Legendary Captain John Foss, a Resident of Rockport,  Oversees the Work on the “Virginia” This Afternoon at Portland Yacht Services, 100 West Commercial Street.

The Pinnace “Virginia” in her Cradle at Portland Yacht Services, 100 West Commercial Street m Portland.  She Draws 7 feet of water.

I guess someone who had it in for me recommended me for the position of Captain of the Virginia, joked Captain John Foss, this afternoon as he was directing the volunteer crew in the process of preparing her for inspection by the US Coast Guard for her certification.  The replica of the 17th century Virginia was hauled at Portland Yacht Services, 100 West Commercial Street, Portland earliler this week.  Virginia is expected to be launched early the week of May 14, 2024.

Captain Foss’ tenure as Captain of Record of Virginia, Maine’s First Ship, began last fall largely because of his  years of  experience in the schooner industry along the coast of Maine.  He acknowledged that this is a temporary position for him as he has “other things” he wants to do.  One of those things is to launch his own 30 foot schooner Eagle, currently at the highly regarded Riverside Boat Company, Newcastle.  Up untill two years ago, Captain Foss was the owner and captain of the windjammer “American Eagle” – that sailed out of Camden.

Captain Foss said that the US Coast Guard is particularly concerned about the safety of the ship.  The bottom that can’t be seen when the ship is in the water needs to be checked for problems that need to be corrected.  It was discovered at this time that  modifications need to be made to the rudder as it now exists in order to get the approval from the US Coast Guard. for certification.  Fiinal certification is not expected to come until the fall of 2024 according to Captain Foss.

The headquarters for the Virginia is located in Bath, but her winter port is in Wiscasset, at the site of the former LeGarage, a popular restaurant on the waterfront, that no longer exists.  The non-profit has about 100 active volunteers  according to Ken Borgencale, who is responsible for the non-profits excellent web site.  Some of those volunteers are involved in marketing, others in clean-up of the Bath headquarters and others serve as crew aboard the Virginia.  She was hauled out of the water earlier this week for the first time since her Bath launching on June 4, 2022.  “There were close to 3,000 people who attended her launching,” said Borgencale who was a computer technician for a national company.

For more background information on the Virginia on the Portland waterfront, please visit post herein dated May 6, 2024.