A SALTY BUNCH ~ THE SCHOONER CAPTAINS
Just kidding, you couldn’t meet a nicer bunch of gentlemen! Best wishes to all for a great race.
The Captain’s meeting, Sunday morning, Schooner Festival 2016
Tag Archives: Schooner Race
Tracking the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race (GCBSR)
The GCBSR starts Thursday October 15th at 1330. Each boat carries a transponder and can be tracked via the website link below. The race course is 127 miles straight down the Chesapeake from Annapolis to Thimble Shoal Light off Hampton Roads. Participating schooners that have raced in Gloucester include Adventure (MD). Adventurer 65, Apella, Liberty Clipper, Light Reign, Malabar II, Norfolk Rebel, Pride of Baltimore II, Summerwind and When and If. Here is the complete entry list. http://www.gcbsr.org/#!fleet-2015/chps
There is a legendary Awards Ceremony/Oyster and Pig Roast October 17th at the Portsmouth, VA Visitor Center (photo). Operatives from the Gloucester Schooner Festival Committee will be present.
http://www.baltimoremarinecenters.com/About-BMC/Schooner-Race-Tracking.aspx
Al Bezanson
Bring on the Rain – I Know Where I’m Going
I considered posting a gloomy photo of rain running down a window pane. That could be depressing and sappy, but it’s not my style. When rain and storms block in the way, don’t slow down, stay the course. Move forward to where you want to go. During a rainy Gloucester Schooner Race, Captain Steve Douglass looks ahead, consults his charts, and sees beyond the rain. I do not look at the rain dripping down the glass, but rather navigate as Captain Douglass does: Carry on toward your destination. I welcome the impending rain.
Gloucester Schooner Festival Labor Day Weekend- Info
Track the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race
The 127 mile Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race (GCBSR) starts October 17th. This year’s fleet includes several schooners familiar to us here in Gloucester ___ Adventurer 65, Hindu, Liberty Clipper, Light Reign, Norfolk Rebel, Pride of Baltimore II and Virginia. http://www.schoonerrace.org/fleet13.htm
Every boat will have a tracker to enable watching the race live. Keep your eye on the race website for a tracker link to be posted prior to the start. The Chesapeake can get pretty rough, and this has often been the case. To add interest you can get real time wind info as well as the forecast along the route from the NOAA site. I did this race in Green Dragon six times and am familiar with the bay and many of the boats, so it’s great sport watching on the internet. An all-nighter at the computer in a safe, dry, warm place with a little rum is not a terrible alternative to racing.
There is an all-day pig and oyster roast / awards ceremony at the Portsmouth, VA Visitor Center. I got these shots from the adjacent Marriott Hotel.
Al Bezanson
Riding with King Eider and the Schooners
King Eider Captain Steve Douglass brings us thru a rain squall to the Gloucester Schooner Race.
- Passengers getting wet.
- Captain Steve Douglas can position the Eider for the best schooner photos.
- Steven Douglass with first mate and wife Virginia. A totally good experience.
- The Gloucester Schooner Adventure, built in 1926, joins the race for the first time in 20 years. She placed 2nd.
Guard Dog of the Prize for the Schooner Race
Two bottles of Special Spirits are attached to buoys at the midway point of the race.
Track The Great Provincetown Schooner Regatta From Gloucester To Provincetown Right Now Live!
Al Bezanson forwarded the link to me this morning.
Click on the interactive map below to follow them throughout the day!
View: Fleet Course The Great Provincetown Schooner Regatta
Boat Name
Adventurer
Ardelle
Estrela
Perception
ROSEWAY
Thomas E Lannon
Click on each boat to see it’s information like this-
Community Blogging 2012 Schooner Festival
Well from the numbers I’m seeing around town and on the water I’d say that Al Bezanson and my monthlong push to make people aware of the Schooner Festival had a bit of an impact on those regular folks outside of the regular Schooner circles showing up.
Nice work Al!
Here are some photos from our FOB’s from the past couple of days-
The Bounty leaving Gloucester From Christopher Lewis
Joey:
You may like these two photos of HMS Bounty leaving Gloucester on Monday morning. They show how large this schooner is. In the first photo you can compare the Bounty to the "Tuscan House" on Rocky Neck. The second photo compares Bounty with a foreground of small boats and a background of the Boulevard – a truly remarkable sight.
Take care — Christopher
Gloucester Schooner Festival 2012 From Elinor Teele
Gloucester Schooner Festival 2012 Photos By Anthony Marks
Hi Joey
Had a great time on the Schooner American Eagle. We won the race for
the 8th time in the 23 years American Eagle as entered the race!
Heres some photos from the race for the blog.
Enjoy Anthony Marks
Yesterday’s race from Gail Guittarr
Parade of Pups?
Janet Rice submits-
Al and I Are Determined To Get You Down To Gloucester Maritime For The Gloucester Schooner Races This Year- August 31st to September 2nd
You Better Recognize!!!!
Mark your calendars, make your hotel ressies this is an awesome event. What you may not realize is there are a ton of opportunities to sail aboard these boats for the races, and even if you can’t sail aboard them just going down to visit is worth it to see these beautiful vessels.
You don’t have to be a schoonerhead or loud-ass sea shanty crazy to enjoy the majesty of these boats and the friendly crews aboard them.
Al writes-
Hi Joey…. This photo is from the 2011 Schooner Race, taken by Amy Beaudet aboard GREEN DRAGON. The race last year was a beam reach with six legs, which is to say we made five 180 degree turns. Thus we were treated repeatedly to breathtaking close up views of every schooner.
This is AMERICAN EAGLE, the last fishing schooner built in Gloucester (1930) with ALABAMA (1926) close astern. These schooners are not replicas. They have been kept alive by passionate owners and countless dedicated and talented people.
http://www.schooneramericaneagle.com/about/history.htm
http://www.theblackdogtallships.com/
Al Bezanson
Twenty-Eighth Annual
Gloucester Schooner Festival™
August 31 – September 2, 2012
The Festival is sponsored by the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
(subject to change)
Friday, August 31, 2012
All Day Arrival of Participating Vessels.
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Cape Ann Museum visiting hours.
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Essex Shipbuilding Museum visiting hours.
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Maritime Gloucester visiting hours.
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Mayor’s Reception for invited guests. Sponsored by the Schooner Adventure.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Maritime Gloucester Heritage Day Maritime Gloucester (formerly the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center), located at 23 Harbor Loop in downtown Gloucester, will host its annual Heritage Day celebration from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Center’s exhibits and aquarium will be open free of charge throughout the day. Free to all.
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Cape Ann Museum visiting hours.
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Essex Shipbuilding Museum visiting hours.
7:30 pm
Boat "Parade of Lights".
9:15 pm Fireworks Display over Gloucester Harbor. (following Parade of Lights, time approximate)
(The Gloucester Fireworks Committee is in need of more donations for the Labor Day weekend fireworks. Donations may be made to The Gloucester Fund, 45 Middle St., Gloucester, MA 01930. Please notate "fireworks" on your donation.)
Sunday, September 2, 2012
8:30 am
Skippers Meeting for all Schooners sailing in Mayor’s Race at Solomon Jacobs Park, immediately adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Harbor Loop.
11:00 am to1:30 pm
Shuttle Bus to Eastern Point Light, from Eastern Point Gate (Eastern Point Boulevard at Farrington Avenue) to watch the start of the Mayor’s Race. Free of Charge.
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Essex Shipbuilding Museum visiting hours.
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Maritime Gloucester visiting hours.
10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Parade of Sail as Schooners proceed from Inner Harbor, past the Fishermen’s Memorial on Stacy Boulevard, to the race starting area off Eastern Point.
10:30 am
Parade of Sail Breakfast at Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House. Come for the best view of the parade of sail. Coffee and light breakfast will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. $3 Historic New England members, $5 non-members. Reservations required. Call 978-283-0800.
1:00 pm
Start of Mayor’s Race for Esperanto Cup, Ned Cameron Trophy and Betty Ramsey Trophy off Eastern Point.
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Cape Ann Museum visiting hours.
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Reception and Awards Ceremony for contestants and invited guests.
Monday, September 3, 2012
"Rain Day" for recovery from postponements caused by inclement weather. ONLY IF REQUIRED.
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Maritime Gloucester visiting hours.
Gloucester Harbor Schooner Race The Lannon vs The Ardelle This Monday Night and You Can Be Part of The Race Crew!!!!
Kay Ellis writes-
Hi Joey,
We are a having an exciting sail on Monday night from 6-8 and were wondering if you could spread the word for us. I have attached a flier for the event.
The Lannon and the Ardelle have been sailing around the harbor together all summer. On Monday night we are raising the ante and having a race.
Mention that you heard about the race on GMG when you call and you and everyone with you will receive $5 off your ticket price.
The Schooner Race seen from the Pinkie Ardelle Photo From Mike Dyer
Parade of Sail
Schooner Race 2010
Liberty Clipper and Fame
People Photos from aboard the Gateway Endeavor
Captain Andy of The Schooner Virginia
Captain Andy, one of the coolest cats around.
Captain Andy of The Schooner Virginia, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Gloucester Perspectives- Captain Andy of The Schooner Virginia
Listen to Captain Andy as he speaks about Gloucester, the Schooner race and how he doesn’t abuse his status as Captain.
Click this text for a link to The Schooner Virginia Official Website
