Organizers of the Tall Ships 4-Port Loop series confirmed, Sunday, July 11, that events scheduled for Bangor have been cancelled. Events in other towns that include visits by one or more of the Tall Ships vessels will continue as scheduled.

Initial press release

The Tall Ships and marine vessels will be sailing up the Penobscot River July 8-18, 2021 as part of the Penobscot Maritime Heritage Association’s 4-Port Loop events that celebrate Maine’s 200th birthday.

“Grab your cameras!” said Penobscot Maritime Heritage, in a news release. “The amazing sights of historic seafaring vessels and military ships traversing the waters and futuristic boats on tour will impress and inform spectators of all ages.”

The sailing vessels one can expect to see in the waters are the Nao Santa Maria from Seville Spain, Maine Maritime Academy’s historic Schooner Bowdoin, U.S. Coast Guard tender Abbie Burgess, and American Cruise Line’s Constitution. The University of Maine’s 3-D printed patrol boat, 3Dirigo, will be hauled overland to visit the ports of Bangor, Bucksport and Searsport.

The Tall Ships Nao Santa Maria and Bowdoin, plus the Abbie Burgess and will tie up at docks in Bucksport and/or Bangor at various times and will offer tours. They will be part of the Schooner Gam off the coast of Searsport on July 18. The Constitution will be docked in Bucksport on the July 17, without tours.

There are a number of good viewing sites to watch the ships sail by. These locations can all offer opportunities for photographers. Information on these locations can be found at 4PortLoop.me and at Bangor Savings Bank locations in the 4-Port Loop.

The timing of the ships’ travels can change due to weather, tides and other conditions. To monitor the locations of each of the ships in real time, and to make sure spectators don’t miss out, visit www.marinetraffic.com. Enter the name of the ship and it will show their current location.

The Nao Santa María is one of the most famous ships in all humanity, according to the Association. On October 12,1492, captained by Christopher Columbus, it was part of one of the most important milestones in history: the discovery of America. The Nao Santa Maria is a 90’ long, square rig replica, built in 2018, that boasts 4 masts with over 300 square meters of sails. An onboard visit consists of a self-guided tour through the 5 decks of the Santa María, where guests can find informative panels about the history of the ship and talk with the crew to feel how the Spanish sailors lived 500 years ago.

Tickets are available online at www.naosantamaria.org and at the dock: Adults are $15, kids are $5 (between 5 and 12 years old), families are $35 (includes up to two adults and three kids), and under 5 years old is free. All sailing and tour times can change due to weather conditions and special events.

The Nao Santa Maria will leave Boothbay Harbor and navigate to the lower Penobscot River on Thursday, July 8. She should pass by Searsport at 9 a.m., Stockton Springs at 9:30 a.m. and arrive at the Bucksport Town Dock at 10:45 a.m. Tours will be available July 9-11 and 13 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and July 12 from 10 a.m. -5 p.m.

She then sails up the mighty Penobscot on July 14, departing Bucksport in the morning and arriving in Bangor about 12 noon. Tours will be available in Bangor on July 15, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; July 16, from 12 - 7 p.m.; and July 17, from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. On the morning of July 18, the Nao Santa Maria departs Bangor, heading down river to arrive in Searsport Harbor around 12 noon for the Schooner Gam.

The 88’ schooner Bowdoin is the Official Vessel of the State of Maine, and the flagship of Maine Maritime Academy’s Vessel Operations and Technology program. Every summer, the Bowdoin takes courses of Academy students up and down the eastern seaboard. Built in 1921 for Arctic exploration, the Bowdoin has made three voyages above the Arctic Circle since she came to MMA in 1988, as well as trips to Newfoundland and Labrador and regular visits to Nova Scotia.

The Bowdoin departs Castine on July 15, at 7 a.m., and sails up the Penobscot River to arrive in Bangor around 12 noon. Public tours will be available while at the dock between 2 - 6 p.m. On July 16, she leaves Bangor at 6 a.m. to head downriver to return to her homeport of Castine.

Homeported in Rockland, the 174’ USCGC Abbie Burgess’ area of responsibility spans the coast of Maine from Boothbay Harbor all the way to the Canadian Border and the St. Croix River, as well as the Penobscot and St. George Rivers. She is responsible for a total of 366 aids to navigation. In addition to this primary mission, she also conducts search and rescue, domestic icebreaking, and ports, waterways, and coastal security.  She is named after a Maine lighthouse keeper, Abbie Burgess, known for her bravery in tending the Matinicus Rock Light in Maine during a raging winter storm in 1856. She did so for nearly a month while her father, the head keeper, was away from the island. Her heroic actions attracted much attention and she was soon a popular heroine.

USCG Abbie Burgess departs Rockland on Friday, July 16, at 8 a.m., and will arrive in Bangor around 10 a.m. She will remain at the Bangor Dock for tours and photos. On Sunday, July 18 the Abbie Burgess departs Bangor to join the Schooner Gam off in Searsport Harbor.

3Dirigo is the 3-D printed boat developed by the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University of Maine. She has two Guinness World Records: the world’s largest 3D printed boat and the world’s largest 3D printed object. The boat was printed in 72 hours by the world’s largest 3D printer and is 25′ long and weighs 5,000 pounds. Watch the time-lapsed video showing its construction at its display.

3Dirigo will be traveling to 3 different locations in the 4-Port Loop. She will be on display on the Bangor waterfront on July 15-16, from 12 - 5 p.m., in the Bangor Savings Bank parking lot in Bucksport on July 17, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and in Mosman Park in Searsport on July 18, in the afternoon. She will anchor the grand finale festivities that include a picnic in the park, live music, food trucks, displays, a movie on the sails and fireworks.

The American Cruise Lines largest cruise ship, the Constitution, will be docked at the Bucksport Town Dock on Saturday, July 17. Although there will not be any tours, it will be an awesome sight to see. She is 269’ long, 6-storeys tall and carries 175 passengers. She is one of the 5 diverse marine vessels celebrating the Penobscot River’s maritime heritage this Bicentennial summer in the 4-Port Loop.

“The Penobscot is alive and well and carrying on Maine’s maritime traditions,” said the release.

Bangor Savings Bank is the presenting sponsor of the Tall Ships.

For more information and updates, visit 4PortLoop.me or facebook.com/PenobscotMaritimeHeritageAssociation, and marinetraffic.com.##