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Penobscot Bay - Fourteen Schooners sets sail in 39th Annual Great Schooner Race held on Friday, July 3rd, 2015 from Islesboro's Gilkey Harbor to Rockland's harbor under perfect sailing conditions.
Taking part in this years race were Bowdoin built 1921, Heron built 2003, Heritage built 1983, Heritage built 1962, Olad built 1927, American Eagle built 1930, Victory Chimes built 1900, J&E Riggin built 1927, Stephen Taber built 1871, Mary Day built 1962, Angelique built 1980, Mercentile built 1916, Grace Bailey built 1882 and Lewis R. French built 1871. Lewis R. French, the oldest sailing schooner in America and Stephen Taber, the oldest continuously sailing schooner, were both launched in 1871.
Four classes makes up the race, Flying Jib (under 50 feet), Coaster (pre-World War I vessels), Leeward (post-World War I vessels) and Windward (largest vessels). Schooners for each class is determined by size and design.
"The history of racing these magnificent wooden coasting schooners started over a century ago with sailors trying to beat their competitors to market. The first boat back to port always got the best price for their cargo—perhaps fish, lumber, granite or even Christmas trees. The "Race" was always unspoken, but ever present.
Needless to say, sailors have always been independent types. Contributing to the Great Schooner Race’s quirkiness, it is one of the only sailing events in the world that requires no prior sailing experience on the part of the participants!"
"Every summer since 1977, the Maine Windjammer Association has hosted the Great Schooner Race, providing an opportunity for captains, crews and passengers aboard traditional vessels from all over the Eastern Seaboard to rendezvous for a fun day of racing.
Hailed as "the largest annual gathering of traditional schooners in America,"
Maine Windjammer Association
CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS!
Winners from the 2015 Great Schooner Race included:
| Cutty Sark Award: | First Overall: | Stephen Taber |
| Flying Jib Class: | First Place: | Heritage |
| Flying Jib Class: | Second Place: | Olad |
| Coasters Class: | First Place: | Victory Chimes |
| Coasters Class: | Second Place: | Stephen Taber |
| Coasters Class: | Third Place: | Lewis R. French |
| Leeward Class: | First Place: | Angelique |
| Leeward Class: | Second Place: | Heritage |
| Leeward Class: | Third Place: | J. & E. Riggin |
| Windward Class: | First Place: | Heron |
| Windward Class: | Second Place: | Mary Day |
| Windward Class: | Third Place: | American Eagle |
| 3-Masters Class: | First Place: | Victory Chimes |
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