Meet Captain Barry King and Jen Martin of the Schooner Mary Day

June 16, 2025

When you set foot aboard the Schooner MARY DAY, you’re not just taking a cruise—you’re becoming a part of the MARY DAY family. The family is led by Captain Barry King and Jen Martin, whose dedication to traditional sailing, environmental education, and heartfelt hospitality has shaped every voyage since they took the helm.

“Become a part of our windjammer family so the next time you come aboard, you know your home,” they often say—and they mean it.

“Owning the Schooner MARY DAY has woven a deep connection among us—thirty years of shared adventures, navigating the Maine coast together, and welcoming returning guests who feel like family on every trip,” says Jen. “It’s more than sailing; it’s a lifelong journey of friendship, discovery, and memories crafted on the coastal waters of Maine.”

Barry, a Coast Guard licensed master, brings decades of offshore sailing experience, with voyages stretching from Newfoundland to the Caribbean. He’s also a Registered Maine Guide, Wilderness EMT, volunteer firefighter, and alpine ski coach—a true jack of all trades, with a passion for people and the natural world.

Jen’s maritime background includes sailing in Florida and the Bahamas and captaining the classic ocean racer Figaro IV along the Maine coast. Her love of small-boat restoration and eye for detail ensure every inch of MARY DAY is ship-shape—and welcoming.

Jen and Barry met through the Audubon Society’s Expedition Institute while earning their master’s degrees in experiential environmental education. Their work and studies took them from Labrador’s subarctic villages to the American Southwest, shaping their values of connection, stewardship, and lifelong learning.

Barry began sailing aboard MARY DAY in 1995 under her second owners, Chris and Steve Cobb. Jen and Barry officially purchased the schooner in 1998, launching a new chapter for both their family and their guests. As guardians of MARY DAY, they have welcomed thousands of guests from across the country and the world, sharing not just the beauty of the Maine coast, but the warmth of a windjammer family.

One of the most meaningful parts of their journey was raising their two children aboard.

“Raising our children, Sawyer and Courtney, onboard the Schooner MARY DAY was a truly transformative experience,” Jen reflects. “The sea became their classroom, teaching them resilience, curiosity, and a deep respect for nature and tradition… Today, both are involved in maritime industries, carrying forward the passion and skills they learned from their childhood on the schooner.”

When you sail aboard MARY DAY, you’re in the care of experienced professionals—and embraced by a family that has spent decades sailing these waters together. With Jen, Barry, and their crew at the helm, each cruise is more than a getaway—it’s an invitation to be part of something lasting, soulful, and entirely unique.