2024 Camden Windjammer Festival: Schooners, Fire Dept. 5K, crate race, blueberry pancakes, pooches and paddle boards
CAMDEN — The Camden Public Landing was a hub of activity Friday and Saturday with the 29th annual Windjammer Festival, and if they were not running in Camden Fire Department 5K, skimming across crates in the harbor, raising sails, flipping and eating blueberry pancakes, or building a tiny boat, locals and visitors were having a good time just chatting with each other.
Labor Day Weekend slipped in Aug. 30 and 31, under sunny skies and a calm breeze, not too hot, not too cold, tinged with a hint of autumn.
The Camden Windjammer Festival started Friday morning with exhibitions (pirates, history and radio controlled sailboats) and vendors welcoming visitors to the Camden Public Landing, followed by the arrival of the fleet. This year, 11 schooners jockeyed into Camden’s inner harbor, always a tight squeeze but ultimately completed with finesse.
Friday night, a Talent Show with passengers and crews from the schooners taking to the stage segued into fireworks over the harbor. On Saturday, the morning started with a bang, the annual Camden Fire Department Windjammer 5K. This year, with 46 runners and walkers, the 5K raised funds for Camden Treasurer Marlene Libby, who is recuperating from health concerns.
The top finishers in each division follow:
Under 16
Cate Middleton, 23:15
Philip Valentine, 24:22
Theo Kunkel, 27:34
Women
Chloe Patten, 23:20
Sara Sienkiewicz, 23:33
Becky Flanagan, 24:09
Men
Bennet Cohen, 20:12
Danny Reed, 20:41
Matt Sienkiewicz, 20:49
Participants also included:
Philip Valentine, 24:22
Ed Valentine, 24:23
Alex Sangivliano, 26:03
Susan Howland, 26:09
Henry, 27:25
Jordan Roses, 27:25
Bill Statz, 27:32
Theo Kunkel, 27:34
Jay Pokovski, 28:53
Ruth Jahn, 28:58
Greg Kunkel, 29:13
Jill Kunkel, 29:13
Claire Kornen, 29:19
R. Kilfoyle, 32:05
Jame Kilfoyle, 32:05
Elliott Kunkel, 32:41
Jade Garcia, 32:47
Danielle Slepian, 33:08
Laura Valentine, 33:24
Chelsea Marshall, 37:29
Alison Heath, 44:01
Kathryn Hodge, 47:27
Caroline Hodge, 47:27
Nikki Bland, 53:47
David Mortlock, 59:12
Wiley Todd. 59:21
Katelynn Buck, 59:21
Patricia Dansen, 103:30
Jo Duke, 106:53
Amanda Waltrip, 106:54
Justine Jameson, 107:32
Marlene Libby, 107:33
Danielle York, 110:37
Kendra Pease, 110:57
Libby York, 110:19
Amy Libby, 111:11
Jean Jameson, 111:11
Crate Race results
Boys
1st – Finley Woodbury (67 crates) (11, Rockport)
2nd – Finnegan Hedstrom (55 crates) (11, Camden)
3rd – Elliot Kunkel (50 crates) (13, Brighton, Mass.)
Girls
1st – Katalina Kriste (20 crates) (12, Lincolnville)
2nd – LuLu Williamson (9 crates) (10, Rockland)
3rd – Bea Appleton-Mathis (7 crates) (11, Rockport)
Pooches and paddle boards
Winner of this competition was Ramiro de Acevedo Ramos, owner of Anjacaa, and his dog, Lucy.