LINCOLNVILLE BEACH — Capt. Ray Williamson is asking the town of Lincolnville for permission to operate a day-sailing schooner, the 52-foot Summertime, out of Lincolnville Beach during the summer. Although the proposal, as written, does not currently comply with the Harbor Ordinance, the Harbor Committee intends to the discuss it again at an upcoming meeting.

The committee addressed the idea Jan. 8, when Williamson spoke to its members and described his plan to expand the scope of his business by adding a fourth schooner to operate from Lincolnville Beach. Williamson, wife Ann, and their daughters, Allysa and Kristi, own Maine Windjammer Cruises.

Soon after that meeting, Williamson and committee member Mike Hutchings met at the harbor, and assessed potential limitations, which include water depth, weather conditions when the wind is blowing heavy out of the north, possible boat congestion in the early morning hours when fishermen are heading out and work crews are traveling by boat to Islesboro, and turbulence produced by the Islesboro ferry when engines are running.

Williamson also identified the opportunities, telling the town in a letter that there has been a: “vacuum for this type of activity. Surely anyone visiting the beach would benefit from the aesthetic appeal of the schooner, but further it would provide an interesting option for those spending time in Lincolnville.”

The Summertime was built by George Allen in Brooklin, and launched in 1986. The schooner is a “pinky,” referring to the the lift of the schooner’s stern, and derives from boat designs of the 1600s. It has been moored in Rockland.

On Feb. 14, Williamson sent a detailed proposal to the town, outlining the concept. That includes offering two- to three-hour sailing trips daily, with three or four trips a day, June through September, for up to 18 passengers. There is the possibility of overnight trips, as well, for a maximum of seven passengers.

“On occasional visits over the years my guests have enjoyed stopping in Lincolnville and I have been assured by everyone I have spoken to ashore that they have enjoyed seeing our masts in the harbor,” wrote Williamson, in his proposal.

He said his family has multiple ties to the Lincolnville community, which include owning property there. Williamson was charter member of the Lincolnville Business Group, he said.

Maine Windjammer Cruises has been operating in Camden since 1936; the Williamsons have owned the company for 27 years, with three schooners, Grace Bailey, Mercantile and Mistress, sailing out of Camden. Williamson said the Summertime will be added to the fleet, with Allysa and Kristi being responsible for the schooner’s management and operation.

 “We are vested and will do all we can to further the prosperity of this community,” he wrote. “There are many benefits that will stream from this added vitality to the harbor. It will give another reason for people to come back or encourage visitors to stay longer in Lincolnville. Revenues from fees will assist in paying harbor costs. Having done this for more than 30 years I can tell you that both locals and visitors alike will benefit from a relaxing and memorable sail on Penobscot Bay with Maine Windjammer Cruises. We see this as a feeder for our longer trips and vice versa. Many of our passengers live in Maine or come to Maine every year. They do not always have the opportunity to sail for a week. It would be a quick fix to drive to Lincolnville during their stay to join us for a short trip.”

Lincolnville’s harbor is small, and is a crescent-shaped section of Lincolnville Beach partially protected by the Maine State Ferry Terminal. There is a large pier at the harbor for fishermen and recreational boaters, and the town received a grant in February from the state to finish building a wave screen to further protect boats from wind and wave action.

Williamson outlined ordinances that would need changing in order that the Summertime could moor at Lincolnville Beach.

”The first hurdle I see is that the current harbor ordinance Article III section 1 subparagraph A 9 states that ‘any watercraft exceeding 45 feet in length is required to tie directly to the pier’ and subparagraph C 2 states ‘Use of the float system is limited to watercraft up to 45 feet in length,’” he wrote. “ Since nothing like this has ever been proposed in Lincolnville before I feel it is appropriate to ask the harbor committee to consider my proposal and hopefully make a favorable recommendation as outlined in Article II Section 1 subparagraph C and D of the harbor ordinance. I believe that this could easily be resolved by adding the words ‘except for loading and unloading with the permission of the Harbor Master’ to the sentences above.”

He also suggested that the ordinance does not guarantee that tender tie-up privileges are offered to those who have boats moored in the outer harbor. The Summertime would need such a privilege so the crew could move back and forth to the schooner.

Williamson is also requesting that a mooring for the Summertime be given enough swing room for a 100-foot vessel.

“This would allow my other schooners to use the mooring and they will be encouraged to visit Lincolnville Harbor,” he wrote. “This again would not only bring the benefits described above but would have the additional benefit of introducing our week passengers to the pleasures of downtown Lincolnville Beach.”

According to Lincolnville Harbormaster Mike Hutchings, there is but three or four feet of water at the docks at low tide, presenting logistical issues for the Summertime, which draws six feet, he said. The Summertime could run launches out to its mooring in the outer harbor, he said.

Hutchings responded to Williamson in a Feb. 26 letter, saying: “I have strong concerns about the physical limitations of our float structures and harbor configuration and would not be in support of increasing the length of watercraft allowed to tie to the floats. I believe that there are other ways to accommodate your proposed use without changing this portion of the ordinance.”

Lincolnville Town Administrator David Kinney said there is still time to get proposed ordinance changes on the June Town Meeting warrant; however, “the deadline is rapidly approaching,” he said.

The process would require a discussion and public hearing(s) with the Lincolnville Board of Selectmen, following more discussions with the Harbor Committee.

The Harbor Committee will be considering Williamson’s proposal when it meets again April 3 at a regularly scheduled meeting, if it doesn’t decide to convene an earlier meeting.

Harbor Committee Chairman Shane Laprade said March 13 that the committee may meet sooner, if its members can find a convenient time for all. He said there are many details to consider with Williamson’s proposal, including the mechanics of accommodating a vessel more than 45 feet in length, which is current length restriction at the town docks, in a tightly configured harbor.

“We will look at all the implications, and the positives and negatives,” he said.

Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657.