his crew sailed seven miles to the Wrecker's reef in just over 43 minutes, leaving the second place schooner far behind; the next best time was 50 minutes!

In other news, our very own CHL Key West manager, Sunny Andracchio, recently won the annual Key West Conch Republic's Conch Blowing Competition for Most Musical Performance! Sunny and other "conch honkers" faced off at the Schooner Wharf Bar, and Sunny serenaded the crowd first with "When the Saints Come Marching In," then in the finals with "The Hokey Pokey." As luck would have it, Sunny's prize was a free sail on the Adirondack II! Congratulations, Sunny!

The photos below show Sunny and all six winners.

Captain Andrew Prepares to Sail from Key West to Newport

On May 10, the Adirondack II will say goodbye to Key West, and Captain Andrew Neuhauser and seven crew members will sail the schooner to Newport, Rhode Island, where it will stay for the summer and fall.

The trip is a long one - it took seven and a half days to sail the schooner down to Key West, and their journey could be significantly longer depending on weather and currents. The crew sails through the night, rotating in three-hour shifts on deck and then taking nine hours off. Captain Andrew says its important to be alert, because even though there are long stretches of little activity, short bursts of very hard work are necessary throughout, as currents can make the trip tough, especially along the North Carolina coast. "It can be a walk in the park or completely difficult," he says.


Another issue is the wind. In Key West, Captain Andrew says he usually deals with wind at 18 to 20 knots, but this year the wind has been at 25 to 30. This made for a more adventurous season, and despite the record low temperatures, Captain Andrew says most guests loved the breezier, more intense sails.

The crew takes enough food for ten days, and keeps it healthy. Captain Andrew says he'll pack salad, meat and bread, but he tries to eat as little as possible because the temptation to binge can get so great.

Four of the crew members are from Newport, and are flying down to Key West to help out. With more than 100 years experience between them, the crew is ready for their journey, whether it be six days or twenty. Back in Newport, the crew will undergo orientation and training refreshers, and begin their season Memorial Day weekend.

A Weekend in Key West Brings Music to Our Ears!

When it comes to music, have you ever wondered about the talented musicians and songwriters behind your favorite stars?

Well, when they aren't writing hit songs, these top music makers gather in Key West for the annual Songwriters' Festival, taking place this year between April 29 and May 3!

Songwriter Alissa Moreno plays at the Songwriters' Festival in 2008.

Every year, dozens of the nation's best songwriters get together and perform at venues in Key West. We're so excited about this year's slew of upcoming concerts that we picked some of our favorites, and paired them with the perfect Classic Harbor Cruise! Here's our list of what you simply shouldn't miss:


Thursday, April 30
Lounge on the Adirondack II for its Classic Day Sail from 1:30 to 3:30. Afterward, take an afternoon nap, because our recommended concert is a late one!

Why we're excited: The concert at the San Carlos Institute starts at 8 p.m. with Dennis Morgan, who has written music for Rod Stewart, Aretha Franklin and George Michael. The last performers, on at 10:15 p.m., are Scotty Emerick and Paul Overstreet. Overstreet has written music for Kenny Chesney and Randy Travis, including his hit "Forever and Ever Amen!" Tickets are on sale to see this show at the SongWriter's Festival.

Friday, May 1
After a Champagne Sunset Sail, head to Green Parrot to see James Dean Hicks at 10 p.m.

Why we're excited: Hicks has written for country star Kenny Chesney and pop star Jessica Simpson!

Saturday, May 2
End a Mimosa Morning Sail with an intimate show featuring Anna Owens at Southernmost on the Beach – Poolside at 2 p.m.

Why we're excited: Anna Owens is a star on the rise, and she has the best-looking music myspace website we've ever seen!

Sunday, May 3
Kim Tribble is slated to play the Southernmost Beach Cafe - In the Round at noon, just before our Classic Day Sail.

Why we're excited: Tribble has written for Martina McBride and Gary Allen!

A complete schedule for the 2009 Key West Songwriters' Festival can be found on their website.

We hope to see you there!

Join Us on the Adirondack II for Your Corporate Event!

You don't have to be a boating enthusiast or a seasoned sailor to enjoy a trip on the Adirondack II. In fact, some of our best reviews come from people who joined us unexpectedly - for a birthday or work event!

"We chartered the Schooner Adirondack for a 2 hour corporate group sailing event for the 2nd year in a row. We had a fantastic time. The crew was friendly and helpful. The views were amazing. Thank you!"
-A corporate charter review of the Adirondack II in Key West


Taking out the schooner for a private charter is the perfect way to thank your staff for their hard work without all the fuss of dressing up for a fancy dinner and renting a banquet hall. When you charter the Adirondack II, we cater to specifically to your needs and are happy to serve dinner and drinks on the sail!

A ride on the schooner is both exciting and relaxing, and offers the perfect, elegant but low-key experience that so many businesses look for in a corporate event. Some of our previous charters include:

-Conde Nast
-Deloitte & Touche
-Dolce & Gabana
-Google
-HBO
-Martha Stewart
-Pepsi
-Vogue Magazine
...and more!

To learn more about private charters on the Adirondack II in Key West, call 305-890-6485 or e-mail privatecharters@sail-keywest.com.

Get Ready for Taste of Key West!

Don't miss the Taste of Key West! Monday, April 20th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Key West's 50 most popular restaurants will set up at the Truman Waterfront Pier to win over your taste buds. And to wash it all down, experts from more than 100 vineyards and wineries will be there to promote their favorite wines, all for $1 a glass!

Many of the wines at this year's Taste are organic, and their vineyards pride themselves on sustainable growing practices. King Estate in Oregon is one organic wine vineyard specializing in Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris that will have a booth at The Taste of Key West. The diverse food menu includes Italian, seafood (of course!), key lime treats, French and much more!

Admission to the 14th annual event is free, and food tickets are $1 plus just $3-$8 for a "taste," depending on the restaurant. All proceeds go to benefit AIDS Help, Inc.

The Taste offers a unique chance to sample many cuisines in one night, but true foodies also won't want miss the Vintners’ Dinner on Sunday April 19 at the Casa Marina Ballroom. Seven of the Island’s top chefs prepare a seven course meal at the Casa Marina, and each table has a Vitner to pair wines with each dish and teach guests about each wine. The cost is $150 per person and a place can be reserved by calling (305) 296-6196.

Volunteers will begin selling food tickets at the Truman Waterfront at 5 p.m., but the gates to the Taste don't open until 6 p.m. Old Town Trolley Tours have volunteered free shuttle services starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Pier House, with stops at the Westin Key West Resort, the La Concha, the corner of Simonton and South Streets and the Casa Marina. The last return leaves Truman Waterfront Park at 9:00 p.m.

To buy advance food tickets, call AIDS Help at (305) 269-6196 and get $26 worth of tickets for $25 before The Taste of Key West is the perfect way to start your week!

Plan a Key West Wedding!

We at Classic Harbor Line in Key West know how to do weddings. In fact, our schooner Adirondack II has hosted many intimate and special occasions and our crew reviews show we've mastered the art of making each and every charter sail a unique, memorable experience!



A sail on the Adirondack II will set the stage for a perfect, small spring ceremony. The boat can accomodate up to 60 guests, and while we recommend a romantic sunset sail, you can schedule your ceremony any time of day. Our crew will help tailor the classic schooner to your tastes by working with florists and planners of your choice. Luckily, Key West has a thriving wedding industry and you'll have lots of great services to choose from. Here are a few we recommend:

Videographer: Hold that pose! Abracadabra was voted best wedding photographers and videographers in 2007!
Places to Stay: For a small group, the gorgeous Southernmost House has beautiful grounds and gardens and offers a romantic and relaxed atmosphere. For a more traditional (but still elegant) hotel experience, we love Casa Marina Resort.

Florist: Love in Bloom specializes in weddings!
Hair and Makeup: Described in reviews as "amazing," "gorgeous" and a "dream bridal look come true," Studio Marie Pierre has proven its success for wedding hair and makeup!

If you are interested in planning a large Key West wedding, consider having your bachelor or bachelorette party on a Adirondack II night sail, or a pre-wedding party the afternoon before your big day!

Key West Fishing Tournament Starts March 13

Each year, Key Wests hosts one of the longest competitions we've ever heard of: a seven month-long fishing contest that kicks off March 13-15.

The long-term goal of the contest, which ends November 30, 2009, is for anglers to catch more than forty, yes forty, species of fish. For the kickoff weekend, however, prizes go to the angler who catches the heaviest fish. Fisherman come from all over the U.S. to participate in the kickoff, but in 2008, the biggest catch went to a Key West native - it was a 336 pound Hammerhead shark!

The tournament was founded in 1965 and now has more than 2,000 participants, and is open to adults, teens and kids. This year, $5,000 in cash prizes, fishing packages and trophies will be awarded to the anglers who catch the biggest of 15 different species of fish.

The awards dinner for the kickoff weekend is March 15 at 7 p.m., and is open to participants as well as anyone interested in learning more about Key West fish species and the sport. There is a $25 fee for dinner, and the celebrations include raffle prizes and details of the results. Sign up now to attend the fishing tournament dinner, or register you or your family for the contest!