ROCKLAND – Schooners participating in the 42 Annual Great Schooner Race will pass by the Breakwater Lighthouse late afternoon, Friday, July 6, providing spectators with easy viewing of the historic schooners sailing toward the harbor finish line. 

More than a dozen schooners are expected to race from Gilkey Harbor on Islesboro to Rockland, where their dramatic arrival will recall the days when cargo-laden schooners raced to be the first to Rockland so they might capture the best market prices, according to a news release.

Hailed as the largest gathering of historic schooners in America, spectators will have an up-close view of this collection of beautifully preserved traditional sailing vessels from the Rockland Breakwater.

A century ago, every schooner trip was a race against time and a captain’s profits depended heavily on his crew’s sailing skills. The Great Schooner Race, hosted by the Maine Windjammer Association, continues this tradition with a modern day race of these historic windjammers.

Since 1977, any traditionally rigged schooner on the Eastern Seaboard has been welcome to participate in the Maine Windjammer Association’s Great Schooner Race held in mid-coast Maine.  This year marks the 42^nd Annual Great Schooner Race.

Anchored for the night in Gilkey Harbor, on Thursday, July 5, the captains will conduct small boat races and other friendly maritime competitions amongst race participants.

Race Day will begin with a Captains’ Meeting aboard Maine’s largest windjammer — the Victory Chimes. There, they will set the day’s race course and classes.

Many of the participating windjammers are National Historic Landmarks, while others were built in the last century specifically for the windjamming trade.  All of them are beautifully maintained maritime treasures.  Spectators can cheer for their favorite schooner from the mile-long Rockland Breakwater that marks one end of the finish line; the perfect viewing point!