March 2025
The Post has new leadership, with Peter Driscoll and Charles Tarbell being replaced by Barney Baker assuming Post-Captain duties and Howard Coon assuming the Secretary role. We want to extend our thanks to Peter and Charles for years of service to the Post.
Gulf of Maine Post (GMP) activities this year have included many special events. We welcome those CCA members from away that attended and encourage all to participate in future events on our beautiful coastline.
The 2024 Downeast Cruise from Camden Maine to Saint Andrews, New Brunswick was a highlight. The cruise included ‘Maine’ gatherings at Lyman Morse, the Wooden Boat School, a sand bar in Merchants Row and on the lovely Great Beach at Roque Island. Sailing was at its best with many enjoying long spinnaker runs in the afternoon southwesterly’s from Penobscot Bay to Campobello. Onshore events hosted by GMP included tours of projects underway at Portland Yacht Services (May) and Rockport Marine (February). Prock Marine Company provided a lecture on the coastline damage attributed to the January 2024 storms (April). Members toured the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in Boothbay (October). The annual Damariscotta River Grill lecture in December, featured GMP member Peter Plumb’s trip to Greenland.
In February the GMP hosted a tour of Rockport Marine, one of Maine's premier boatyard builders that specialize in the maintenance, design and restoration of wood and composite yachts and work boats. Representatives from Mystic Seaport were on hand to answer questions regarding their ocean classroom schooner Brilliant that was undergoing a major refit below the waterline. Brilliant 61’-6” was designed by Sparkman & Stevens and built in 1932 by the Henry B Nevins Yard. We also had a chance to step aboard Project Ouzel (pictured below), the new 95-foot cold molded sloop that has been under construction for 2 years with a launch date this fall.
In March, the GMP and the Portland Yacht Club sponsored a fascinating lecture by Harold Youngren, (MIT Aerospace Professor/Consultant) on foiling technology and his experience working on the foil design for separate syndicates on the last four America's Cup campaigns. Despite (or perhaps because of ) the technical nature of the topic, the discussion was light and lively with lots of Q&A. Apparently these boats have trouble going more than 50 knots!
Complementary events in the final planning stages for early August target Penobscot Bay cruisers that can attend by boat and will also have connections for those coming by car.
- Fenders over the side (FOTS) in Burnt Coat Harbor, Swans Island during the Sweet Chariot Music Festival, August 5-7 https://www.sweetchariotmusicfestival.com/schedule.html.
- A day out hosted by staff from the Hurricane Island Center for Science & Leadership will include a tour of the Island facilities, hiking opportunities and a CCA reception.
Other GMP events in the planning stages include an Island Cleanup & Oysters in Casco Bay, a Potluck Dinner at the Post-Captain’s residence in October. The annual GMP luncheon in Damariscotta in December will feature Southern Ocean sailing by GMP member Max Fletcher.
Further details on these events and others will be posted on the CCA website.
