The 60 Foot Sloop “American Promise” Turns 40 Years Old This Year.  (Photo courtesy of Rozalia Project)

The 60 foot sloop “American Promise” turns 40 years old this year reported Rozalia Project, a nonprofit based in Burlington, Vermont recently.  “Amerian Promise” is the research vessel behind the 15 year old organization’s work on the problem of marine debris in both Vermont and the Gulf of Maine.

Dodge Morgan Aboard his “American Promise.”

“The Voyage of “American Promise” by Dodge Morgan is a Gripping Account of his Record Breaking, Solo, non-stop Circumnavigation in 1985. Morgan Earned a Degree in Journalism from Boston University.  The Book was Published in 1989 and is out of print.

What makes this occasion so noteworthy is that “American Promise” is the yacht that once belonged to Portland resident, the legendary Dodge Morgan.  Back in 1984 Mr. Morgan  commissioned the iconic Ted  Hood to design and build this yacht for his record setting solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world, Mr. Morgan would leave Portland Harbor on October 14, 1985 bound for the sail that would take him a record setting 150 days to complete.

But leaving Portland Harbor was not an easy feat.  The parking lot near DiMillo’s Floating Restaurant was packed with well-wishers as was the Harbor.  This combined with the lack of breeze in the Harbor  made leaving Portland a challenge in unexpected ways according to his book, “The ‘Voyage of American Promise.”

The harrowing first leg of the sail is told in gripping detail in the first chapter of his book – “The Voyage of American Promise.”  There were so many surprise challenges that initially confronted him,  he doubted the wisdom of this undertaking. But he persevered.   One brief relief from the drama was that while he was up the mast, he became eye ball to eyeball with a whale traveling  beside “American Promise.”

Mr. Morgan earned a degree in Journalism from Boston University.  He was known to many Portlanders because he owned the now defunct “Maine Times” and “Casco Bay Weekly.”

Carolyn Parker, a Portland resident, who with her late husband Bob Love were avid sailors, living on Peaks Island at the time.  “Dodge was very generous,” she said recently.  “While wating for the ferry we  would often wait at the former Dry Dock on the Portland waterfront. He  would buy drinks for everyone there while we waited for the ferry to take  us across the Harbor,” Carolyn said.  He lived on Chebeaque Island at the time.

“He was a good friend.  I miss him,”  said Phin Sprague, Jr., owner of Portland Yacht Serices, on West Commercial Street, Portland.