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Schooner Bowdoin Visits to Portland and Provincetown Canceled Due to Potential Compromise in Main Mast

Posted on: June 25, 2014

Boothbay Harbor, Maine—June 25, 2014—Maine Maritime Academy has canceled upcoming visits to Portland and Provincetown due to a potential compromise in the vessel’s main mast, discovered during a routine rigging check on Monday.

The open boat event in Portland was scheduled for Saturday, June 28 at Portland Yacht Services from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Open boat events in Provincetown were scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 4-5 at MacMillan Pier in Provincetown Harbor from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The event scheduled for tomorrow, June 26, at Wotton’s Wharf in Boothbay Harbor will happen as planned, with open boat hours from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The compromise in the main mast was discovered during routine rig inspections and maintenance on Monday, when Captain Eric Jergenson and his crew suspended sailing and contacted Maine Maritime Academy regarding a plan of action. Wednesday morning a shipwright came aboard to conduct an in-depth inspection of the mast. With the results of the inspection, and with continued safety in mind, Capt. Jergenson made the decision that Bowdoin will not proceed further from Penobscot Bay. Instead, at the conclusion of the open house and reception to be hosted at Wotton’s Wharf in Boothbay Harbor on Thursday, June 26, the crew will be looking for a weather window to proceed back to Maine Maritime Academy. Upon return to Castine, the mast will be pulled for further inspection and any needed repairs so the Bowdoin can return to its sailing schedule.

“We are all committed to the highest levels of safety possible,” said Capt. Jergenson. He added, “To our friends in Portland, Maine, and in Provincetown, Massachusetts, please accept our apologies. We look forward to re-connecting with all of you, and soon.”

The Schooner Bowdoin is a National Historic Landmark and the Official Vessel of the State of Maine. To follow updates on the Schooner Bowdoin, visit its facebook page at Arctic Schooner Bowdoin.

Maine Maritime Academy is the only college in the United States with a dedicated sail training program that leads to a U.S. Coast Guard license as mate on an auxiliary sail vessel. Students may start with no prior sailing experience and graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree, a USCG license, and all necessary certificates.

Maine Maritime Academy is a co-educational, public college on the coast of Maine offering 18 degree programs in engineering, management, science and transportation. MMA graduates benefit from hands-on instruction, sea-time aboard the Training Ship State of Maine and Schooner Bowdoin, cadet shipping aboard commercial vessels, and cooperative education assignments. For more information, visit mainemaritime.edu.