Portland’s first SchoonerFest draws to a close

PORTLAND, Maine – Portland’s first SchoonerFest and Regatta is wrapping up with a final cruise.

The Casco Bay Gaffers Race takes the schooners from Portland to Bailey Island on Monday. Several of the ships then sail on to Boothbay’s Windjammer Days on Tuesday.

The event that was held over the weekend is an attempt by Maine’s largest city to create an annual tall ships event along the lines of the Maine Windjammer Days in Boothbay, the Maine Windjammer Parade in Rockland and the Camden Windjammer Festival.

Participants included Portland Schooner Co.’s 1924 Bagheera and 1912 Wendameen, both of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. Others were the 120-foot (36-meter) Adventure, the 131-foot (39-meter) Harvey Gamage, built in 1973, and the 71-foot (21-meter) Alert, built in 1992.