The Great Schooner Race 2012

The Great Schooner Race 2012

The MaineSail Journal
By Doug Mills

...The year is 1912. The harbor is filed with schooners of all sizes, from the tiny pinky schooner to the largest of the six masted coal schooner. Almost everything that moves on the coast of Maine is carried on a schooner. The lime trade in Rockland alone employs more than 200 schooners. The fishing trade also employs many schooners to bring home the cod, haddock and all the great harvest from the Grand Banks. Lumber, granite and marble are also carried by the schooners. Ice harvested from the frozen lakes during the long winters and kept in ice houses is sent to the southern states by schooner. The large 4, 5 and 6 masted schooners carry coal from the south to warm the cold New England winters and to fuel all the factories...

The fleet starts to arrive in Rockland.

...No wait! Stop daydreaming. This is 2012 and Rockland harbor is filled pleasure boats and a few lobster boats. Captain Kip Files moves the three masted schooner ,Victory Chimes, to a spot near the breakwater, in sight of the old lighthouse where my grandfather was keeper 100 years ago, and drops anchor. As I watch, one by one they come, like ghost ships from a long forgotten past they come to anchor all around us. By nightfall the whole fleet has arrived, historic ships with more than 1243 years of combined sailing history. There is no other fleet in the world that can match the history anchored in this corner of Rockland harbor! In fact there is no other fleet in the world like this one. They are a sight to behold with their sails reflecting the setting sun.

At anchor in Rockland Harbor.

Race day dawns warm and bright with very little breeze as the captains meet aboard the Victory Chimes to discus the race course and get final race instructions. Today's field of 20 plus ships with names like Heritage, American Eagle, Mercantile and Victory Chimes. Ships with long histories and stories to tell. By 10:30 AM the ships are a flurry of activity as anchors are raised and sails set. The sleepy harbor seems to came alive with all the ships moving toward the lighthouse for the start of the race and small boats filled with spectators weave in and out of the fleet looking a little like ants at an unattended picnic as the try to find just the right place to view the start of the race.

Racing toward Camden.

The race is delayed 15 minutes waiting for the wind to arrive and arrive it does. The smaller boats start at 11:15 followed at 11:30 by the rest of the field. We have got us a race! With the wind at our backs we head east toward Camden with the field strung out behind us. Small boats filled with families and press photographers race to follow the ships. Once again Penobscot Bay is filled with the sails of schooners. Our course leads us out toward the offshore islands and back again toward Camden. As we race toward the finish the rest of the field sail past on both sides of the ship. The conditions have become nearly perfect for racing with the wind filling the sails and pushing each of these magnificent ships to its best performance. We arrive at the finish line with the field of ships behind us. I dare say that today's race was a sight that has not been matched in many years. One by one the ships make their way into Camden harbor to celebrate the day. As the sun sets over the fleet of the Maine Windjammer Association the sounds of a steel band and happy voices fill the cool night air.

Congratulations to our winners:

Flying Jib Class: Appledore

Coaster Class: Grace Bailey

Leeward Class: Stephen Taber

Windward Class: American Eagle

The Cutty Sark Trophy for 1^st Overall: Victory Chimes

The race is only a memory now, but it is one that none will soon forget. Next year we will meet and do it again. If you are looking for an experience like no other you can plan to join us for next years race. For more information on the historic fleet of the Maine Windjammer Association or to book the adventure of a lifetime go to: http://sailmainecoast.com/

The sunsets on  The Great Schooner Race 2012.