Camden schooners win honors in race

STOCKTON SPRINGS – Its sails luffed by a soft wind from the west, the two-masted Mary Day was the first schooner over the finish line Tuesday in the 25th annual Great Schooner Race.

In an event that marks the beginning of the boating season in Maine and is a sought-after berth for those who sail aboard the fleet, the race turned out to be a clean sweep for Camden, which is home to the three schooners awarded first place.

The schooner Grace Bailey was first in the coaster class bracket. The Angelique was first in the leeward class. And the Mary Day, along with being the overall winner, led the windward class.

Coaster class schooners are the fleet’s oldest and were launched in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The leeward class schooners are modern craft. And the windward class, though older than leeward ships, were built for speed, as shown by the race that the Mary Day ran Tuesday.

The schooners dropped anchor off Fort Point State Park late Monday after enjoying “some of the best sailing I’ve ever had on one of these,” said Gov. Angus King, who participated in the event with his wife, Mary Herman. The winds gusted in the 30- to 40-knot range and those aboard were treated to a run up the coast in perfect sailing conditions.

Race day broke sunny but calm. Wisps of clouds filtered the sky and sea gulls shrieked overhead. From the 132-foot-long Victory Chimes out of Rockland to the Friendship sloop Surprise, crew members scurried about readying the ships for the race.

Passengers pitched in to lend a hand, including 80-year-old Mattie Moser of Hope, who has sailed aboard the 1882-vintage schooner Grace Bailey so many times that she has her own flag. The “Mattie is Aboard” flag was raised to the main mast and waved in the breeze with the multicolored pennants and flags.

All at once, the sun climbed higher and thousands of yards of sail unfurled in brilliant shades of white and ivory. Standing alone were the burnt sienna sails of the schooner Angelique.

Crowds of onlookers lined the shore and pressed against the wharf at Fort Point State Park to watch as the fleet started jockeying for position in anticipation of the start of the race.

Suddenly, a cannon sounded and the boat captains ran down the dock, leaped into their dories and raced with oar-power back to their vessels. Once aboard, the captains ordered the anchors hoisted, turned their ships to the wind and set a course beyond Islesboro. The 20 schooners fanned out across the horizon, set sail for Turtle Head and disappeared behind the east shore of Islesboro. The course is about 25 miles long.

They headed toward North Haven, then sailed toward Eggemoggin Reach and crossed under the Deer Isle-Stonington Bridge. The finish line was near Brooklin in Jericho Bay.

Cheers wafted across the waves as the ships raced side by side past Fort Point Lighthouse and tacked toward the starting line off Sears Island. Pleasure craft with both sail and motor power circled the fleet, with spectators’ arms waving and camera shutters clicking.

Schooner racing is as old as the schooners themselves.

In the 19th century, captains of ships carrying fish and granite or lime and cordwood would race each other to port, trying to fetch top dollar for their goods. The captains were not only proud of their speeds, but relied on it to earn a decent living.

In 1977, windjammer captains started the Great Schooner Race. That year, only five coaster-class schooners entered the competition. This year, all types of traditional New England schooners took part from all over New England.

Many of the passengers who left Camden and Rockland on Monday aboard the ships were repeat passengers on their respective vessels.

Among them were Gov. King and his wife, who were marking their fifth year with the fleet. King and Herman spent the night aboard the Victory Chimes, and the governor proclaimed July as Maine Windjammer Month.

“Having all these boats in one place at one time is unique in the world,” King said Tuesday from the bridge of the Maine Maritime Academy tugboat Pentagoet, which set up position at the starting line. “In terms of my job, if this is work then bring it on.”

The Grace Bailey out of Camden was captained by Ray Williamson. Following the Bailey for second and third place in the coaster class were the Lewis R. French of Camden, captained by Dan Pease, and the Stephen Tabor of Rockland, captained by Ken and Ellen Barnes.

The Angelique is out of Camden and is captained by Mike McHenry. Following the Angelique for second and third place in the leeward class were the Heritage of Rockland, captained by Doug and Linda Lee and the J. & E. Riggin of Rockland, captained by Jon Finger and Anne Mahle.

The Mary Day is out of Camden and is captained by Barry King and Jen Martin. Following the Mary Day for second and third place in the windward class were the Wendameen of Rockland, captained by Neal Parker, and the Ellida of Rockland, captained by Paul Williamsen.