140th Windjammer Birthday Party
America's Two Oldest Windjammers Announce Anniversary Tall Ship Match Race
Online, February 2, 2011 (Newswire.com) - America's two oldest active sailing vessels will celebrate 140 years of sailing with a series of events, featuring a schooner match-race, a reception and awards ceremony with past owners, captains and crew at Rockland waterfront hotspot The Pearl and public tours/daysails.
140th Windjammer Birthday Party featuring the 1871 Schooner Showdown
The main event is The 1871 Schooner Showdown. The Schooners Lewis R. French and the Stephen Taber - both built in 1871- will go head to head in a race from Maine's Camden harbor to the Rockland Breakwater lighthouse. The race will be followed by an awards ceremony and cocktail reception at The Pearl. The ships will be dockside for public tours, and on June 18th, both will be offering day sails.
Even though the French and the Taber are the nation's two oldest working sailing ships in service, this is not a gentle parade of delicate old-timers. According to Captain Garth Wells of the Lewis R French, "I won't downplay how seriously we race these schooners. This might be the only setting that encourages you to take a 140 year old National Landmark out and push it to the limit. I love my job - and I can't wait to beat the Taber!"
Friday June 17, 2011
12:00pm Windjammers start race from Camden Harbor (Lunch/refreshments served aboard)
3:00- 4:00pm Boats cross finish line at the Rockland Breakwater
4:00-6:00pm Reception, awards ceremony and boat tours at the Pearl restaurant in Rockland
Saturday June 18, 2011
10:00- 12:00pm Daysail on both boats
1:00-3:00pm Open house
These Windjammers were originally built to haul cargo, but now serve as one of the top travel destinations in the state of Maine. Guests are given the rare opportunity to enjoy an authentic sailing adventure with the magnificent coastline and islands of Maine as their backdrop. Cargoes of these National Historic Landmarks may have changed over time, but these schooners continue to earn their keep.
The Schooners Lewis R French and Stephen Taber operate 3, 4 and 6 day trips off the coast of Maine. They carry 21-22 passengers overnight. Both were built in 1871, are National Historic Landmarks and members of the Maine Windjammer Association.
For more information about this event, please visit our website www.windjammerbirthdays.com.
To RSVP to the race, reception or day sail email us: info@windjammerbirthdays.com