The images below were taken in Great Cove yesterday afternoon and at dawn this morning. We’re covering the 31st annual WoodenBoat Windjammer Sail-In that started yesterday and ended today.
Most of the images were taken from a chase boat used by the students in the WoodenBoat School’s excellent Marine Photography course, taught by Jon Strout and Jane Peterson. Thank you Jon, Jane, Rich Hilsinger, Greg Bauer, and WBS for allowing me to tag along with the talented students.
Historically, the first windjammer into the Cove is the Queen of the Maine Fleet, Victory Chimes, shown to the left. She was launched in 1900.
Here’s Mary Day (1962) and Stephen Taber (1871) making the turn into Great Cove:
Angelique (1980) is known for her red (tanbark) sails and high fantail:
The Lewis R. French (1871) is tied for oldest schooner in the fleet:
American Eagle (1930) was a depression era vessel:
The Heritage (1983), on the other hand, was built relatively recently:
Most of the windjammers don’t hook up to a mooring; they drop very heavy anchors with quite a splash.
Passengers on these boats are encouraged to participate in basic crew work.
After the windjammers are moored, their passengers and crews come ashore for mussels and music, the former being steamed onsite and the latter being performed by the often steamy Flash in the Pans.
Windjammers are beautiful under full sail, but there’s something special about seeing them in their element at sunrise, without sails.
By about 7 a.m. today, the sun was up fairly high and Great Cove had started to awaken.
For larger versions of the above images, as well as many additional images of the Sail-In, click on the link below. (We recommend that your initial viewing be in full-screen mode, which can be achieved by clicking on the Slideshow [>] icon above the featured image in the gallery to which the link will take you.) Here’s the link for more: