The flash of polished bronze and gleam of varnished wood across the water will be the order of the day as elegant antique and classic yachts sail into the host city of Salem, Massachusetts for the 26th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Festival August 23-24. Mostly wood, primarily private yachts and aesthetically stunning, the vessels will be on display to the public over the weekend at Hawthorne Cove Marina. A hallmark of the Festival is the great variety of craft exhibited. "Where else," says Pat Wells, Coordinator, "can one see 1920s-50s motor yachts, mahogany speedboats, sloops, yawls, schooners and a 19th century gold-leaf canoe! Although many of these craft are museum quality, they are real boats in the water and in use by their owners today."
Festival Highlights
40 plus vintage motor yachts and sailboats on display
Fun for the whole family; kids get to board many of the boats!
Vote for your favorite boat
Blessing of the Fleet
Parade of boats
New Orleans jazz band
Crafts fair
Artists
Children's activities
And more!
To the delight of the public, some skippers sport vintage garb; others display period décor, table settings and captivating floral arrangements aboard their boat. Welcome mats are in evidence and children, pets and parrots have been known to enliven the scene. Many hospitable owners invite the public aboard for a personal tour, regaling visitors with tales of their boat's history, memorable voyages and the joys and woes of restoring their classic.
The purpose of the Festival, according to Pat Wells, is to encourage owners of the grand old craft to restore and keep up their boats. "This is important as their vessels are our maritime heritage. If they don't bother, we lose it!"
Come and see a diverse display of beautiful antique and classic sailboats, power boats, and hand-powered craft ranging from the 1890's through the 1960s. Expand your appreciation of our nation's maritime heritage and salute those who are preserving a piece of it! Join the fun, and have a great day with the whole family at the waterfront. EVERYONE IS INVITED!
In addition to the boats, the Festival features a landside crafts market. Visit ship modelers, artists, photographers, booksellers, marlinspike artists and woodcarvers amoung others. Exhibitors listed were registered prior to August 1 and may not include all participating exhibitors. Nautical Bazaar & Crafts Market
Beached Beads
Rachel Ausband
978-356-6478
http://www.ourgaggleofgirls.com/beads
Cornerstone Books
45 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970
978-744-1831
http://www.cornerstonebooks-salem.com
Essex Shipbuilding Museum
66 Main Street
Essex, MA 01919
(978) 768-6441
http://www.essexshipbuildingmuseum.org
Destination Salem
54 Turner Street
Salem, MA 01970
978-744-3663
http://www.salem.org
Flying Colors
Gayle Rosen, airbrush artist
781-631-9404
Ken Foubert
Original watercolor paintings
508-523-5854
http://www.kenfoubertwatercolors.com
Robert Hahn
Photography
978-521-2172
Maiden Voyage Booksellers
Books, collectibles, postcards
207-985-9846
maidenvoyage@oceanlinerbooks.com
Barbara Merry
Marlinspike Artist
Fancy knot work and fenders
401-741-4544
http://www.marlinspikeartist.com
D. G. Mullin
Historic sailing ship prints
978-594-1402
noordeast@comcast.net
Pea Pods
Fashion Accessories
207-799-7448
http://www.peapodsfashion.com
Seafarer's Friend
Ministry to the New England maritime community
617-889-3222
http://www.seafarersfriend.org
Sharon Shea
Photo-prints, cards, crafts
978-740-5940
http://www.salemdesign.com
Schooner Adventure
4 Harbor Loop
Gloucester, MA 01931
978-281-8079
http://www.schooner-adventure.org
Sea Fever Gear
Recycled sails
508-945-6463
http://www.seafevergear.com
U.S.S. Constitution Model Shipwright Guild
Ship models
c/o Rev. Bill Fleming
(617) 889-6315, (978) 524-8992
port.rev-bonnie@comcast.net
Woodcarver's Knot
Louis Carreras
Hand carved quarter boards, eagles & boat portraits
(978) 466-8631
http://web.mac.com/loucarreras
Previous Festival "stars" have included among others:
- RAGTIME, 1928, 64' Commuter yacht, owned by Jeff Lowell, West Southport, ME
- OLD GLORY, 1918, 58' canoe stern power cruiser built by George Lawley & Son in Dorchester and owned by Bill Skinner and Viking Gustafson of Winthrop MA
- GOLDENEYE, 1960, 39'Concordia yawl, owned by Gregory Nulk, Kittery, ME
- GHOST, 1934 custom powerboat owned by Jim Watson of Cohasset MA
- TABBY, 1946 Fenwick Williams 18' Cape Cod catboat owned by Philip Carling of Hingham MA
- JUNIATA, 1927 New York Consolidated commuter yacht, owned by Karen Stimpson of Portland ME
- DAME OF SARK, 1961, Concordia 40 yawl, owned by Joseph Callaghan, Cheshire, CT
- JOHANNA, 1989 Hacker 30' runabout, owned by Daniel Prigmore, Hull, MA
- SEA HARMONY, 1937, 33' Albert Strange yawl, owned by Thad Danielson, Marblehead, MA
- ZAZIE, 1946, 23' Chris Craft express cruiser, owned by Chip and Mena Holmes, Prides Crossing, MA
- JASON, 1965 23' Riva Ariston runabout, owned by Nick Mango, Marblehead, MA
- TANNIS, 1937 38' Friendship Sloop, owned by John Cronin, Sturbridge, MA
- CG36500, 1946 Coast Guard 26' motor lifeboat, owned by Orleans Historical Society, Orleans, MA
- WHIRL-A-WAY, 1940, 16' Chris-Craft Deluxe runabout, owned by Harry Rohrer, Sparta NJ
- BUCCANEER, 1965, 58' Essex schooner, owned by Robert Casian, Hampton Falls NH
- QUEENIE, 1900, 16' Old Town courting canoe, owned by Ernest Osborn, Derry NH
- and many more!
AND MANY, MANY GREAT CRAFT ARE EXPECTED TO BE AT THE FESTIVAL!
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History of the Festival
The Festival was launched in 1983 under the auspices of the Boston Educational Marine Exchange, a non-profit, membership association founded by visionary architect/mariner Carl Koch in 1976 to revitalize Boston Harbor.
The idea for the festival was hatched by Pat Wells of BEME as a vehicle for bringing the public back to the Harbors of Massachusetts, celebrating and preserving maritime heritage and promoting the need for boating facilities and public landings on our coastline. The Festival has been held in Boston, Charlestown, Quincy, and Salem.
For additional information about the Antique & Classic Boat Festival and to learn about ways in which you can become a Friend or Sponsor and support the Festival, please contact: Pat Wells at 617-666-8530. We can always use volunteers!
Peter Vermilya, Curator at Mystic Seaport Museum, has cited the (Boston) Antique & Classic Boat Festival as an important force in preserving maritime history. Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Magazine has called it the best of its kind. The Cause
The inventory of antique boats is dwindling as more and more fall into disrepair and abandonment. It is imperative to save the few we have left!
Through its judging and awards program, the Festival provides incentives and standards for restoring and maintaining antique and classic vessels - our maritime heritage! It also inspires and rewards owners by providing them with a venue to show off their unique craft to the public. Participants are buoyed by picking up tips and encouragement from kindred boat owners and Festival judges. Last, but not least, participants are gaining converts among the public, inspiring others to rescue and restore a classic of their own.
The Festival educates the public about our nation's maritime heritage. Attendees get the rare opportunity to see a variety of vintage boats up close, talk with the owners, get the below-deck tour and learn about the restoration process through before and after pictures. This intimate, person-to-person contact is what makes the event so special and differentiates it from the Tall Ships experience.
Important, too, the Festival passes an appreciation of boating and maritime heritage on to a new generation. Children are especially thrilled to be able to board a boat and are instilled with the romance of the sea and the dream of owning a boat of their own.
Help the Festival preserve maritime heritage! Please call Pat if you would like to be a Flagship Sponsor, Friend or Volunteer. 617-666-8530. patwells@earthlink.net.
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2008 PRELIMINARY Schedule Of Events
Friday
WHAT FESTIVAL-GOERS LIKED BEST
- "the beautiful boats!"
- "meeting and talking with the owners"
- "friendly and welcoming spirit of all"
- "great boats, great people, great atmosphere, lively, interesting"
- "It's fantastic; don't change it!"
- "wonderful music"
- "family oriented"
- "fun people"
- "talking boats"
- "learning environment"
- "style, funk"
- "keeping the past alive"
- "Everything!"
- "A+"
- 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Boat Registration and Check-in Marina Deck - under tent
- 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Reception with Buffet and Music by the Fo'c'sle Trio at the House of the Seven Gables (skippers & crews)
Saturday
- 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Boat Registration and Check-in
- 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Judging of Boats
- 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Exhibits, Crafts Market, Children's Activities
- 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Opening Ceremony heralded by bagpipes, Welcome by Mayor Kimberly Driscoll, Introduction of Judges, Presentation of the Edgar B. Caffrey Award, and Book Signing: With Reckless Abandon: Memoirs of a Boat-Obsessed Life by Capt. Jim Sharp
- 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Vessels on Public Display (at dock)
- 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Maple Sugar Jazz Band
- 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Three Sheets to the Wind
- 6:00 p.m. - Social Hour (skippers and crew)
- 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Dinner Party and Awards Presentation (ticket holders)
Sunday
Don't leave without a Festival T-Shirt!
- 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast (skippers & crews) on the Marina Deck
- 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Skippers' Meeting (Briefing on Blessing and Parade)
- 10:30 a.m. - Boaters' Worship Service
- 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Harp Concert by Nina Vickers and Sizzlin' Strings
- 11:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Vessels on Public Display, Exhibits & Crafts Market, Children's Activities
- 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The NEW New Orleans Jazz Band on the Marina Deck
- 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Blessing of the Fleet with "Amen" Response, Announcement of "Spectators Choice" winners, and Parade of Boats in Salem Harbor (pending tide)
Vote for your favorite sailboat and powerboat! Ballots can be picked up at the Admission tent. Don't forget to cast your ballot on the way out.
By Sea: Check coordinates on marinas.com for the Marina. Call Channel 9 as you approach for docking assistance.
By car: The Marina is one block from the House of Seven Gables [Derby Street]. Please continue on Derby St. and take a right on Blaney Street to the Festival parking lot. Its free! Trailered craft and other landside exhibitors can turn right on White Street to unload before parking at the adjacent Festival parking lot.
By boat ramp: Continue down Derby Street past White Street about a mile. Derby Street turns into Fort Avenue. Turn right at sign to Winter Island Park and follow the signs to the ramp.
By ferry from Boston: Take the Salem Ferry directly to the Festival! This is a 50 minute trip from Boston. Six round trips daily. Tel: 978-741-0220 or visit its web site at http://www.salemferry.com/
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Hawthorne Cove Marina is at 10 White Street, Salem, MA 01970, Tel: 978-740-9890, VHF Channel 9.
By public transportation: There is MBTA train and bus service from Boston to Salem. Rail service is on the Gloucester/Newburyport line out of North Station, Boston. Buses 450 and 455/459 run between Haymarket Square, Boston, and Salem Depot on weekends. The Festival is about three-quarters mile walk from the station. MBTA information and schedules are available on mbta.com.Top Of Page
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