2nd Annual Working On The Water Gathering March 24th

2nd Annual Working On The Water Gathering March 24th
Editor: David Mills

Rockland, ME - This past weekend the Rockland Sail, Power and Steam Museum held their 2nd annual Working on the Water gathering, Saturday March 24th.Working on the Water is a gathering of mariners sharing their experiences through song, stories and poetry.

This wonderful gathering was a success as a lot of people showed up to hear singing, stories and poetry. Among those that gathered, there was a great line up.

Ken Barnes holds a master mariner license and has spent time at the helm of many vessels of various types and sizes, including most recently the passenger of the Schooner Stephan Taber. For 25 years he and his wife Capt. Ellen Barnes entertained passengers with stories, songs and bagpipe serenades. They are currently the owner of a B&B in Rockland.

Robert "B.G." Bernstein is a former executive fundraiser turned  professional boat captain with over 30 years experience on the water. His technical marine articles, columns, short stories and features have appeared in magazines and books since 1987. Bernstein novellas are available for Kindles through Amazon and his upcoming novel will be released in 2012.

Jim Sharp

Cate Cronin began her mariner experience as crew aboard Maine passenger schooners and later worked as captain aboard the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. She served as executive director of local organizations Maine Island Trail Association and Atlantic Challenge and developed maritime-related educational programs for the Clearwater, Schooner Bowdoin and for elementary schools.

Sarah Woolf-Wade is a sailor/poet who spent many years as mate on Spray, a ketch-rigged reproduction of Joshua Slocum's original sloop, sailing day-trippers around the islands of Boston Harbor. Her poems have been published in books and several anthologies, literary journals and local newspapers.

Nat Hussey is originally from Bowdoinham, Maine and for the last 6 years has made his home on Matinicus Island. Nat has worked in lobstering business, the one-room school and serves as the island's tax collector. His saltwater rock, folk and blues songs are drawn from the unique character and characters of the Maine coast and islands. He has recorded seven albums and produced several music videos, all of which are available through his website www.nathussey.com.

The last person that was at the gathering as special guest was Muriel Curtis. Muriel Curtis has enjoyed ten years of sailing, fishing and singing with friends and vessels on both sides of the Atlantic. Now, as the director of Station Maine (an organization of community members dedicated to offering boating opportunities at no cost to youth of all ages in the Mid-Coast Maine area), her love of kids, the sea and music all come together on the coast of Maine.

Nat Hussey

This great event at the Rockland Sail, Power and Steam Museum was fun to hear songs, stories and poems centered around the sea. Jim Sharp spoke at the beginning to talk about upcoming events that people should know about. We will highlight those events in a later post.

A special thanks goes to Capt. Jim and Meg Sharp, volunteers Lou Grant, Emily Lusher and the Sail, Power and Steam Museum for hosting this event. Jim Loney and Kat Logan for donating and managing the sound equipment.

Did you know that Frank Swift had 13 original Camden vessels for example Mable (built in 1935), Mattie (Grace Bailey), Mercantile, Indra and Lazy Bones, just to name a few?

Muriel Curtis

Muriel Curtis

Sarah Woolf-Wade