Gail Boucher co-owner/artist at Atlantis Charter Art Cruises. By, Felicity Long
What she does: Boucher, or “Captain Gail,” as she’s known, leads art cruises on the Merrimack River aboard the Atlantis, a 37-foot motorboat.
A typical outing: Classes are unstructured and can be customized. “Sometimes an artist will bring a group of students, or a group will come without a formal teacher. We also get a lot of photographers.”
Best views: Artists especially love the views of Plum Island, the Old Coast Guard Station, and the lighthouse. “The boat’s tower offers wonderful views for photography, although passengers have to be physically able to climb it.”
Best part of the job: “I love talking to artists, but I’m also a fisherman, so the passengers are a nice mix. We have been doing this for 16 years, and we have a lot of repeaters. We don’t have to advertise very hard.”
The season: Cruises typically run from mid-May to mid-October. Because routes are affected by the weather, tide, and wind, a typical cruise involves anchoring off multiple scenic spots for quick studies. Trips are usually three to four hours, but longer excursions are available.
The crew: Boucher, her husband Norm, and their beagle, Winslow, named for the artist Winslow Homer, accompany passengers on every cruise.