Thank you to all the Schooner Captains and Crews for providing a glorious 40th Annual Schooner Fest for us all to enjoy!
Schooner Strombus – Parade of Sail
Schooners Adventure and Strombus
Canon in D major composed by Johann Pachelbel, performed by The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Music from the Internet Archive of Royalty Free Music – Creative Commons – with attributes – non-commercial.
Gloucester Schooner Challenge 2024
Schooner Adventure and the Schooner Isabella, built by Harold Burnham
Scene from last night’s Schooner Challenge –
Schooner Strombus, restored by local shipwright Geoff Deckebach, and the majestic Schooner Adventure
Last evening, the Tall Ship Lynx arrived to Gloucester Harbor just as the sun was setting. The sky grew rosier and rosier long after the sun had dipped below the horizon.
Tall Ship Lynx and Schooner Adventure
Autumnal Equinox Sunset Ten Pound Island Lighthouse
From the Tall Ship Lynx website – The Tall Ship Lynx is an educational organization dedicated to hands-on programs that teach the history and present examples of America’s struggle to preserve its independence. The ship is an interpretation of an actual privateer built in 1812. The maritime challenges during the War of 1812 are taught aboard Lynx utilizing a comprehensive, interactive program designed to enrich personal achievement through teamwork and the discipline of sailing.
In 1997 Woodson K. Woods embarked on a journey to build a privateer inspired by the original historic tall ship from the War of 1812 – The Privateer Lynx. His goal was to create a living history museum to educate children and adults alike about American history through active sail training aboard a real wooden sailing ship.
What went into Lynx was not just wood, rope, brass and canvas. It was not just sweat, blood, heartache and laughter either. What went into her goes far beyond history, ambition, inspiration, determination and commitment. In 2016 Lynx was purchased from Woods Maritime LLC , by the Lynx Educational Foundation, Lynx hails out of Nantucket Island, Ma. Donald Emmons Peacock, President and captain. Our partner in education is Egan Maritime Institute in Nantucket. Lynx winters in city of St Petersburg, Florida our winter home. Since 2015, Lynx Donald E. Peacock, president, and Captain Lynx winters in St. Simons Island, GA, November through May.
On July 28, 2001 in Rockport, Maine Woods’ vision was realized. Past and present converged as Lynx was launched in a gala event ordaining a magnificent future on the high seas.
The creation of Lynx embraces eternal truths: passion, sacrifice, perseverance, honor and courage. All of these emotions gave her a soul long before she tasted her first saltwater. At sea, Lynx is the legacy of her creators: the thinkers, the designers, the builders, and most important, the dreamers…
My friend Mary McLoud reminded me of this time lapse video of the Parade of Sail from several years ago (eight actually!).
Parade of Sails Through Gloucester Inner Harbor Time Lapse
The tall ships start appearing around 1:50, but I liked seeing all the smaller boats, too. Look for the Stanley Thomas lobster boat closer to the beginning. After the Parade I walked out onto the rocky ledge near the Eastern Point Lighthouse, but as you can see in the second-to-last clip, a thunderstorm was on the way and I had to skeedadle.
Al Bezanson’s list of schooner’s, in order of appearance: Sugar Babe, Adventure, Thomas E Lannon, Adirondack III, Brilliant, Virginia, Tillicum I, Lewis H Story, Liberty Clipper, Perception, Light Reign, American Eagle, Morning Light, Green Dragon.
Schooner Adventure, UU Church, Maritime Gloucester, and the FV Emily Teresa heading out under the beautiful full Snow Moon
Schooner Adventure
Schooner Adventure, fishing boat, and the UU Church
Called the Worm Moon because the ground begins to soften and earthworms reappear, inviting Robins to our gardens. Among many names, March’s Full Moon is also called the Sleepy Moon, Sap Moon, Crust Moon, Lenten Moon, and Crow Moon.
Photos of the full Super Worm Moon rising and setting.
Gloucester Harbor
Between the twin masts of the Schooner Adventure
Good Harbor Beach
Backshore
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.
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.
Recent snapshots of the Schooner Adventure docked at the Jodrey State Fish Pier
Schooner Adventure Captain Stefan Edick awarded George Nichols Cup for leadership, seamanship, and contributions to the maritime industry. 
Presented by Gloucester Schooner Festival Committee Chair Daisy Nell at the closing festival award celebration. An honor and tribute for the Captain and especially distinguishing as this year the Adventure is celebrating her 90th.
Congratulations to all the schooner Captains and their crews for an exciting race. The winning times were very close, especially in the category of the older large schooners where they are only about five minutes apart (Columbia is not included as she is a two year old schooner). Captain Karl Joyner graciously accepted the Mayor’s Trophy for the Columbia.
The highlight of the ceremony came when Captain Stefan Edick was awarded not only the Esperanto Cup, but also the George Nichols Cup. The Nichols Cup is awarded for seamanship and to an individual contributing to the maritime community. It is not given every year.
Captain Stefan Edick and the Adventure Crew holding the Esperanto Cup at Sunday night’s 32nd Gloucester Schooner Festival race award ceremony
Three of our Gloucester schooners all lined up for a moment during the Parade of Sail
Left to right, the Schooner Adventure, Schooner Lannon, and Schooner Ardelle
Gloucester Schooner Festival 2015 Parade of Sail with time lapse ~
A perfect day for the Parade of Sail, the 31st annual Gloucester Schooner Festival was the most highly attended festival to date, with 23 schooners participating and thousands of spectators perched all around the beaches and boulevards surrounding the harbor.
You’ll see parading through the inner harbor the smallest rowboats to the grand three-masted 169-foot Schooner Mystic, with the Roderick McAllister chugging through the scene. Look for Gloucester schooners the Adventure at 2:10, the Thomas E. Lannon hoisting her sails at about 3:10, and the Ardelle at 3:30. GMG FOB Al Bezanson’s Green Dragon is seen at 4:51. Out by the Dogbar breakwater the 610-foot Navy’s USS Fort McHenry was positioned and surrounded by sailboats and schooners, you really get a sense of the size of this ship.
The parade time lapse footage was shot in real time and is one hour and 23 minutes long, compressed into roughly six minutes at 1000 percent.
Schooner identification provided by Green Dragon Captain Al Bezanson. Thank you Al!
1:22 COLUMBIA
2:05 ADVENTURE
2:40 SUGARBABE
3:10 THOMAS E. LANNON
3:31 ARDELLE
3:44 RENEGADE
3:54 LETTIE G HOWARD (w/o sails)
3:54 HINDU (hoisting)
4:51 GREEN DRAGON (into and out of Harbor Cove)
5:11 REDBIRD
5:15 NARWHAL
5:22 ADVENTURER
5:31 LIBERTY CLIPPER (inbound)
5:44 AMERICAN EAGLE
6:22 GREEN DRAGON
6:35 ELLEN MARIE
6:39 LIBERTY CLIPPER
6:55 MYSTIC
6:59 ROSEWAY
View of the Gloucester MA Schooner Adventure at Daybreak
Schooner Adventure Bell
