Wanderbird: A Sturdy North Sea Trawler Turned Expedition Yacht

Photos by Onne van der Wal

Salty, seaworthy and built to last, Wanderbird is a 90-foot former North Sea fishing trawler refitted as an intimate expedition yacht. Captains Rick and Karen Miles outfitted the vessel for comfortable, adventurous passagemaking, combining classic wooden interiors with modern voyaging capability. Based in Nova Scotia, Wanderbird ranges widely—from the turquoise waters of the Spanish Caribbean to the rugged coasts of Maine and into the icy North Atlantic that surrounds Canada’s maritime provinces and Greenland.

Design and History

Originally built for commercial fishing and serving the Dutch company Jaczon B.V., Wanderbird spent 27 years working the North Sea before her retirement in 1990. Steel-hulled with high bulwarks and a robust construction, she is designed to handle challenging seas. Rick and Karen chose this Dutch-built trawler for her inherent toughness and then adapted her for passenger cruising. A 510-horsepower diesel engine provides strong, reliable power; a rust-colored auxiliary ketch sail rig supports the engine in motorsail mode, smoothing the ride and helping to conserve fuel. With a fuel capacity and provisioning that give her a range of roughly 6,000 nautical miles, Wanderbird is equipped for extended passages and remote destinations.

Accommodation and Interior

Karen, trained in art and commercial design, led the sensitive redesign of Wanderbird’s interior, blending classic nautical woodwork with comfortable modern touches. Below deck, six double cabins provide cozy, well-finished sleeping spaces, outfitted with quilts, rugs and locally crafted accents. The below-deck saloon is arranged in the spirit of a 19th-century pilot schooner—an intimate communal space for conversation, reading and relaxation. On deck, the coach house is lined with windows, varnished wood panels and bookshelves, creating a warm, shipshape atmosphere that lends itself to storytelling, music and quiet evenings around a shipmate stove.

Onboard Life and Activities

Wanderbird’s small-group setting—carrying up to 12 guests—focuses on immersive, exploratory travel. Itineraries vary with season and destination, offering wildlife encounters, cultural visits and active shore excursions. Passengers may spot whales or polar bears, visit Inuit villages in the North, or encounter leatherback turtles and coral reefs in tropical waters. Days aboard are flexible: guests read, nap and relax, or they can choose to snorkel, kayak, hike Arctic tundra or tropical beaches, bird-watch from small craft, and visit coastal communities. For those who want hands-on experience, the crew can offer navigation lessons in the pilothouse, opportunities to record whale song, or organized stays ashore, such as spending time with a local Inuit family.

Cuisine

Meals aboard Wanderbird are an integral part of the experience. Daily baking supplies fresh breads and pastries, and main courses range from rolled, stuffed pork loin to seasonal preparations like pasta shells filled with maple-roasted squash and sautéed in garlic. The onboard cuisine reflects regional ingredients and the vessel’s itineraries, served in a convivial atmosphere that complements evenings of storytelling and music.

Owners and Seamanship

Before purchasing Wanderbird, Rick and Karen operated the 96-foot pilot schooner Timberland off Maine for 15 years, a background that helped shape their approach to small-ship cruising. Their seamanship and experience with traditional vessels inform the way Wanderbird is run: careful, hands-on, and attuned to both guest comfort and safety in remote environments.

For more information on itineraries, seasons and the Wanderbird experience, visit the vessel’s website at www.wanderbirdcruises.com

This article originally appeared in the Places section of the December 2011 issue.