June 20, 1999- Hot Lines

Sailor's delight
Think of the Thomas E. Lannon as a time machine: Two hours at sea aboard this replica of a 1903 schooner takes you back 100 years. Throw in beverage service, nautical songs, and a captain and crew who know their seafaring history as well as their masts and mainstays, and you have the perfect Cape Ann Getaway. The 65-foot schooner, named for owner Tom Ellis's fisherman grandfather and built in Essex in 1997, is stunning even at dockside; underway, it's breathtaking. Two-hour sails are $25 for adults, $17 for children aged 2 to 16, and $22 for seniors; there are group rates for 30 or more people. Feature trips in July and August include half-day, lobsterbake, storytelling, and moonlight cruises. My family's favorite: music at sunset. - David Cohen

Schooner Thomas E. Lannon Seven Seas Wharf at the Gloucester House restaurant, Rogers Street (Route 127), Gloucester, 978-281-6634, www.schooner.org