Chase The Great Schooner Race
Hop aboard a comfortable motorboat for a chance to photograph the Great Schooner Race. While motoring along the Race on beautiful Penobscot Bay, you will be spending this remarkable day with other photographers, shooting, discussing images, networking, sharing camera gear tips, and more. There’s lots of room to get your best shots with no more than 8 photographers on a boat that carries 25 people during charters across the bay. More photo info below.
DATE: July 4, 2025
TIME: 9:00am-3:00pm
FEE: $325, includes boat, captain, & photo leader
Registration opens January 6, 2025. To pay by cash or check (if you are registering early enough), contact me to make sure that there is space available and to hold your spot while you mail your payment. If you prefer the convenience of paying by credit card you can book online for an additional fee. See cancellation policy for this tour at bottom of this page.
About the race:
There is at least a dozen schooners expected to participate. Along with the camaraderie among the captains and crews, you can still count on the excitement of a very competitive race.
The race is hosted by the Windjammer Association. The race course begins and ends at the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. The Great Schooner Race is hailed as “the largest annual gathering of traditional schooners in America”. This is an assembly of grand, traditional, tall ships. For 44 years, schooners along the eastern seaboard have rendezvoused in Penobscot Bay for a fun day of racing.
For more info about the race check out www.greatschoonerrace.com.
About the boats:
The participating tall ships were all built in boat yards from Florida to Maine, from the 1870’s to 2003. Many were built to move cargo up and down the coast. Some of the newer windjammers were built specifically as cruise vessels.
Photo Info:
The most exciting places along the race route are when the schooners are all together. During the start of the race the boats are jockeying and strategizing their best position for when the cannon fires. At the end, they begin to funnel back into Rockland Harbor for narrow victories as they pass the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. The start of the race is staggered every 15 minutes by class for over an hour and a half.
Once registered, and as we get closer to the date of the race, you will be given detailed information about how to prepare for your tour. I’ll offer info on packing your camera gear, what personal items to bring along for your comfort on the boat. You board Equinox in Rockland Harbor, exact time to be determined by your captain.
Photo Extras:
While on the bay, expect to see spruce covered islands, marine wildlife; seals, ducks, ospreys, bald eagles, and porpoises. We may tour around some of the islands and have lunch during the quiet times of the race.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
- I will give a complete refund in the event that we need to cancel this tour for any reason.
- If you cancel 21-days or more from the date and time of the start of the tour you will receive a full refund.
- Canceling less than 21-days, but before 48 hours from the tour date and time a 50% refund of your tour fee will be given.
- Less than 48 hours there will be no refund.