Windjammer Days ~ Looking back at my paintings of the Maine Windjammer Fleet!
The recent July 3rd sinking of the Victory Chimes schooner has me thinking about how time has flown by, and wondering how all of the other schooners in the fleet are faring. As the Victory Chimes lays at the bottom of the Henry Street Basin in New York City, too expensive to raise and restore even though she was a National Historic Landmark, could the others in the fleet be facing a similar fate?
The Victory Chimes by William R. Beebe, SOLD
One of my favorite maritime paintings, Offshore Challenge, features two Maine schooners under full sail out on the Penobscot Bay. The black-hulled schooner is the Nathaniel Bowditch and the ivory-hulled ship is the Heritage. I thought I’d do a little research to see how the 124 year old Nathaniel Bowditch is holding up and whether she is still operating.
Offshore Challenge by William R. Beebe, 24 x 28, Oil on board, $15,000
This painting brings back fond memories. My golfing buddy, Charlie, and I were out in his small 13 ft skiff outboard motorboat in calm water hoping to get some photographs of the Maine schooners. When we came alongside of the Bowditch the weather turned, her sails filled and we were off to the races. As Charlie managed the helm I rapid fired my camera, hoping not to fall into the ice cold water. My fear of sharks was temporarily out of mind as the sleek black Bowditch was giving me the exact shots I was hoping for.
But I digress. It turns out that the Nathaniel Bowditch was in rough shape in 2014 after taking a beating on the open ocean water and was in need of a complete restoration. Unlike the Victory Chimes, an investor bought it and restored it from the ground up! It is now in better shape than ever and is considered a luxury “boutique” sailing schooner. She has been renamed her original name Schooner Ladona.
Another favorite of mine is the Schooner Lewis R. French of Camden, Maine. She was launched in 1871!!! 155 years old! She shares the title of the oldest commercial sailing vessel in the United States. She is still going strong, owned and operated by Captain Becky Sigwright and Nathan Sigwright, sailing multi-night cruises along the Maine coast.
The Lewis R. French by William R. Beebe SOLD
We lived in Camden for 12 years. I could walk down to the harbor from our home. We were out on the water often, always with my camera. Somehow photographing the Lewis R. French under full sail had eluded me for a good many years.
One day our good friends took us out on the family motor yacht during Windjammer Days in Camden. Their boat had major horse power and we were zipping all around the bay from schooner to schooner. Suddenly, the Lewis R. French under full sail with all of her flags flying appeared in the distance. When I pointed her out we closed in on her quickly. I can remember getting a little misty eyed as I photographed her in all of her glory!
Also launched in 1871 is the Stephen Taber. She shares the title of the oldest commercial sailing vessel in continuous service in the U.S. with the Lewis R. French. She is a beautiful two-masted schooner operating windjammer cruises featuring live music and gourmet dining. I’m glad to see that Captain Noah Barnes and family, owners of the ship since 1979, continue to preserve and share her rich maritime history with the public. She is a gem!
Taber on A Reach by William R. Beebe, SOLD
Lastly, for now, I researched the 140 year old schooner Isaac H. Evans. It is also a National Historic Landmark and holds the title of the oldest surviving oyster fishing schooner! In 2017 she also was in need of a major structural restoration. It took several years to get her back to shipshape. She is now owned and operated by Captain Joshua Jacques and is sailed out of Boothbay Harbor, Maine. I used to love seeing her docked at Rockland Harbor, and sailing on the bay. I painted her a number of times.
This particular painting of the Isaac H. Evans I wanted to paint in a traditional style, like the ship paintings you would see if you visited the Penobscot Marine Museum or the Maine Maritime Museum. She is a classic wooden schooner from days gone by.
Th Isaac H. Evans by William R. Beebe, 24 × 28, Oil on board, $13,000
I’m so glad to find out that the Maine Windjammer Fleet is still going strong and that these historic treasures are being preserved. They have been a true inspiration to me artistically and it is my hope that they continue on for another hundred years.
The sinking of the Victory Chimes is such a loss. She was the Grand Dame of the Maine Windjammer Fleet. I am hoping there is still a chance that she will be raised from the basin floor and restored but it is not looking good.
Thank you for reading my blog and for your interest in my art. I hope you enjoyed looking back at my paintings from my Maine days and reading about these classic wooden sailing ships.
“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion….”
Drawing by William R. Beebe
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