One of only two places on the Atlantic seaboard where the mountains meet the sea, Camden is often called the prettiest location in Maine. Situated on the western shore of Penobscot Bay, the town has a rich shipbuilding history that dates back to the late 18th century. Here, prolific builder Joseph Stetson opened Stetson Shipyard at the head of Camden Harbor in 1817 and built 70 vessels from his own models, ranging from schooners and brigs to passenger packets and clipper ships. In 1875, the Holly M. Bean shipyard opened on the east side of the harbor, where Bean and his sons launched 64 large wooden sailing vessels before closing shop in 1920, including the six-masted schooner George W. Welles in 1920.
From shipbuilding to coast-wide and cross-continental trade, Camden’s prosperity came from the sea, and the wooden vessels built here gained widespread recognition within sailing circles. While the golden age of commercial sailing has long since passed, Camden continues to welcome traditional sailboats back to its waters each summer during the Camden Classics Cup.
Born from a desire to celebrate classic yacht racing and boatbuilding while engaging the local community, the Camden Classics Cup was created by Lyman-Morse in 2015 at the old Wayfarer Marine facility. In 2022, just days after the yard had been completely refurbished, the renamed Lyman-Morse Camden facility became the new home of the regatta. Considered one of the best sailing grounds in the world, the event features two competitive days of racing on Penobscot Bay, a classic yacht parade and numerous onshore events, including a classic car show and a community shore clean-up project.
The eighth running of the event kicked off in July, as 88 sailboats, including 57 classic yachts, arrived to compete across various divisions: Classics, Schooner and Gaff, Vintage, Spirit of Tradition, Modern Tradition, Contemporary, Spinnaker, Cruising, Modern Classic, Day Racer and One Design. This year also saw a record 94 sailors aged 8 to 18 competing in Friday’s Youth Regatta.
One of the classic designs on the water was Frolic, a 1936 Dark Harbor 17.5. It’s a 1908 design by B.B. Crowninshield that was originally built by the Rice Brothers in East Boothbay. Both elegant and swift, these 25-foot, 10-inch, gaff-headed sloops established themselves as an important one-design class and became a popular choice for club racing.
Frolic received an extensive refit in 2008 at Artisan Boatworks in Rockport, where her backbone, deck frames, floor timbers, cockpit and transom were all replaced. She has been a fierce competitor in the Camden Classics Cup since 2017. This year, she took first place in the Day Racer 2 class and received the overall Day Racer Trophy.
While all sailors were vying for a trophy, it was the Parade of Sail on Saturday morning where the sense of community was truly palpable. Spectators gathered as the regatta’s fleet paraded around Camden’s Inner Harbor, many of the ships dressed in battle flags and carrying cannons, their crews in costume, harkening back to the traditional sailing industry that once thrived here.
While the picturesque setting, striking wooden boats and community events have drawn an increasing number of sailors and spectators to the Camden Classics Cup each year, it’s the sense of celebration that keeps them coming back. More than just a classic yacht regatta, the event is a preservation of history that connects sailors with the past, draws the eyes and hearts of people who love to watch beautiful boats race, and keeps the spirit of shipbuilding and seafaring alive in Camden, centuries after the industry first planted roots in this small MidCoast Maine town.
This article was originally published in the October 2024 issue.
