The Salty Dawgs visited the Sail, Power and Steam Museum and were treated to a guided tour by Captain Jim Sharp, the founder and curator of the museau. Jim had endless stories, based on first hand experience, sang sailor shanties, and was witty and sharp despite his 93 years and who knows how many miles of sea under his keel.
Speaking of salty dogs, Captain Jim was born in Philadelphia in 1933 and has spent a lifetime afloat after moving to Maine. From “going down to the boat” with his father, he migrated from chartering in the Bahamas to becoming addicted to Maine traditional schooners as well as antique tugboats, freight vessels, and European barges. He has owned more than thirty elderly commercial marine vessels including four of the largest of the Maine schooner fleet, and possesses an unquenchable bent for maritime preservation. His book of memoirs, With Reckless Abandon, tells the tale. Presently, he is board chair and founder of the Sail, Power, and Steam Museum in Rockland, Maine.
Among his many accomplishments, he acquired and restored the Bowdoin, the research vessel of Captain Donald MacMillan who was famed for his Arctic exploration. The Bowdoin was destined to be torn down for parts and materials at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. Jim bought the vessel, restored her, and sailed her to Provincetown, Massachusetts to pay hommage to MacMillan. Incidentally, MacMillan Wharf, the town pier in Provincetown is named after this great explorer.
Jim also ran a large part of the famed Windjammer fleet, allowing tourists to experience the magic of sailing the waters of Penobscot Bay on classic schooners.
It was a privilege to meet this inspiring man.
2 Responses
Thanks for this very interesting and rare chance to to hear “Capin Jim Sharp” and see The Adventure “.
Both true parts of the history of down east sailing.
May your remaining days of this season be sunny, warm, with a true breeze.
Great interview with Jim Sharp. Thank you for sharing that!
Some day into the distant future someone will interview Dan and Sandy when you are 110 years old about their many adventures on Fregata. “Oh what a delight she was to sail! But one day our refrigerator went out and we had to find a Walmart….”