User:Sailing Ships Maine/sandbox

Sailing Ships Maine is a non-profit sail training organization based in Portland, Maine USA and founded in 2015 by Bert Rogers and Alex Agnew. The non-profit was the first official chapter of Tall Ships America doing business as Tall Ships Portland, Tall Ships Maine and Sailing Ships Portland. In 2019, the organization withdrew from the chapter agreement with Tall Ships America.

History Sailing Ships Maine ran the tall ships festival "Iberdrola USA Tall Ships Portland 2015" event in Portland, Maine, the largest tall ships festival in Maine since OpSail Maine 2000. The event was designated a "Marine Event of National Significance" by the US Coast Guard. The festival drew thousands to the Portland waterfront July 18 to 20, 2015. As part of that event Sailing Ships Maine sent 17 teenagers from Maine sailing on 4 tall ships for trips ranging from 6 to 12 days. The ships who take the students sailing were Oliver Hazard Perry, Lynx, Fritha and Picton Castle. In 2016, the organization sent 36 students sailing on Fritha, Oliver Hazard Perry and Lynx. In 2017, the organization send 56 students sailing on several vessels. In 2018, the organization sent just over 100 students sailing on Schooner Harvey Gamage and Schooner Lettie Howard. In 2019, the organization sent 252 students sailing on Schooner Harvey Gamage and the Spirit of Bermuda. The organization founded Portland SchoonerFest & Regatta June 23-25, 2017, an event which featured 7 historic schooners racing in Portland Harbor. The regatta was won by Schooner Alert and other entrants included Schooners Bagheera, Wendameen, Mary E., Harvey Gamage and Adventure.

Background Sailing Ships Maine's primary mission is to provide opportunities for teenagers to crewmembers on large sailing ships. Sail training is regarded as a coming of age experience with significant power to teach leadership, teamwork, empathy and resilience.

References: https://www.pressherald.com/2015/07/16/word-with-the-boss-ships-are-tall-and-organizers-days-are-long/ https://www.pressherald.com/2015/07/16/100000-expected-to-take-in-beauty-history-of-tall-ships/ https://www.visitportland.com/things-to-do/fairs-festivals/schooner-fest-tall-ships