Last Saturday the entire population of mid-coast Maine seemed to pour out onto the shores of Rockport Harbor. People perched atop the seawall, kayaked and paddle-boarded and boated in the water, and even lined the Goose River Bridge above the harbor to watch the launch of the newly restored yacht Adventuress. Rockport Marine rebuilt the stunning 83 foot schooner over the past three years, and the result is one of the most breath-taking boats I've ever seen (and I've seen a lot of breath-taking boats) (more after the jump).
Adventuress' history is pretty incredible; she was built in 1924 by Fife and Son at the Fife Yard in Fairlie, Scotland. The Germans seized her and used her as a patrol boat during World War II, eventually scuttling (sinking on purpose) the boat at the mouth of Ville Franche sur Mer in France to act as a blockade. The boat has been in private ownership since it was raised from the harbor after the war.
Taylor Allen, the owner of Rockport Marine, is the father of one of my good friends (and a good friend of mine also, I'd like to think!). He and his team do the most incredible work, and I'm thrilled I get to see and photograph as many of their projects as I do. This boat has the most stunning lines, and the details, from the custom metal-work to gold leaf designs on the bow, are meticulous, flawless, and beautiful. I can't wait to see her under sail at this year's Eggemoggin Reach Regatta so I can drool as she cuts through the water. Speaking of, the ERR is in less than two weeks...and is, as far as I'm concerned, the best weekend of the entire year.
I recently got to go aboard Adventuress and explore below decks, but that's for another post. You'll have to make do with the photos I got from the launch. Here they are:
Tom Brownell, the owner of Brownell Systems in Mattapoisett, MA, a company that specializes in moving big boats, checks out the rig. For more on how Rockport Marine and Brownell Systems got the boat from one side of the harbor to the other, check out the RMI blog.
In all her glory.
Crowds gathered. This one I took from the Goose River Bridge above the harbor.
I loved the line of people snaking up the hill.
Spectators.
I cannot get over how beautiful the lines of this boat are.
Tom Kiley, in one of the work boats, secures lines.
Juuuust in case.
A scuba diver frees the bow from the trailer.
She floats!!!
Wow.
Made it to the dock.
