Guest post alert! I recently hosted an event aboard the Schooner, Stephen Taber, off the coast of Maine. It was a trip I’ll always remember. In a twist, I’m going to let Matt Beckman share his experience with you. He sums up the trip with pictures and panache!

Experience on the Stephen Taber
I would like to thank Michael for giving me the opportunity to share my experience and photos from the trip. My wife and I can’t travel enough; we are always planning the next trip or keeping an eye out for a new destination to add to our list. When we learned about the Stephen Taber from a friend who had been and did some research, it immediately went to the top of our list. The Stephen Taber did not disappoint!

As a fine art photographer, I was particularly excited for the cruise. Obviously, Maine is quite different from New Mexico and the American Southwest. Maine offers the chance to explore new surroundings through the lens. I love capturing human interaction in addition to landscapes, and Captain Noah and his crew provided a wonderful atmosphere and many candid moments!

The crew moved like a well-oiled machine; at one moment they were hauling the main sail, the next swinging the jib around and then moving on to scrubbing the decks. They worked efficiently while making sure not to knock any of their admirers, or photographers, into the water! Chef Amy’s delectable creations blew my expectations away! Not only was I never hungry, I was filled with mouth watering meals suitable for royalty.

Paired with the exceptional culinary creations, we were honored to have one of the world’s foremost experts in wine, Michael Green. Michael led us through daily informative and hilarious wine tastings, an experience we will always remember.

A sense of community and friendship highlighted each evening after dropping anchor. Michael would start the group off with his exciting presentation of exquisite wines paired with Chef Amy’s amuse bouche platters. An evening swim created a palate cleansing break before dinner and finally lively conversation, more wine, and stargazing before bed. My four days on the Stephen Taber was the perfect mix of unique adventure and refined relaxation that a cruise should be.

The Schooner Steven Taber, built 1871 and a national historic landmark. She is the oldest continuously sailing vessel in the United States.

Our first meal on the Taber set the culinary tone for the rest of the trip. Homemade blueberry pancakes, fresh local sausage and local fruit.

Michael shared that acidic foods like lemons will highlight the sweet notes in a wine. Similarly, cheese could sooth the tannic taste in red wine!

Each tasting began with a cheerful sparking wine or champagne, served in real stemware!

A hysterical lesson on wine glass holding technique!

The seven s’s to wine tasting…

Chef Amy pulled flavor from all over the world in a myriad of tasty dishes

The sun setting over the Maine harbor was a beautiful backdrop for the evening wine tastings

Captain Noah and Steve, Michael’s father, listening to the teachings of Michael Green

Everyone got along like long lost friends on the Stephen Taber. A wonderful atmosphere set by Captain Noah, a man who lives his passion everyday

On the deck of the magnificent Stephen Taber Schooner. The weather could not have been better!

Preparing for the lobster bake and wine tasting on Babson Island

Ready for the wine tasting on Babson Island, with the Wooden Boat School in the background across the harbor

During his presentation, Michael answered many questions. The most common question…“I don’t like red/white wines, what should I do?”Michael’s response was always “Let’s find the right wine for you!”

“You always make sure that when you take a picture of the wine guy, that his glass is not empty!” ~ Michael Green

The great Stephen Taber and the great Michael Green!

Biography
Matt Beckmann is a fine art photographer based in Albuquerque, NM. Matt’s photography expresses his photo-journalistic approach and focus on the story each photograph tells. He considers each image a process from visualization through presentation. Matt’s process presents a sense of life to the subject. When he is not looking through his viewfinder, Matt works as a mechanical engineer, travels with his wife and pretends to play hockey.

www.mattbeckmann.com
www.facebook.com/beckmannimages/