At the top of my husband Tom’s birthday wish list was a schooner ride aboard the Thomas Lannon. His birthday is still a week away so we had a pre-bday celebration last night. My kids and I treated and we met our friends Jade and Will, and their adorable kids, for the Schooner Challenge.
Although not much of challenge with super calm seas, it was a gorgeous night to be sailing around the harbor with family, friends and the wonderful Captain Heath Ellis and his topnotch crew. Former Lannon Captain Tom Ellis was aboard, making the sail even more perfect.
The night could not have been more magical and I think my husband is super pleased. What a way to start off the 37th Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival weekend and husband’s birthday week!!
Thursday, Sept 2
SCHOONER CHALLENGE – 6:00 to 7:30pm – Gloucester Harbor
Join our local Schooner Captains as they participate in a friendly competition putting their seamanship to the test over an “obstacle” course. Passengers will be given their own set of tasks to win the coveted Rum Bottle Award. Visiting schooners already arrived will join the event. The public is invited to purchase tickets aboard participating schooners. Check various schooner websites for ticketing details.
Friday, Sept 3
All Day – The SCHOONERS ARRIVE – Gloucester Harbor with shoreside viewing
Historic Gloucester Harbor sets the scene for the arrival of over 2 dozen schooners throughout the day and. Spend the day viewing these wonderful vessels filling our harbor. Details of schooner arrival times will be provided as possible via social media.
6:00 to 10:00pm – Gloucester Block Party – Main Street, Gloucester
Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and local businesses roll out the red carpet on Main Street for Gloucester Schooner Festival with a street party! Shopping, food, entertainment, and fun are on the agenda all evening.
Saturday, Sept 4
Maritime Heritage Day – 10:00am to 4:00pm – Maritime Gloucester, 23 Harbor Loop
The heart of land-based activities is Maritime Heritage Day! Maritime Gloucester opens its campus for a day of maritime heritage, live demonstrations, schooner sails, family fun, and food. Plan your day at Maritime Gloucester to be part of this historic year. See the full Maritime Heritage Day schedule
International Dory Committee Exhibition – 9:00 to 11:00am – Maritime Gloucester, 23 Harbor Loop –
*NEW THIS YEAR!*
We are excited to have the International Dory Race Committee be part of our 37th Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival in 2021. As we celebrate the 101st anniversary of the International Fisherman’s Race, we honor the heritage of the International Dory Races that coincided with the IFR since 1923. At 9:00am, the committee will run an exhibition race from Maritime Gloucester Pier toward the historic Tarr & Wonson Paint Factory and back. At 10:00am, visiting schooner crews will join for a second round of exhibition races. Solomon Jacobs Park will be a great viewing location.
Schooner Viewing and Deck Tours! – 10:00am to 4:00pm –
THREE Locations:
Maritime Gloucester, 23 Harbor Loop
Schooner Floats – I4C2 parking lot, 65 Rogers St
*NEW THIS YEAR!* Ocean Alliance – 32 Horton Street, Rocky Neck
Thanks to generous support from our sponsors, we are again able to provide a visitor-based dockside experience that puts the public on schooners for deck tours. Public viewing will take place at Maritime Gloucester’s pier and at I4C2. This is a free option for the public, but donations for Gloucester Schooner Festival are appreciated to support this experience.
Gertrude L. Thebaud Pennant Viewing – 10:00am to 4:00pm – Maritime Gloucester, 23 Harbor Loop
*NEW THIS YEAR ONLY!*
For the first time in over 50 years, the Gertrude L. Thebaud Pennant will be displayed live at Maritime Gloucester’s Gorton’s Seafoods Gallery. This 25ft by 11ft pennant was proudly flown on the Gertrude L. Thebaud and is a site to behold in pure scale. After a small amount of work, we are once more able to hang this priceless piece of history for a limited time for public viewing.
Schooner Tour by Water – SOLD OUT – Gloucester Harbor Tours, Solomon Jacobs Park
Gloucester Harbor Tours teams up with Gloucester Schooner Festival to provide a narrated tour of the Schooners at the dock and on their moorings. This water-based tour will give ticketed customers a chance to hear about local maritime history and view these vessels from a unique perspective. This is a fun way for groups to experience the Gloucester Schooner Festival.
6:30 to 10:30pm – Concert on Stacy Boulevard
Live music and light effects light up the night overlooking the harbor on Stacy Boulevard.
7:00 to 9:30pm – Boat Parade of Lights – Annisquam River and Inner Harbor
Open to all who wish to decorate their boat and enter, this is a fantastic visual display starting in the Annisquam River and ending in the Smith’s Cove area of the harbor
9:15 – FIREWORKS!
The night sky lights up with the annual fireworks display over Stage Fort Park. Get on a schooner charter, watch from your boat, or enjoy from nearly anywhere in the city, this spectacle is a great way to enjoy Schooner Festival.
Sunday, Sept 5
Parade of Sail – 10:00am to 12:00pm – Gloucester Harbor, Stacey Boulevard and Eastern Point viewing
The entire fleet of schooners joins together for a Parade of Sail not to be missed! Whether you get aboard a schooner or watch from the shore, this is a memorable experience for all. Prime viewing areas are Stacy Boulevard, Stage Fort Park, and Eastern Point. On the Boulevard, our Festival Chair Daisy Nell Collinson, Michael Costello, and Maritime Gloucester Historian Justin Demetri will provide live commentary. Schooners proceed from the Inner Harbor, past the Fisherman’s Memorial on Stacy Boulevard, to the race starting area off Eastern Point.
11:00 am to 1:30pm – Shuttle Bus to Eastern Point Light
Catch the CATA shuttle from Eastern Point Gate (Eastern Point Boulevard at Farrington Ave) to watch the start of the Mayor’s Race. Free of charge, courtesy of Cape Ann Transportation Authority
More Info
Mayor’s Cup Race – 1:00pm to 4:00pm – Massachusetts Bay off Gloucester
The Premier Event – The Mayor’s Races! This year’s schooners match up in small, medium, and large categories for a reach-reach competition viewing for the Esperanto Cup, The Ned Cameron Trophy, and The Betty Ramsey Award.
Monday, Sept 6 – Labor Day
Rain Date for Heritage Day or Race. Maritime Gloucester open from 10 to 4pm
Schooner Challenge aboard the Thomas Lannon with Redbird, Thomas Story, and Ardelle
Schooner Adventure, UU Church, Maritime Gloucester, and the FV Emily Teresa heading out under the beautiful full Snow Moon
Schooner Adventure
Essex-built Schooner Roseway moored at Gloucester Harbor this morning -such a beauty and always easy to spot with her distinctive rose-colored sails.
Read more about the Roseway and World ocean School here.
Six schooners sailed about Gloucester Harbor Sunday morning. Oh how we all missed this year’s Schooner Festival! But it was glorious to see these sailing beauties out in the harbor together at the same time. I was at Niles Beach Sunday morning and raced home to get my camera. The parade was coming to an end by the time I returned, but how lucky to catch a glimpse of Cape Ann Schooners Redbird, Thomas E. Lannon, and Ardelle lined up.
Friday the 13th full moon through the masts of the Schooner Liberty Clipper
A flock of birds flew by…
and then a butterfly flew by (not really, but doesn’t this bird look like it could be a butterfly?).
The beautiful Schooner Alert setting sail and departing Gloucester at first light.
About Schooner Alert
In 1992 Schooner ALERT was launched and christened TALL COTTON, a southern expression that means Finest Kind. She was designed and built by Paul Rollins in York, Maine. Built for a charter business the owner abandoned the idea, no charters we ever done, and the beautiful vessel was abandoned for at least 10 years.
She was purchased by Roger Woodman in 2006. Woodman changed her name to ALERT and started a new life for this fine boat fitting her out for commercial fishing and research. ALERT operated out of Portland, Maine until 2012.
In 2013 ALERT was sold to Captains Perry Davis and Bethany McNelly-Davis. They have been sailing out of Bailey Island, Maine hosting charters on the ketch TEVAKE since 2006. They converted the ALERT from a commercial fishing schooner to a commercial passenger carrying vessel. In September 2013 ALERT was awarded a certificate of inspection by the United States Coast Guard to carry 28 passengers.
Schooner ALERT Windjammer Cruises collaborates with schools to offer a tall ship experience that caters to their curriculum. Island Adventure trips are offered to students and private parties. The Harpswell based Tall Ship aims to serve their community and get the best out of every day we are given.
The Schooner ALERT and Ketch TEVAKE operate out of Garrison Cove on Bailey Island, Maine hosting two, four, and six hour public and private sailing charters.
Gloucester in all her glory- part two-filming B-roll around the Harbor
Gloucester Harbor in all her glory – photos from the Parade of Sail and Schooner race.
In honor of Kay Ellis
If you had the opportunity to see the schooners docked at Gloucester’s gorgeous new floating dock, located at I4-C2, know that it was constructed by Beacon Marine Basin and installed by Brett Ramsey’s company Ramsey Marine and Dock Construction. The floating dock was created by Gloucester Maritime and the Schooner Festival Committee to provide schooners with a convenient place to moor.
Schooners Bluenose II, Columbia, Tree of Life, Brilliant, and When and If, along with the Tall Ship Lynx
The new dock was well utilized during the three day Schooner Festival event. By late Sunday afternoon, there were a total of five schooners, as well as the Tall Ship Lynx, moored at the floating dock!
The dock will be removed within the next few weeks, to be reinstalled next August for the 35th Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival.
Schooners Columbia and Tyrone moored at the floating dock.
With 29 schooners participating and a three day stretch of perfect weather, the 34th Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival was a magnificent success. Congratulations to all the schooners, to the captains, crew, festival committee members, and to all the volunteers and organizations who make possible this most stellar of maritime sailing events.
Captain Amanda Madiera was honored with a trophy to be given annually in her name: The “Amanda Maderia Award for the George Nichols Cup for Women Skippers.”
GLOUCESTER SCHOONER FESTIVAL 2018 RACE RESULTS
Schooner Fest/Labor Day fireworks illuminating Gloucester Harbor and the night sky.
GLOUCESTER SCHOONER FESTIVAL 2018 RACE RESULTS
Saturday night’s Schooner Fest fireworks display from Stage Fort Park was beautiful. They’ll be time tomorrow to sort through the photos and in the meantime, here is preview.
Captain Heath Ellis and crew of the Schooner Thomas E. Lannon
Hosted by the Schooner Festival Committee and Lenny Linquata of the Gloucester House Restaurant, the schooner fest captains and crew members were treated to a delicious and hardy breakfast this morning. Originally offered for a modest price, a rousing cheer was heard when it was announced breakfast was courtesy of the Schooner Festival Committee!
Thanks to the Schooner Festival Committee and to all the volunteers for all they do to bring this glorious event to Gloucester!
Schooner Lynx Captains Alex and Donald Peacock, Captain Tom Ellis, Mike Costello, and Schooner Committee Chairperson Daisy Nell.
Host Lenny Linquata and Captain Tom
The Mayor’s Schooner Festival Welcoming Reception was a fantastic success and wonderful fun. Maritime Gloucester’s dock was overflowing with Schooner Fest friends, well-wishers, and organizers. I think it was the most well attended ever and speaks to the growing success of Gloucester’s Schooner Festival (and to our Mayor’s charisma!).
Mayor Sefatia welcomed Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Karen Polito, Schooner Bluenose II Captain Phil Watson, and both Representative Ann Margaret Ferrante and State Senator Bruce Tarr were in attendance.
Schooner Bluenose II Captain Watson and Captain Mark Ring of the FV Stanley Thomas
The Schooner Festival Committee is simply amazing. Below are listed the members of the committee. When you see any one of these super heroic volunteers around town, tell them thank you for the tremendous job they are doing in producing annually Gloucester’s uniquely beautiful and spectacular Schooner Festival.
Peter Bent, Daisy Nell, and Captain Stan
Gloucester Schooner Festival Committee:
Daisy Nell, Chair, Tracy Arabian, Peter Bent, Alan Bezanson, Ed Boynton, John Borzerelli, Harold Burnham, Jim Caulkett, Elizabeth Carey, TJ Ciarametaro, Charlie Clark, Stan Collinson, Michael Costello, Jo-Anne Crawford, Lee Cunningham, Michaell De Koster, Carol Decker, Stefan Edick, Heath Ellis, Tom Ellis, Chad Johnson, Michael Lipton, James Lowell, Laura Lowell, Amanda Madeira, Allie McCarthy, John McCarthy, Judith Nast, Barry Pett, Christopher Ramsden, Brett Ramsey, Courtney Richardson, Ken Riehl, Suzanne Silveira , Russ Smith, Chris Stepler, Mary Kay Taylor, Brenda Treuhaft.
The Gloucester Schooner Festival committee thanks the following organizations for their tremendous support.
Art Harbor, b*true promotions, Beauport Hospitality Group, Brown’s Yacht Yard, Cape Ann Brewing Company, Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, Cape Ann Museum, Cape Ann Transportation Authority, Cape Ann YMCA, The Causeway Restaurant, City of Gloucester, MA, The Cricket Press, Cruiseport Gloucester, Eastern Point Yacht Club, Essex Radio & TV , Essex Shipbuilding Museum, First Ipswich Bank, Gaybrook Garage, Gloucester House Restaurant, The Gerondelis Foundation, Gloucester DPW, The Gloucester Fund, Gloucester Harbormaster, Gloucester Police Department, Gloucester Rental Center, Good Morning Gloucester, Gorton’s of Gloucester , Intershell, Jodrey State Fish Pier, Maritime Gloucester, Market Basket , Mortillaro Lobster, Donald Mosher Gallery, North Sails, The Pewter Shop, Rose’s Marine , Russell Orchards, Ryan & Wood Distilleries, Schooner Adventure , Schooner Ardelle , Schooner Thomas E. Lannon, Sea Scouts North Shore Ship 5, Seafood Display Auction, Seaside Graphics, The Shed, TD Bank, Turtle Alley, USCG Cutter Grand Isle, USCG Sector Boston, and USCG Station Gloucester.
Visit the Gloucester Schooner Festival website here.
These beautiful baskets are donated by the Schooner Festival Committee and include not only fresh fruit, but freshly baked bread from Virgilios and handmade chocolates from Turtle Alley. The Ramsey’s deliver each basket, via boat, to every participating schooner on Friday afternoon. It’s no wonder schooners from around the globe love to come to Gloucester.
Brett Ramsey readying to deliver schooner welcome baskets (Ellen Ramsey adds this is a 1967 Chevy truck, in case any one was wondering).
Brett Ramsey Photo
Schedule of Events for the 34th Annual Gloucester Labor Day Schooner Festival All Day Arrival of Participating Vessels.
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Cape Ann Museum open to the public– free of charge.
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Mayor’s Reception for invited guests (ticketed event)
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Gloucester Block Party on Main Street in downtown.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Maritime Gloucester Heritage Day
Maritime Gloucester, located at 23 Harbor Loop in downtown Gloucester, will host its annual Heritage Day celebration from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The event is free to the public.
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Heritage Day at the White-Ellery House
The 1710 White-Ellery House (245 Washington Street, Gloucester) will have a slide show of schooners and have other fishing & racing related activities. The event is free to the public.
4:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Lobster Bake at The Gloucester House
Music, food and a whole lot of fun. The cost is only $17
for Lobster, Corn and Cornbread.
5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Concert on Stacy Boulevard
Enjoy a community concert on The Boulevard before and after the Parade of Lights and Fireworks.
7:00 pm
Boat Parade of Lights
The annual Boat Parade of Lights begins at dusk at Jones Creek on the Annisquam River, travels down the river, through the drawbridge and into Gloucester Harbor, ending in the Smith’s Cove area of the harbor.
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.)
8:30 am
Skippers Meeting
This meeting is required for all Schooners sailing in the Mayor’s Race. Meet at Solomon Jacobs Park, immediately adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Harbor Loop.
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.
11:00 am to 1:30 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 ofCharge, courtesy of Cape Ann Transportation Authority.
1:00 pm
Start of Mayor’s Race for the Esperanto Cup, Columbia Trophy, Ned Cameron Trophy; and Betty Ramsey Trophy off Eastern Point.
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Reception and Awards Ceremony
for captains, crews and invited guests (ticketed event)
Monday, September 3, 2018
“Rain Day” for recovery from postponements caused by inclement weather. ONLY IF REQUIRED.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE GLOUCESTER SCHOONER FESTIVAL WEBSITE HERE.
Exciting news–the Schooner Lynx will be returning to Gloucester next year for the Schooner fest! The captain of the Lynx, Donald Peacock, wrote the following, “Thank you for noticing Lynx in your harbor. Gloucester Marine Railways have been most hospitable and we look forward to returning for Lynx 2017 yard period and the 2017 Gloucester Schooner Race and Festival.”
A magnificent ship under sail, she was a joy to watch and to photograph as she moved through the Harbor, setting course for Saint Petersburg, Florida, via Portland, Maine. You can see in the last photo that by the time she was passing Brace Cove she was under full sail with her square sail hoisted too. Safe travels Schooner Lynx and crew!
At the Railways with crew members Casey and Hunter
Passing Ten Pound Island -note how much taller the Schooner is to the Lighthouse
Along the backshore with Boston in the distance
Brace Cove
So many thanks to everyone for watching! I was a bit worried about posting a 25 minute unnarrated film set to music alone but the response has been wonderful. Feeling blessed and thankful for our beautiful community.
2016 Gloucester Schooner Festival
Dedicated to Kay Ellis
Highlights from Gloucester’s magnificent Schooner Festival, including the schooner welcome, Parade of Sail, the schooner race from a rocky cliff outpost, awards ceremony where Fly Amero and Daisy Nell honor Kay with a song, Daisy tells a funny joke, Adventure Captain Stefan Edick wins a special award, fireworks from Stage Fort Park, and more. The film opens with scenes of Cape Ann schooners, participating schooners, and Gloucester fishing boats, shot all around Gloucester Harbor during the weekend of the festival.
With special thanks to Al Bezanson, Daisy Nell, and Schooner Welcome Committee members Brett Ramsey, Max Ramsey, and Nick Ramsey.
The Gloucester Schooner Festival is held each year over Labor Day weekend and organized byMaritime Gloucester and the Gloucester Schooner Festival Committee. The Schooner Festival celebrates the role the fishing schooner has played in the maritime heritage of the east coast, especially Cape Ann.
Adventure – Stefan Edick
Ardelle – Harold Burnham
American Eagle – John Foss
Apella – Dan Hall
Bald Eagle – Paul Cole/Judith Nast
Blackbird – Peter Thompson
Columbia – Karl Joyner
Eileen Marie – Peter Houston
Fame – Mike Rutstein (not raccing)
Green Dragon – Andy Bezanson
Hindu – Josh Rowan
Ishmael – Fred and Sarah Murphy
Istar – Josiah Mayo
Lettie Howard – Colin Graham
Liberty Clipper – Dylan Saltzman
Light Reign – Mike Lawrence
Malabar II – James Lobdell
Narwhal – Bob Bernert
Principles – Derek Durling
Redbird – Daisy Nell/Stan Collinson
Roseway – Tom Ryan
Sugar Babe – Ed Boynton
Thomas Lannon – Heath Ellis
Tree of Life – Paul Morse
Tyrone – Matt Sutphin
Recent snapshots of the Schooner Adventure docked at the Jodrey State Fish Pier
