One Dead, Three Injured as Schooner Grace Bailey Mast Collapses

Bangor Daily News By Jules Walkup – ROCKLAND, Maine – The woman who died when a mast broke on Grace Bailey schooner in Rockland Monday morning has been identified as Emily Mecklenburg, according to the Maine Chief Medical Examiner’s Office.

 

People work on the Grace Bailey on Tuesday. The ship is a windjammer owned by Marc Evan Jackson in which the mast broke, fell and killed one person and injured three others Monday morning. The broken mast can be seen. Credit: Jules Walkup / BDN

 

Mecklenburg, 40, was a doctor at Pen Bay Medical Center. The Maine Chief Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet determined the exact cause of her death.

“The Pen Bay and Waldo family was heartbroken to learn that our colleague Dr. Emily Mecklenburg, was tragically killed in a boating accident off the Rockland Breakwater. Emily was a friend to so many and well known for the compassionate care she provided to patients. We have reached out to her family to offer our condolences, and we have arranged for grief counseling and other support for our care team. Along with our community, we grieve Emily’s loss and send our thoughts and prayers to her family,” Arthur Durity, communications and public affairs director for Maine Health, said in a statement.

 

This photo provided by Kurt Schleicher shows the schooner Grace Bailey with its main mast broken off the coast of Rockland, Maine, on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Credit: Kurt Schleicher via AP

 

She was pronounced dead when first responders arrived, and the other three people were taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

The Grace Bailey, built in 1882 as a lumber-carrier, is now used as a vacation cruise ship in Rockland. The boat was coming back from a four-day foliage cruise with 33 people when the main mast suddenly broke and came toppling down around 10 a.m.

It’s unclear why the mast broke, but the U.S. Coast Guard is investigating. The windjammer is currently sitting in Rockland Harbor.

The Grace Bailey, owned by actor Marc Evan Jackson and captained by Sam Sikkema, has been sailing on the midcoast for years, which is why the sudden fall of the mast came as a surprise, according to a statement from Sail Grace Bailey, the company that owns the schooner.

According to the ship’s website, the Grace Bailey has been operating as a windjammer since the end of World War II.

Jules Walkup is a corps member.

 

The 2023 Ted Hood Regatta

Eastern Yacht Club – August 18-20

The Ted Hood Regatta – The race is open to all boats with a valid PHRF New England certificate, an ORC certificate, J70, and J105 Class boats. A Distance Ocean Race Friday night for full crewed or Double-Handed racers, and Jib & Main classes.

 

 

The Regatta is the creation of the Storm Trysail Club’s Marblehead Station. Ted Hood, a legend in sail making, yacht design, and a pioneer in the marine industry began his career in Marblehead. As a sailor, Ted won nearly every trophy from the SORC to The America’s Cup. The Storm Trysail Club is honored to name this regatta for one of Marblehead’s favorite sons, and one of our sports true legends. After the tremendous success of the inaugural 2017 event, the “Hood Regatta” is on its way to becoming an East Coast Classic.

What you might not know…Have you ever done a “dip-pole jibe”? Have you ever used roller-furling? Have you ever hoisted a jib in a “head-foil”? Ted Hood was the person behind all of these innovations! He revolutionized the sail making industry with new materials, designs, and weaving technology. His yacht designs won every major ocean race, and his creativity helped advance nearly every aspect of our sport.

 

2023 IOD North American Invitational

Marblehead IOD – The 2023 IOD North Americans will be held at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA, with racing scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 25/26/27 2023. Seven teams have been invited, registration will begin on Thursday evening August 24th. The registration desk will be open from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Thursday, and again from 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. on Friday August 25th

 

 

Racing is scheduled to begin Friday morning August 25th. Up to seven races may be sailed, however, it is more likely that the regatta will consist of five or six races. On Friday, expect a practice start, followed by two races. On Saturday, two or three races may be sailed. Though two races may be sailed, a single race is anticipated on Sunday, August 27th. On Sunday, the plan is that no warning may be given after 2:30 p.m. The racing schedule is subject to change, and will likely change.

The Sailing Instructions will give the Race Committee the flexibility to deviate from this tentative schedule, in order to provide the best and fairest possible racing. The SIs will allow RC to hold up to three races on any day of the regatta.

 

Cowes Classics Week Team

The Cowes Classics Week Team. – Thank you for having joined us previously at Cowes Classics Week.

If you enjoyed yourself so much that you are considering joining us in 2024, please note the following dates in your diary.

• Cowes Classics Week: 6th to 12th July 2024 (racing from Monday 8th to Friday 12th July inc.)
• Cowes Classics Day: Sunday 7th July

 

We want to make the regatta even better!

 

As part of our efforts to continually improve your experience at Cowes Classics Week, we would like to understand what you thought about your most recent regatta experience.

To that end, we have constructed a questionnaire which we really hope you will find a few moments to complete before the cklosing date 27th August 2023.

Please submit your questionnaire here

Even if you unreservedly enjoyed your most recent Cowes Classics Week and have no suggestions for improvement, we’d still like to know, so please skip straight to Q21 (you don’t have to answer all the questions and can simply click to the next page).

To encourage participation we are inviting people to submit their responses with their email by the closing date of 27th August 2023 and in return they will be entered in a draw to receive a complimentary bottle of champage in Cowes Classics Week 2024. We are also happy to receive comments anonymously.

Many thanks for your help.

 

2023 Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta

Race Date: August 12-13, 2023

The Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta (CCYR) – presented by Doyle Sailmakers – is an annual two-day regatta taking place the second weekend of August that celebrates ‘Classic Yachts and Characters’. The CCYR is sailed on the waters off of Marblehead, MA, USA and is hosted by the Corinthian Yacht Club.

Windy.com – As of this posting 30 entrants have registered, weather forecasted for the weekend.

Saturday: Mostly Sunny with Southerly Winds 11 mph
Sunday: Scattered Thunderstorms Southwest 11 mph.