Meet Captain Susan E. Smithsword and Captain Dean Collins

& “Arioso” Pacific Seacraft 34’

Captain Susan E. Smithsword

Susan has been an avid sailor since her early teens. She has taught classes, raced and led cruises with the International Sailing Center from 1995-2021. In 2022 and 2023 Susan and her husband Carl Sword Cruised the waters of the Maine Coast based out of Rockland Maine and Penobscott Bay and Blue Hill Bay area. Susan and crew are delighted to return home once again to Lake Champlain which Susan says are truely some of the best cruising grounds on the planet. Susan has shared her passion for the sport with hundreds of people. She was raised on Lake Champlain and Lake George and has sailed a variety of vessels along the east coast from Maine to Florida as well as Alaska, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Bahamas, and Virgin islands and Thailand. Susan was a Montessori School director for over thirty years, raised two children, and farmed salad. She lives in Bristol Vermont with her first mate, Carl Sword and their Balinese cats Etta and Ellie. Susan also does sail and canvas repairs as a small enterprise and enjoys contra dance, pottery and watercolor painting. She enjoys telling stories and entertaining her guests when under sail. TRY A Spring BRUNCH CRUISE WITH Susan's baked goods.

Susan’s crew may include Carl Sword or Captain Dean Collins. Arioso’s team strives to make all of our guests feel safe and comfortable during cruises. We are there to help your group have the most enjoyable time possible!

Let’s Play in the beauty of nature!

Experience a truly lovely, safe classic 34 foot Pacific Seacraft Cutter (sloop) double ender canoe stern vessel. Arioso was  designed by renowned designer Bill Crealock built in California in 1987. She has a solid lead full cutaway  keel drawing 4.11 with  an Italian Feathering three blade prop and weighing 13,000 lbs. She's built for ocean crossings and lived most of her life in Ilesboro Maine until Susan and friends sailed her down the coast through the Cape Cod canal ,L.I. Sound and up the Hudson river home to Lake Champlain.. Arioso has solid varnished teak toe rails, teak Companion way, teak interior, All Bronze hardware, Arioso has a new Doyle Genoa and a main sail made in at Bondell sail loft in Rockport Maine fully reefable, featuring a Sunbrella dodger and Bimini overhead  enclosure over the cockpit. She has a 35 H Yanmar Diesel engine with a full galley, gas BQ. ,water cooler refrigeration and hot water service carrying 75 gallons of fresh water. Instruments include a depth sounder, speed indicator (top speed 7.5 K), New in 2022 Raymarine Electronic charts, wind indicator, New 2022 radar, Maxwell electric windlass with 250 feet of chain and a Rochna anchor, VHF radio, Music radio and CD player and four comfortable bunks with comfortable cushions for relaxing anywhere. Come aboard for two hours or all day! Experience freedom and the total relaxation of being out on beautiful Lake Champlain with a U.S.C.G. licensed experienced civilian captain ~masterful hosts. Just think, 119 miles of islands and views of the greens and Adirondacks await you in whatever time frame you have to experience the magic of Arioso .

Captain Dean Collins holds a U.S.C.G. Master Captain’s credential. Dean has crewed and captained various tour boats on Lake Champlain since 2010. Dean’s dad introduced him to sailing at age twelve and since then he has also sailed the New England Coast, Lake Michigan and Lake George. We are delighted to welcome him to Arioso’s crew this season on Lake Champlain at Pointbay Marina in Charlotte Vt. Dean is outgoing and friendly and enjoys sharing his love of sailing with others. He resides on Grand Isle Vt. summers, enjoying cycling the Champlain Islands where you may just meet him again captaining The Mallett’s Bay Cut bike ferry. Dean resides in New Hampshire during the ski season.

Ship’s photographer Val Zarro

First Mate Carl Sword

Ship’s Cat ~ Mary Etta Sue A.K.A. “Etta”