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Meet Captain Susan E. SmithSword and First Mate Carl Sword

& “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 Carl 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.

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 .


Carl Sword is ship’s First mate and ace marine mechanic/electrician. Carl has been aboard since 2016 and learned to sail at the International Sailing School in Mallett’s Bay. Carl has sailed all over Lake Champlain and The British Virgin Islands and Maine Coast. Carl is an HVAC programmer for Control Technologies and can fix just about anything. Susan and Carl were married aboard The Spirit of Ethan Allen one Starry night July of 2021 in the company of ninety friends and family members. Susan and Carl reside in Bristol Vermont with two Balinese cats “Etta” and “Ellie”. Susan and Carl have four adult kids who live in Japan ,Boston, Ireland and California. Susan and Carl enjoy gardening and cycling in nature places.

First Mate Carl Sword

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