Annie Kelly, Captain of the “Rebecca of Vineyard Haven” at Her Wheel on Saturday, July 15, 2023 in Casco Bay Harbor.  Fort Gorges is a Speck in the Left Background.

“Lions Whelp” Owned by Phineas Sprague, Jr., co-owner of Portand Yacht Services, During Rendezvou in Casco Bay Harbor, on Saturday, July 15, 2023.  Lions Whelp was Launched at PYS back in 2003.  She is Named for the Ship that Brought the Sprague Family to America from England. For More Information on her, Please visit Post Herein Dated March 21, 2010

“Rebecca of Vineyard Haven” is a regal 75 ft. wooden schooner that is in Portland for the Saturday, July 15  Open House at Portland Yacht Services on West Commercial Street –    you know, those large red buildings just beyond the blue containers of Eimskip on the waterfront?

Rebecca’s Captain Annie Kelly was offering rides aboard her along with schooners from the Portlannd Schooner Company, to those attending the Open House.  At the end of the Open House, Rebecca, all Portland schooners and Lions Whelp rendezvoued in Casco Bay Harbor for almost three hours.  This blogger wa fortunate enough to snag a seat cushion on Rebecca with five other passengers and the Captain and her first mate, Cody.  The rendezvou was a perfect ending to a perfect day at the Open House  where vendors from up and down the coast of Maine promoted or sold their nautical products.  The sun even emerged from a rainy sky just for the Open House on the Portland waterfront last Saturday.

Schooner Rebecca’s home port is Mystic Seaport, Mystic, Connecticut, where she can be chartered by groups looking for a wonderful experience on the waters off the East Coast  The 22 year old schooner was built at the highly regarded Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway, Vineyard Haven Massachusetts, boatyard.

This is a boatyard that is dedicated to building wooden boats of distinction.  This yard built a boat for singer James Taylor. Construction began on Rebecca in 1998 and she was launched in 2001.She is built of Angelique wood and Silver Bali – both woods from Surinan in South America according to First Mate Cody.  Three years ago she was donated to Mystic by Jesse Smith of Rhode Island.  Rebecc’s hull # is 25 from the yard that just launched hull # 100 this year.  Shortly after her launch in 2001, the yard built sister ship, Juno. for Rob Soros.  Juno and Lions Whelp raced against each other iin the Antigua Classic Boat Regatta years ago.

The sail into Casco Bay Harbor started out well with winds at 11 knots. Rebecca was moving along at a pleasant pace.  But slowly that wind changed.  It went down to 9 knots and then even lower than that.  Finally, Captain Kelly had to turn on the engine and motor us back to PYS. “It felt like the days of being becalmed on Long Island Sound many years ago.  I can still hear the clank, bang, clank of the rigging as we sat and sweltered in the heat waiting for the breeze that never came,”  said this blogger to Captain Kelly. “I think there might have been a curse word or two sometimes.”   Captain Kelly responded:  “Long Island Sound does have that reputation.”

One of the highlights of the highly successful Open House at PYS, was an opportunity to meet vendors who participated in the annual event.  One of those vendors was Mike Nicholas, of Chart Metal Works in Portland.  He had a large display of nautical jewelry and accessories that included key chains, wine stoppers, cuff links and other items suitable for wedding gifts and other occasions.

Chart Metal Works is a fifteen year old company started by Charlotte Guptill and is based in Portland. THe company’s biggest wholesale customer is Sea Bags.  Sea Bags has in recent years undergone an expansion so they are now in a dozen states with fifty stores.  The most recent store to open is in Kittery according to Nicholas.   “In a year, we probably sell thousands of pieces to Sea Bags,” said Mike. Joseph’s of Portland, 410 Fore Street, also carries these high quality gift items as well.

A many year waterfront icon represented at the Open House was Renee Kitchen,  Director of Marketing, for Hamilton Marine.  The marine supply company was begun in the garage of Wayne Hamilton, in Searsport, in 1977.  He sold supplies to local fishermen.  Because of the store’s stellar reputation, there are currently 6 stores in Maine  “We cater to commercial fishermen, boat builders and recreational peope,: said Renee.  A new store opened in Kittery in 2020 – “during covid,.”

Ths blogger has a special fondness for Hamilton Marine because the former Portland waterfront store once sold copies of my father’s popular book – “Innocents at Sea,” by James McCracken.  (It’s still avaiable in paperback on Amazon. The book was published by The Reader’s Digest in 1976.   It was condensed in the magazine in August the same year. This blogger reprinted it in paperback in 2003 with the encouragement of Phineas Sprague, Jr.)  Dad refused to own a fiberglass boat because:  “All Good, All Wood.”

To sail aboard Rebecca while she’s in Portland at PYS, please call Captain Annie Kelly at:  660-591-5092.

For more background information on the Open House, please visit post herein dated July 12, 2023.