This Week in Lincolnville: The Boat Club readies for another robust season

20 years old and going strong

Sun, 05/10/2026 - 7:19pm

Ed O’Brien

The founders of the Lincolnville Boat Club. From left to right: Rob Newcombe , Bob Hammer, Andy Oliver, Jay Readinger , Paul Lippman, and Gary Neville (Photo Courtesy of Dorothee Newcombe)

Maine’s sailing tradition, of course, goes back to the beginning of European settlement, being the only way to get here. Those early explorers and colonizers, making their way up our rocky coasts, I can only imagine how many ended up at the bottom of the sea, victim to rocks and winds.

It was in 1608 when the first English-built ocean going vessel was launched from Fort George at the ill-fated Popham Colony. Family lore says that I have an ancestor who attempted to settle at the Popham Colony, but I am not sure of the veracity of this legend. Regardless, that ship, The Virginia, was originally built to be a coastal fishing vessel, but proved its seaworthiness when the colony was abandoned in October of 1609, and returned many of the colonists back home to England.

The Virginia made at least a couple more trips across the Atlantic, being sold to the more viable and temperate colony at Jamestown. Learn about this fascinating history at Bath’s other shipyard, on the Kennebec River waterfront in Bath, Maine’s First Ship, where a full reconstruction of The Virginia is docked. Check it out, its a super cool ship and museum and well worth an excursion to the southern ends of the Midcoast.

Growing up in Lincolnville, sailing was a thing, but, at least from my perspective, it was not a thing many local kids did. A lot of the kids I would meet at Camden Rockport High School had learned to sail, but, forgive me, I do think there was a bit of a class divide. Sailing is very expensive, and just wasn’t accessible to a lot of us. My own sailing experience is limited to an excursion or two on Norton's Pond in a friend's old Sailfish.

Enter the Lincolnville Boat Club, now in its twentieth year. Last week, I was invited to the home of Dorothee and Rob Newcombe at Lincolnville Beach to meet with some of the board members of the Lincolnville Boat Club, to learn a little more about the history of the nonprofit and their plans for the future.

I was told how the idea had emerged of creating a program to teach kids how to sail on Lincolnville’s own Norton’s Pond. There were already youth sailing programs in Camden, Rockport, and Rockland, but the Boat Club is unique in that it give kids the chance to learn on the more forgiving- and warmer- waters of the pond, rather than chilly Penobscot Bay.

From the beginning, the organization set out with the goal of making learning to sail more accessible to local kids. There was the harrowing trip into Downtown Boston to purchase and pick up seven 420s- 4.2 meter sailboats ideal for beginners. The newly formed group sought donations of $500, with a goal of reaching the magic number of $20,000 if they were going to get this thing started. They ended up raising $28,000 that first year.

They struck a deal with the Lincolnville Volunteer Fire Department to store their boats in the dilapidated old school house behind the Center Station, and the camp was off and running.

Offering weeklong sessions in those early days, they found that many of their campers were the kids and grandkids of summer people, and they still weren’t attracting too many local students. This changed when they connected with Lincolnville Central School, and Physical Education teacher Nick Depatsy built an introduction to sailing into his Spring curriculum. Grades 3 to 8 would take the walk down the nature trail to the pond, and spend several hours getting to know their way around a sailboat. Naturally this led to a spike in local campers come that summer.

When the fire department moved to its new location, the Boat Club was able to buy the property, making the old station its headquarters. The old school house was offered up to the Lincolnville Historical Society, if they could remove it within a year.

I have told the story about how this happened, how the community moved that old building and made it into what it is, The Lincolnville Community Library, before: This Week in Lincolnville: We Moved It.

Today the Lincolnville Boat Club teaches roughly 200 youth how to sail every summer. They maintain a fleet of 12 sailboats, a couple Boston Whalers, and a RIB, rigid inflatable boat, perfect for teaching from. This summer there will be 8 weekly sessions, and, a first this summer, will hold a ninth “race week”, where past campers can demonstrate their skills.

The Boat Club expresses the eternal gratitude to all the loyal businesses and individuals who have supported them over the last 20 years. The Lincolnville Boat Club will continue with its mission of keeping the camp accessible to all, and share the love of sailing with a new generation. Space is still available for this summer's sessions, they can be found at Lincolnville Boat Club,

Nature Trail Work Party

This Saturday, May 16, from 9-12, come lend a hand in improving the nature trail that connects LCS to the library. The trail that leads classes to special activities at the LCL, and takes older grades to their Spring sailing program. The goal is to remove invasive plants and trash from the trail, and raising the tread to reduce wetness. Bring good footwear, gloves, water, and hand tools like trowels and rakes if you got them. Be part of the community keeping our town beautiful.

Lincolnville Center Indoor Flea Market

Also on Saturday, from 8-12, will be the first flea market of the season, held at the Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road. Sponsored by the Lincolnville UCC, expect antiques, handcrafts, farm products, and baked goods. Never miss an opportunity to get church lady baked goods. The Flea Market will run monthly through the Fall.

Flag Time

As Memorial Day approaches, it is time to place the flags on the graves of our departed veterans. The plan is to meet at Mt. View Cemetery in Camden on Friday, May 15, at 9 a.m., weather permitting. Should it be raining, it will be postponed to Saturday at 9. Lincolnville has quite a few burial grounds, and I am sure your help would be appreciated. Call Rosey Gerry with any questions, 207-975-5432.

Library Happenings and Plant Sale

As always, join the needleworkers group Tuesday at 3 p.m. On Wednesday the LCS Sixth Grade will hike to the library for a book discussion of The Teacher of Nomad Land, a World War II story by Daniel Nayeri. Cribbage for Everyone will be Thursday at 3 p.m., and MahJongg will be Friday at noon.

And from 8 to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, stop by the Library’s annual plant sale fundraiser in the parking lot. While you are there, check out the Jackie Watts Open Air Museum, the Lincolnville Historical Society’s secondary museum displaying agricultural and industrial artifacts of our town’s past.

In a time where many of us are feeling unsettled about our nation’s present and future, not to mention the states of our own pocket books, it brings me so much peace to see that, for the most part, we are still making it work here in Lincolnville. Do not misunderstand me, there are still pretty significant issues, housing and affordability always in the front of my mind, but there is a heck of a lot of good happening here.

So wave to your neighbors, be mindful of your speed while driving through town, and be respectful. Breathe the fresh air, and don’t get too upset about the rain, it is exactly what our environment needs right now.

Reach out to me at ceobrien246@gmail.com.

Municipal Calendar:

Monday, May 11

Select Board, 6 p.m., Town Office

Recreation Commission, 6 p.m., Town Office

Five Town CSD Budget Meeting, 7 p.m., Bisbee Theater, Camden Rockport Middle School, 34 Knowlton Street, Camden

Tuesday, May 12

Library open 3-6 p.m. 208 Main Street

AA Meeting 12:15 p.m., Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road

Conservation Commission, 3 p.m., Town Office

Wednesday, April May 13

Library open 2-5