Schooner LEWIS R. FRENCH

Maine Windjammer Schooner LEWIS R. FRENCH

Schooner ADVENTRESS

Schooner ADVENTURESS readies for the coming sailing season.

Maritime Heritage

Photograph 1899 of three masted schooners

( Library of Congress Photo )

Two New Schooners

Nine sailors from the barque Picton Castle going on a mission in the Grenada rain forrest to cut down, mill and drag out two 30 feet lumbers to be used as keels for two schooners. The keel laying is this Sunday in Lunenburg.

My Maine Windjammers Video

I will also be leading two PhotoCruises in June and August 2010 aboard the 95' schooner HERITAGE out of Rockland, Maine, if you would like to sail and photograph windjammer pleases email me at fredleblanc@comcast.net for more information.

The Great Gloucester Schooner Race

Schooners Spirit of Massachusetts, Ernestina and

Pride of Baltimore II
Schooner Ernestina

In the Wake of Windjammers

This SlideShow will be the introduction for my new presentation on Maritime Photography.

AMERICAN EAGLE WINS

The oldest schooner in the fleet American Eagle built in 1930, the last original Gloucester fisherman still sailing Captained by John Foss won the 25th Annual Gloucester Schooner Race beating schooner Virginia by 26 sec. Followed by Pride of Baltimore II, Roseway and Alabama.

The favored to win Spirit of Bermuda, Hamilton, Bermuda collided with Perception, Vineyard Haven, MA. before the race and did not race.

Schooner A.J. Meerwald

Schooner A. J. MEERWALD

Schooner American Eagle

Schooner American Eagle entering Bucks Harbor, South Brooksville, Maine

Schooner Mary Day

Mary Day was built in 1962 by Harvey Gamage of south Bristol, Maine for Captain Havilah ( "Bubs" ) Hawkins. The Mary Day was the first vessel built specifically for the Maine windjammer passenger trade; also she is the only schooner with double topsail rig in the windjammer fleet. Today the Mary Day is owned and operated by Captains Barry and Jennifer King and is home ported in Camden, Maine. Length: 90' , Beam: 23' 6", Draft: 7' ( 15' centerboard down ), Displacement: 90 tons, Sail Area: 4500 sq. feet

Schooner Thomas W. Lawson

The Thomas W. Lawson was a seven-masted, steel-hulled schooner originally planned for the Pacific trade, but then used primarily to haul coal and oil along the East Coast of the United States. Built in 1902, the ship holds the distinction of being the largest schooner and the largest pure sailing ship (without an auxiliary engine) ever built. The Thomas W. Lawson was a seven masted steel schooner designed by Bowdoin B. Crowninshield and built by the Fore River Ship & Engine Building Co., Quincy, MA, she carried 25 sails in all, 7 gaffsails, 7 topsails, 6 staysails and 5 jibs, with a total area of 43.000 sq feet and with a weight of 18 tons. The sails were made by the sailmaking firm E.L. Rowe & Son of Gloucecester, MA. In 1907, the Thomas W. Lawson was lost on December 13th, off Britain’s Scilly Isles, while riding out a gale, the anchor chain broke and the schooner foundered on Hellweather Reef with the loss of 15 of the of the crew.

Schooner Lewis R. French

Lewis R. French was launched in April of 1871 at Christmas Cove, Maine. She is the oldest commercial schooner in the United States and is the last remaining of thousands built in Maine during the 19th century. She freighted cargos of bricks, lumber, firewood, granite, fish, lime, supplies and Christmas trees. In 1971 the Lewis R. French was totally rebuilt for the Maine windjammer passenger trade and has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Today Lewis R. French is owned and operated by Captain Garth Wells and Jenny Tobin, she is home ported in Camden, Maine. For the rest of the story CLICK HERE.

ADIRONDACK II

Catalog Number: 2032

Built in 1999 by Scarano Boat Building, Adirondack II is reminiscent of the classic turn of the century pilot schooner. Like the Pilot Schooners that worked the coast throughout the 19th century she is a wooden hulled traditionally rigged schooner and she is a working boat known for her elegant profile and surprising speed.

For the rest of the story CLICK HERE.

Clark Kent

#5000 Clark Kent, yawl boat from the Maine windjammer fleet schooner HERITAGE print size 11x16, matted 16x20 $ 75.00
Please Email me for purchase and shipping information.

Midnight Sail

Photo Painting of American Eagle

My latest photo painting of the schooner AMERICAN EAGLE

The AMERICAN EAGLE was launched in 1930, fished from Gloucester for fifty-three years. Today is part of the Maine windjammer fleet passenger trade, homeport: Rockland, ME. Captain John Foss.

The Maine Windjammer Fleet

Fair Winds

" Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth;

whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul. . .then,

I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can "

Moby Dick, Herman Melville