Bright lights among changing schooners

摘要

Schooners, it seems, have always pulled at the heartstrings. Whether yachts or workboats, schooners have survived by making it through some of the worst of times: the declines of entire industries, the Great Depression, war. They survived gales as well as the fickle winds of fashion, and even bouts of neglect. Still, the economic bust that lingers well into the current decade hasn't been kind. For various reasons, among the Maine charter schooner fleet in recent months the three-master VICTORY CHIMES (1900 three-master, 132') has come up for sale. So has HERITAGE (1983, 94')- TIMBERWIND (1931, 70') and AMERICAN EAGLE (1930, 92') recently changed hands, TIMBERWIND after being seized. Often such transitions go smoothly, but sometimes not. Schooners share with royalty the age-old problem of succession. It seems that some owners who came to the charter schooner fleet at about the same time are starting to "age out" of the business today. Meanwhile, East Coast nonprofit sailing programs have their own issues: AMISTAD (1999, 81') has been struggling for funding. VIRGINIA (2004, 121') had her most recent season abruptly cut short and the vessel was quickly put on the market. SPIRIT OF SOUTH CAROLINA (2007, 90') was sold off. The Maine-based Ocean Classroom Foundation folded in October 2014, selling off its three schooners: SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS (1984, 103') as a waterfront restaurant in Kennebunk, Maine, and HARVEY GAMAGE (1973, 95') and the steel-hulled WESTWARD (1961, 125') to the indefatigable boatyard owner Phineas Sprague of Portland Yacht Services. (AMISTAD had also been on contract to the organization.) Across the Internet, it's easy to hear discouraging words.