#25 The Camden Windjammer Festival

In our travels this summer, we have seen some interesting and ingenious community efforts to enrich the lives of their citizens, and at the same time attract tourists. In Catskill, NY (Post #3) statues of cats adorn the main street. This fund raising effort provides a nice zing for the downtown.

In the village of Phoenix, NY (Post #7) a legion of kids known as The Bridge House Brats caters to boaters who tie up at the first lock on the Oswego Canal. This very successful program provides summer activities and teaches responsibilities.

In our home waters of Penobscot Bay, the town of Camden, Maine holds the annual Windjammer Festival over Labor Day weekend. Since this harbor is home to several windjammers, and the Maine coast is a mecca for these mighty ships, the event is a highlight of the summer for locals and visitors.

Schooner Mary Day

What exactly is a windjammer?

Why are they called schooners?

Are the terms interchangeable?

The Victory Chimes. A National Historic Landmark

“Windjammer” is a generic term for large fast sailing ships that were used in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to carry cargo to major world ports. Many were built in towns along the New England coast. They had three to five masts and square sails. The name “jammer” comes from the Dutch term “jammeren”, used to describe the wailing sound of winds in the rigging. 

 

Schooner Heritage

“Schooner” is a technical term for a specific sailboat design. This type of boat has fore and aft sails on two or more masts, and the forward mast is never taller than those in the rear. Most interesting is the legend of the origin of the name “schooner.” There is a Scottish word “scon” which means to skip along the surface. Legend has it that when the first schooner was launched in Gloucester, MA, an observer remarked that “she scoons.” Apparently, it stuck.

The Festival kicked off on Friday afternoon with their arrival of the windjammers into Camden Harbor. This is the Nathaniel Bowditch, built in 1922 as a private racing yacht. During World War II, she was used by the Coast Guard to patrol the east coast.

 

Many of these boats have no inboard engines, and were eased into the harbor and docked carefully by a yawlboat. Grace Bailey is touted by her owners as “the finest example of a 19th-century coaster afloat today,” and is listed as a National Landmark. After decades of hauling cargo, including granite from local quarries for constructing Grand Central Station, the boat was carefully modified to accommodate guests without sacrificing the historic integrity.

The Lewis R. French

Since many of these ships were finishing up weekly charter cruises, passengers got a bonus by participating in this rendezvous. Part of the experience is helping with docking procedures. This boat is also a National Historic Landmark, the last of the thousands of schooners built in Maine in the 19^th century.

The parade was commentated by Captain Jim Sharp, author and captain of windjammers, tugboats, and freights on the Maine coast. His latest book, “With Reckless Abandon” recounts his adventures.

The arrival of these magnificent boats lasted several hours. We highly recommend this event. Windjammer cruising is a one-of-a kind vacation. Many find the experience life-changing. 

Meanwhile, over at the dock, the waterfront parking lot was cleared to make way for a variety of interesting demonstrations and activities.

Even though it's off-season, it's okay for Camden to tout the world tobogganing championships held annually at the nearby Camden Snowbowl. 400 teams of 1300 racers compete on a specially built wooden toboggan chute.

Along with the Schooner Open House, event organizers assembled an amazing array of activities. Artists participated in a "plein air" competition.

Pirates roamed the waterfront. Kids built boats. There were concerts, auctions, a talent show, pancake breakfast, chowder challenge, lobster hauling demo, boat parade, and even a schooner wedding.

Even the ubiquitous hot dog stand offered not-your-usual fare. Allan liked the shrimp taco with Asian slaw.

Race veteran Havana Lyman demonstrates proper technique.

One of the highlights for the kids was The Lobster Crate Race. Every region of the country has its own flavor. In Wyoming, it's rodeo. In Maine, it's lobster crates, which, when filled with seaweed can be as unpredictable as a bucking bronco. The wooden crates are lashed together and barely touch the water's surface. The rules are simple: run back and forth across the line of 24 crates as many times as you can in two minutes. Total score: number of crates completed.

Sound easy? Look easy? It's not.

Harbormaster Steve Pixley provided a colorful commentary as dozens of kids took the challenge.

The trick is to place your feet in the middle of each crate and not to stop. Justa keepa go! But even for these pre-teens, the thigh muscles start to scream after a few crossings.

 And once you falter, there's no recovering.

 The winning score was 269 crates.

Everyone loves fireworks and they're even better on the water. We moved Sally W into the outer harbor for an almost front row seat. 

Thank you Camden. Great job.